Are you wanting to become a certified personal trainer? That is a noble profession. If you have done any research on the topic, you have probably already discovered that NASM and ACE are the leading certifications in the industry. But how do you know which one to do? Naturally, you want to go with the best one. But that may not be so easy to determine with these two.
Read on to discover which certification wins in the battle of NASM vs ACE.
How To Choose The Best Certification for You
Generally speaking, you can’t go wrong with either certification. Your choice should revolve around your specific situation. Ask yourself questions like, How much can I afford? What type of clients do I want? What kind of job am I trying to get? These questions will best inform your decision.
With that in mind, here is a quick overview of the differences between NASM and ACE.
Accreditation
The first thing you should check when considering becoming certified is the accreditation. Getting certified by an organization that is not accredited will not get you very far. The accreditation to look for is the NCCA or National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
NASM
NASM is accredited by the NCCA.
ACE
ACE is also accredited by the NCCA.
Costs
Another factor to consider is the cost. Several costs can pop up while becoming certified. Not only are you paying for the certification, but you also need to pay for study packages and possibly retake fees.
NASM
NASM offers four tiers of study packages.
- Self Study - $799
- Self Study Premium - $1099
- Guided Study - $1124
- All-Inclusive - $1539
- Retake Fee - $199
These offerings come with different pros and cons. So, familiarize yourself with them and assess your study habits to determine which is best for you.
ACE
ACE offers three tiers of study packages.
- Basic - $849
- Plus - $999
- Advantage - $1499
- Retake Fee - $199
Based on averages, NASM comes out slightly more expensive. But both have packages in multiple price ranges that should help you get the information you need.
Popularity of Certification
NASM and ACE are by far the most popular certifications in this field. But is one more popular than the other? Here are a few numbers to show you where they stand.
NASM
Recent enrollment numbers for NASM show that there are typically over 22,000 people enrolled.
ACE
Recent enrollment numbers for ACE show that there are typically over 13,000 people enrolled.
Even though NASM clearly has higher enrollment numbers. Studies on the number of people who searched the two certifications online show that they are neck in neck in daily search results. So, NASM seems to be the more popular option, but both are highly considered.
Study Materials
The quality of study materials is the next thing to consider. While NASM came out slightly more expensive than ACE, there is a matter of their quality. Are you getting the same bang for your buck between the two options?
NASM
NASM’s all-inclusive package is clearly the winner when it comes to bang for your buck on the higher end of the spectrum. If you are willing to pay $1539 for your study materials, you will get a lot more out of it than the $1499 spent on the ACE advantage package.
ACE
However, ACE takes the cake on the lower end of the spectrum. Between the two tier-one packages, you get a better bang for your buck with ACE’s Basic package over NASM’s Self Study package.
Pass Rate and Difficulty of Each Exam
Another attribute to consider is the actual difficulty of each exam. You don’t want to waste lots of time, money, and energy retaking an exam if the other one is easier and still gives you the certification you need. A great way to examine the difficulty of each exam is to look at the pass rate.
NASM
NASM’s average pass rate is 64.3%, with a required passing score of 70%.
ACE
ACE’s average pass rate is 65%, with a required passing score of 62.5%
On the surface, it looks like both exams are once again neck and neck. However, ACE is statistically more difficult to pass with the discrepancy of required passing scores.
The Approach
Lastly, the approach is something that will always be different. Every certification highlights different approaches or elements that they think are most crucial to your education. They will also teach the same ideas in different ways. Here is just one example of these two certifications.
NASM
NASM focuses on what they call the OPT Model. This model focuses on five training phases: stabilization endurance, strength endurance, hypertrophy, maximal strength, and power.
ACE
ACE, on the other hand, uses what they call the ACE Mover Method. This method is much more focused on the individual you are training. It centers around the concept that they are the foremost expert on themselves.
Both methods have proven successful. It is just a matter of your preference.
The Conclusion
In the end, the battle of NASM vs ACE comes out pretty even. You just need to take this information, consider your own personal goals, budget, and convictions and decide which certification best fits your desired career path.
COMMENTS