ACE Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Exam Exam Guide
At a glance
- Questions
- 125
- Time limit
- 3h
- Passing score
- 500 (scaled score on a 200-800 scale)
- Exam fee
- $499
- Governing body
- American Council on Exercise (ACE)
The ACE Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) exam is administered by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and is one of the most widely recognized credentials for professionals who design and lead one-on-one fitness training. Candidates are typically aspiring or working personal trainers looking to demonstrate competency in client assessment, program design, and safe exercise practice.
Overview
The exam content outline covers 14 tasks organized into four domains, each carrying a different share of the exam:
- Program Design and Implementation — 31% of the exam, the single largest domain
- Program Modification and Progression — 27%
- Client Onboarding and Assessments — 23%
- Risk Management, Professional Conduct, and Ethical Business Practices — 19%
Roughly 10% of exam questions are video-based, drawing on movement footage rather than text alone. Candidates should consult ACE's official exam content outline for the full task-level breakdown within each domain.
Cost and registration
The standalone first-attempt exam fee is $499. It drops to $99 when purchased as an add-on with an ACE study program, and a discounted retest fee of $249 applies within one year of a failed attempt. A $149 rescheduling fee applies to any change in exam date, time, or location; candidates should confirm current pricing against ACE's official fee schedule before registering.
Exam format
The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, with 125 scored and 25 unscored experimental items, delivered under a 3-hour time limit. Scores are reported on a scaled range of 200 to 800, with 500 or higher required to pass. Registration must be completed at least 10 days before the chosen exam date.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the ACE CPT exam?
The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, of which 125 are scored and 25 are unscored experimental questions used to evaluate future exam content. Test-takers cannot tell which questions fall into which category.
What is the passing score on the ACE CPT exam?
You need a scaled score of at least 500 to pass, on a scale that runs from 200 to 800. The scaling accounts for slight difficulty differences between exam forms.
How much does the ACE CPT exam cost?
The standalone first-attempt exam fee is $499, though it's available for $99 as an add-on when purchased with an ACE study program. If you don't pass, a retest within one year costs $249.
What are the eligibility requirements for the ACE CPT exam?
Candidates must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and have a current adult CPR/AED certification with a hands-on skills check. Exact scheduling and documentation steps are detailed in ACE's official candidate handbook.
How long is the ACE CPT exam and what format do the questions take?
Candidates get three hours to complete the exam, and roughly 10% of the questions are video-based rather than plain text. Registration must be completed at least 10 days before your chosen exam date.
How often does the ACE CPT certification need to be renewed, and what's the pass rate?
The certification is valid for two years and renewal requires 20 hours of ACE-approved continuing education during that cycle. ACE's published exam data puts the Personal Trainer exam pass rate at about 73%.
Sources
- 1.ACE Certification and Recertification Handbook (PDF) — American Council on Exercise (ACE) (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
- 2.Personal Trainer Certification | ACE Fitness — American Council on Exercise (ACE) (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
- 3.Schedule Your ACE Certification Exam | ACE Fitness — American Council on Exercise (ACE) (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
Official sources
Every exam fact on this page traces to a primary document published by the body that administers the exam.
- ACE Certification and Recertification Handbook (PDF)American Council on Exercise (ACE)contentcdn.eacefitness.com
- Schedule Your ACE Certification Exam | ACE FitnessAmerican Council on Exercise (ACE)acefitness.org
- Personal Trainer Certification | ACE FitnessAmerican Council on Exercise (ACE)acefitness.org
- ACE Personal Trainer Certification — Exam Content Outline (PDF)American Council on Exercise (ACE)contentcdn.eacefitness.com
Last verified against the official exam content outline: