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ACE certification cost, and the booking deadlines

Facts checked against acefitness.orgLast checked Nov 4, 2026

ACE certification costs $499 if you register for the exam alone. Add it to one of the provider's study programs instead and the exam itself drops to a small add-on fee. Booking then runs through the provider's own scheduling page, with different lead times for a test center and for an online session.

Start the free ACE CPT practice test 30 questions · every option explained
On this page
  1. Fees and booking, dated
  2. Two ways to pay
  3. Booking timeline
  4. Test center or remote
  5. Keep going on ACE
  6. Sources
  7. Cost and booking, short answers

Fees and booking, dated

FactACE CPTSource
Exam fee$499 for the exam aloneACE: personal trainer exam options +1, Nov 2026ACE: personal trainer exam options +1, Nov 2026
Member and bundle prices$99 exam add-on with any ACE study program; programs list at $989–$1,749 and were $593.40–$1,049.40 on saleBasic, Plus and Advantage programs; the sale was 40% off on November 4, 2026 (50% in October).as of Nov 4, 2026 · sale prices change monthlyACE: personal trainer exam options +1, Nov 2026ACE: personal trainer exam options +1, Nov 2026
Retake fee$249 within 1 year of the first attempt; after that, the full $499A retake voucher that comes with a study program must be redeemed within 60 days.ACE: schedule your exam +1, Nov 2026ACE: schedule your exam +1, Nov 2026
Other fees$149 to rescheduleACE: schedule your exam +1, Nov 2026ACE: schedule your exam +1, Nov 2026
Renewal fee$129 on time; $169 up to 3 months late, $199 up to 6 months lateDiscounts apply when renewing two or more ACE credentials.ACE: recertification, Oct 2026ACE: recertification, Oct 2026
How to bookBuy the exam, then book through ACE's scheduling page at least 10 days ahead for a test center or at least 24 hours ahead for a remote sessionAccommodation requests need 15–30 days. A study program's exam voucher must be used within 6 months of purchase.ACE: schedule your exam, Nov 2026ACE: schedule your exam, Nov 2026
Test providerMeazure Learning (remote sessions through ProctorU)ACE: schedule your exam +1, Nov 2026ACE: schedule your exam +1, Nov 2026
Where you testTest center or online with Live Remote ProctoringRemote sessions run 24/7 in English. ACE's schedule page cites both "800+ centers in 110+ countries" and "1,300+ sites worldwide".ACE: schedule your exam +1, Nov 2026ACE: schedule your exam +1, Nov 2026
Window to test60 days from registrationA study program's exam voucher is valid for 6 months from purchase, with no extensions.ACE: schedule your exam, Nov 2026ACE: schedule your exam, Nov 2026
Rescheduling$149, allowed once, until 11:59 p.m. PT the day before the examACE: schedule your exam +1, Nov 2026ACE: schedule your exam +1, Nov 2026

All facts: acefitness.org, checked Nov 4, 2026.

Two ways to pay

Exam only: $499. You bring your own study material.

Program plus exam: the exam rides along as a low-cost add-on to any of the provider's three study programs. Program prices and the current sale are in the table, dated Nov 4, 2026; sale levels change from month to month.

Whichever you pick, budget for the extras that can follow: $249 for a retake within a year, $149 to move a date once, and $129 to renew every 2 years.

Booking timeline

  1. Check eligibility first, especially the hands-on CPR/AED requirement (entry requirements).
  2. Buy the exam, then pick a slot on the scheduling page: test centers need more notice than remote sessions (lead times in the table).
  3. Your exam date has to fall inside the 60-day window that opens at registration. A program's exam voucher has its own, longer deadline (see the window row).

Test center or remote

Testing happens either at a center or remotely, watched by a live proctor; Meazure Learning runs both. Remote sessions can be booked on shorter notice (see the booking timeline), which helps if your window is running out. A test center suits anyone without a quiet, private room for 3 hours.

One reschedule only

You can move your date once, for a fee, up to the evening before. Choose a date you're sure of; there is no second change.

Keep going on ACE

Sources

  1. [1]ACE: personal trainer exam options acefitness.org. Checked Nov 4, 2026.
  2. [2]ACE: schedule your exam acefitness.org. Checked Nov 4, 2026.
  3. [3]ACE: personal trainer certification (study programs) acefitness.org. Checked Nov 4, 2026.
  4. [4]ACE Certification and Recertification Handbook, revised September 2026 (PDF) acefitness.org. Checked Nov 4, 2026.
  5. [5]ACE: recertification acefitness.org. Checked Oct 19, 2026.

Cost and booking, short answers

How much is the ACE exam by itself?

$499, as of Nov 4, 2026.

Is it cheaper to buy the ACE exam with a program?

The exam itself is: $99 versus $499 alone. Whether the total is lower depends on the program price at the time, which changes with the provider's sales.

How far ahead do I book the ACE exam?

Earlier for a test center than for a remote session; both lead times are in the booking timeline.

What does it cost to renew ACE?

$129 if you renew on time; late renewals cost more, and holding several credentials from the same provider earns a discount (amounts in the table).