ACSM Exam vs ACE Exam - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[suzukideb]

I just passed the ACE exam Friday (80%) and I want to prepare for the ACSM next. I took the free test they had online and passed with 80%. How different are the exams. I hear so many things. I felt the ACE exam was hard and there were many items on it that we not covered in the review class or the study guide. Any study suggestions would be great. Also will the ACE flash cards I have help me also. ACSM didn't seem to have as many study aids as ACE and I used all the ACE's study materials to pass and took both classes, the Practical and the Exam prep.
Thanks
Deb

[Christina]

Hi Deb and congrats on your ACE certification!

As far as the ACSM exam is concerned, how well do you know anatomy and exercise physiology? Have you read any textbooks outside of the ones offered by ACE?

I am in a similar situation. I am about to take the NSCA-CPT and I have no idea how much of my ACSM knowledge is going to transfer over! In some respects, the first cert is probably the easiest because you don't have to wonder about all of this. One thing's for sure, I wish I would have taken the NSCA-CPT a few months ago when all of my ACSM knowledge was fresh. Good for you for working on the next cert so soon. I wish I would have done that as well.

Have you considered purchasing ACSM's practice exam? (Unfortunately pt certifications get expensive real fast.)

Christina

[suzukideb]

I was planning on getting the practice test too, and taking the three day course that ACSM offers along with the three books. I am not very stong yet in anatomy and phys. I do have a good understanding from what I learned from ACE but I feel I have a long way to go still. I was also thinking about taking Anatomy at our community college but that is still in the works because of time constraints. I really want to be a good trainer but right now I still don't have a ton of confidence yet in my knowledge so is what I want to work on the ACSM cert so soon.

Thanks
Deb

[Christina]

Hi Deb,

My confidence really came along when I enrolled in a fitness instruction program through UCLA. If you have the opportunity to take some classes at your local community college then go for it. If you do not, consider taking online classes. Many of the major universities across the country now offer online classes. (I took some of my classes online and some in person.)

Here's another option...
I am currently taking an anatomy course online through Human Kinetics to brush up on some things. I am amazed at how thorough this course is! It beats my UCLA anatomy course HANDS DOWN. In fact, it appears from the Human Kinetics website that several universities use this course as well. The best part of all is it's only $70! (I already had the text so I only had to pay $50!) It sure beats what UCLA charged me to take their anatomy course. Here is the link to the Human Kinetics Online Education Center:
http://www.hkeducationcenter.com/
I am taking Exercise Anatomy (HF-FT 101UE). The course was created by an individual with their PhD, FACSM so you know this person is very qualified to be teaching this subject. This course will also count as one CEC toward your ACE certification!

If I were you, I would take the ACSM practice exam and see how well you score and then make a judgement from there. Either way, I would recommend you take some courses if you have the time and financial resources to do so.

Christina

[parkerlindsey]

Hey Suzukideb, Well done and congratulation for your result got in ACE exam.
I also had given ACE exam and got 75% but didn't wonder about ACSM. Due to passed this exam recently, you have fresh knowledge but you have to go still a long way. I suggest to buy practice examination material for ACSM.