So your certified by AAAI/ISMA and your personal training certification is about to expire. How do you maintain your certificate and get recertified? This is the question I want to address – because I get asked about Recertification all the time. Along the way, I also want to give you some tips to reduce the odds of you letting your certification expire by accident. So, if you are stressing out over this, you have come to the right place. No stress! I will help you. What you will read below will help you maintain your cert no matter which AAAI/ISMA cert you have – personal training, yoga, spinning, sports nutrition, etc.
AAAI/ISMA Reviews
Additional Personal Trainer Reviews
- Top 5 personal trainer career mistakes
- Can you be a personal trainer with a criminal record?
- Gym emergency procedures – what will you do?
- Violent crimes in gyms. what you need to know
- 15 Gym scams you need to know
- Video: Top 5 Reasons Rhabdo Happens in Gyms
- Injuries Fitness Instructors Get
When Do I Need To Recertify?
All certifications have an expiration date. No certification is good forever. The very first time you become a certified fitness instructor with AAAI/ISMA, the certification is good for 2 years. They give you 2 years to get a job, get settled, and find your way in the fitness world.
BUT…
After those 2 years are up, and you will have to get recertified each year.
AAAI-ISMA
If the certification ever expires, you will have to take the test again.
Do NOT let your cert expire. Fortunately, your cert is pretty easy to maintain.
How To Get Re-Cecertfied By AAAI/ISMA
If you are trying to get recertified, all you need is 8 CEUs (continuing education units).
CEUs are also called CECs –continuing education credits. Both mean the same thing.
The good thing about AAAI/ISMA is that ALL of their fitness and health programs count for 8 CEUs. So to recertify, the easiest way would be to just attend another class and you are good for another year. Easy Peasy.
Do I Need To Take The Same Class Again?
You do not have to take the same class to get re-certified. For example, suppose you are certified as a personal trainer. You don’t have to take the personal training class again to recertify as a personal trainer. You could take a sports nutrition certification class or their yoga certification class.
You could take ANY AAAI/ISMA class. So, you could take sports nutrition, spinning, group fitness instructor, older adult fitness, yoga etc. ANY class they offer will allow you to painlessly re-certify.
Tip. In addition to th ecost of the class, there is a $20 re-certification fee too. Failure to pay this $20 will hold up getting your new, updated certification.
While this $20 recert fee is usually collected when you register, if you take classes at a college, it won't be. Here is the page on their website to pay that fee.
Do I Need To Take Another Test?
Some people ask me “if I take a nutrition class do I have to take the nutrition test to get recertified in personal training?” You do not. All you have to do is take the sports nutrition class. When the class is over, you can leave.
There is a full list of classes at the AAAI/ISMA website
Can I Recertifiy At AAI/ISMA Conferences?
One of the easiest ways to recertify is to attend one of their conferences They call these “One World” conferences. By attending the conference, you are automatically recertified for another year. The conferences have dozens of classes going on at the same time so it’s a fun way to learn a lot in a short time.
Each year conferences are held at:
- Atlantic City NJ
- Baltimore MD
- Colorado Springs CO
- Conferences at YMCAs
The dates are always listed on their website.
Can I Take The Same Class To Get Recertified?
Sure you can. You can also take the same class, taught by someone else too. For example, suppose you took a class I taught. You could also take the same fitness trainer class offered by:
Or any of the other faculty instructors.
The good thing about this is other instructors will cover topics that I may not have addressed.
How Much To Recertify?
Each AAAI/ISMA class is $99. If you take the class at a college or attend a conference, then the cost might be slightly more (usually $120 to $150). Colleges do not collect the $20 recert fee so you still need to pay AAAI-ISMA for that.
Textbook used to prep for the AAAI/ISMA master personal trainer test
What's The Fitness Certification Number?
Every certification will have a certification number printed on it.
Some gyms may ask you for the certification number. This is the number on your fitness cert that identifies you to AAAI/ISMA. Fitness centers need this number so they can report it to their corporate offices and get you hired faster.
Tip. Never share your certification number with anyone and NEVER post it on Instagram etc. You don't want anybody stealing your identity. It's great to post your cert on social media but hide the certification number.
Read the gym scams post for more insights.
Can I Take Classes From Other Organizations?
AAAI/ISMA will accept coursework you do for other organizations (ACSM, ACE, NSCA, etc.). They will count for a certain number of continuing education credits (CECs) but AAAI/ISMA gives these courses a maximum of 4 CECs. You will still need to take a course from AAAI to maintain your cert.
Fitness organizations often value their courses more than others. For example, I'm also certified by the NSCA. The NSCA will let me use other courses from other orgs to maintain my CSCS cert BUT those other courses won't not count as much as courses offered directly through the NSCA.
The easiest way AAAI/ISMA certified is to accumulate 8 AAAI CEUs per year. Each AAAI/ISMA class is 8 CEUs.
Regardless of this, I suggest taking classes from others too. Recertifying or not, the education you get will help you in the real world.
How To Prevent The Cert From Expiring
If your personal trainer cert expires, you WILL have to take the personal trainer test again. Each AAAI certification has an expiration date. Go check what that date is!
To ensure your fitness cert does not expire, I suggest you choose a date that’s at least 6 months before the expiration date and put it in a calendar program like Apple calendar or Google Calendar.
That way when the date arrives you will get a reminder.
Don’t put your fitness cert in a drawer and forget about it. I get a lot of emails from people who did this and the cert expired. Once your certification expires, you will have to take the test of that fitness cert again.
The Gym Asked Me For My Cert
NEVER NEVER NEVER give your certification to the fitness center you will be working at. Give them a copy of the certification. If the gym loses your certification, you will have to pay AAAI/ISMA $30 for a new certification. Many people make this mistake. Take a picture of your cert and save it in your phone for safekeeping.
There is no reason why a gym would need the actual cert.
All the gym requires is the certification number so they can verify that number with AAAI-ISMA. Also, if they give you the excuse they want to post your cert on a wall, you can make a very good color copy on most home printers.
Final Thoughts
I hope this review of how to get recertified by AAAI/ISMA has helped you. I know getting recertified can be stressful but it does not have to be. AAAI/ISMA makes it very easy for you – a LOT easier than most other organizations and it's not expensive either. The trick is to not let your fitness certification expire. If you can do that, you will be OK.
Hello- Not sure how current this site is but I am certified in Colorado and have not seen any workshops to get credits for recertification. I became certified at last years colorado springs conference and could not make it to this one.
Do I need 8 credits per yer making 16 for my first recertification or just 8/2yrs for the first. Also if there are no online courses or workshops other than one a year how do I continue my education and certification knowing that chances are slim I can make one day out of a year work?
Hopefully I am just clueless- I have a great couple of classes that will be disappointed if I have to cancel them????.
Thanks-Mary Anne
Hi Mary Anne, my site is very current so I’m glad you reached out to me. To get recertifeid you only need 8 credits (also called CECs or CEUs). Each AAAI/ISMA class is worth 8 credits so all you have to do is attend ANY class AAAI offers (spinning, yoga, holistic health, older adult etc) and it will re-certify you for an additional year.
Mike Rickett lives in Colorado (Fort Collins) and I know he teaches there. His website is MikeRickett.com Im sure if you reach out to him, he can help you get recertified. Send him an email from his site. I just told him to expect your email.
You can also check the AAAI/ISMA website for a full list of classes everybody teaches too. Feel free to call AAAI at 609 397 2139 and I’m sure they will be glad to help you also.
If you have any other questions Mary Anne, just ask. 🙂
Hello! I took a class to re certify my credentials with you last weekend! My certificate expires today and the office for AAAI is closed. Do you think they will still take my $20 renewal fee on the next business day? Thanks
Hi James, just call them on monday. you took the class so you are recertified, even if you did not yet receive your new certification. Call AAAI on monday and you will be ok.
Thanks for your support. Just FYI, I was able to pay for the recertification and received credit for the class.
Thanks James, I’m glad AAAI was able to resolve the problem to your satisfaction.
Hi Joe,
I was certified in Group Exercise through AAAI in January 2014. However, I want to get certified as a Personal Trainer in the next 4-6 months and do all future certs through ACE. Does this mean I just let my AAAI Group Exercise Cert expire and get the group cert through ACE? Also, how do AAAI and ACE know what certs you have? I don’t recall AAAI ever sending me anything to verify any new CEU’s that I have added.
Kristi, you can either keep your AAAI group exercise cert and ACE group exercise cert or let the AAAI cert expire. Its totally up to you. Having the ACE cert does not mean you have to let also cant keep the AAAI group ex cert.
As far as I know, neither ACE or AAAI track which certs you have. When you recertify – with ACE or AAAI, etc. – you tell them what you have done (the CEUs you have accumulated) that is needed to re-certify. As for AAAI, they record the CEUs you acquire but might not send you a verification of this. I think that’s common for many organizations. For example, when I recertified with NSCA, they didn’t send me verification of my CEUs either.
AAAI might be able to explain this better than me, so I’d also call them about this.
Does that help?
Yes, this helps and I will call AAAI to confirm. Thank you!
The thing that holds me back from getting AAAI, is that they have zero workshops in my area (Los Angeles). They’re all in east coast. Making it so much hassle to get recertified. I really wanted to give it a go, but it’s too much of a hassle. Hope AAAI would look into that.
Also, even the personal training certification workshop/testing is so few and far between in my area, where I would think there would be lot more offered for such a big metropolitan area.
Brian, I know there have been workshops in the LA area. I have not done any but I know others have. One thing I like about AAAI is that if your gym wants to host a class, they will send someone out there to do the class. I recommend you give them a call and ask them about classes in LA. They may have ways to accommodate you.
Hi Joe,
My certification (Strength Cond. and Weight Training) expires, I believe in February. I have read that it seems I can take any class without the test at the end. Is this also true if I wanted to sit in on the Personal Training Class?
Melissa, yes its true. Just sign up in advance so everybody knows your attending the class you pick and you are all set 🙂
Hi Joe,
Can you tell me where your next class is? My cert expired in April of this year. I have taken your classes before.
Maria, all the classes I teach are at Joe-Cannon.com/classes
there is a list of ALL the AAAI/ISMA classes listed on the AAAI website
Hi Joe, i just want to make sure I understand correctly my 2yr personal trainer certification will expire in August. Do I need to renew before then or just sometime this year. THanks so much, Tracy
Hi Tracy, renew the cert before it expires. When you renew it it will be good for only 1 year. Then you need to re certify each year. you can take ANY AAAI class to renew it (no test required). you can also attend any of their conventions also to renew the cert.
Hi Joe
Hope ur years is doing great like mine. I was certified by u 2 years ago, i was the one who bought us the home made Lazania. my cert is about to expire end of jan. I’m in Fire Academy, volunteer Fire Fighter and working full time. Is there any way i can get recertified on line or go to class in Feb so i don’t have to take the whole class over again, due to not having time on the weekend due to Fire Academy. Please advise me of my options.
Thanks for ur time.
HI Cedric, wow is it 2 years since that’s lasagna already! currently AAAI does not have an online option but I believe they do have a “hardship option” for those who may not be able to attend a class due to special circumstances. I’m not sure of this but you can always try to call them and ask. That said remember you can take ANY class – not just classes Im doing. Even an aerobics class would re-certify you.
Hello Joe,
Is the AAAI certification for personal training a nationally accredited certification or is it a local area specific certification?
Hi Chad, the “I” in AAAI/ISMA stands for International, so technically its not only accepted in the US but outside as well. That said, I would go to your local gyms and ask if they accept it. Most do but some gyms are finicky when it comes to certs. For example, I remember years ago when I worked at the Healthplex Sports Club, they only accepted NSCA, ACSM and NASM certs. The powers that be at the time would laugh at people with ACE certs, because they didn’t think ACE was good enough. I’ve never had a problem with ACE but it shows you that some gyms have preferences.
Hi, Joe
my PFT is good for two years but i wanted to take some of the other AAAI classes in the near future so are these credits going to count two years from now for the re certification? Thanks! Delia.
Delia, thats a good question and I’d call AAAI about that.
Hey Joe
The fitness manager at LA Fitness in Sterling told me that I should contact you to get certified. How much is it and when are you holding your next class
Hi Eric, AAAI/ISMA certs are $99. Here is my post on the AAAI test that you may have missed http://joe-cannon.com/aaai-isma-personal-training-test-certification-study-tips/
Here are the classes I am teaching. http://joe-cannon.com/classes/
Read my words closely especially if you have never studied a book about personal training before.
Hi Joe, I am taking my PFT exam in August and then planning on moving to Kentucky for the next three years. How would I be able to re-certify in two.
Daren, there should be AAAI classes in Kentucky. they will be listed on the AAAI website so keep checking there. one trick that may help is make a google alert for “AAAI/ISMA Kentucky” so you get emails if any classes show up.
Joe, do you personally recert indoor cycling for AAAI/ISMA?
nancy, you can recert in that by taking any aaai class including classes i teach
Hi Joe,
Do you have a practice test for the Nutrition Certification?
Thanks,
Alana B.
Hi Alana, my personal trainer practice test has a 40 question nutrition section. A practice test specifically about nutrition and sports nutrition is a goal that I hope to complete in the near future.
Hi Joe , how are you ? My name is Greg Kot and i did one of your classes for personal fitness certification in : 10/21/2007 ; exp. date :10/20/2009 . And my question is : can i re-certified my certification by e-mail bc i live right now out of the U.States , exactly in Poland . How does it look like this procedure ? Sincerely Greg Kot , please respond as quickly as you can , thank you .
Hi Greg, I am not sure how AAAI is set up to deal with people outside of the US but I will contact them today for you and ask them this question.
You said your cert expired in 2009. Did you do anything before 2009 to maintain your personal training cert? AAAI gives you 2 years to get re-certified and after that, you have to get re-certified each year. Im asking you this because if you did not maintain your cert past 2009, it has expired and you would have to take the AAAI test again (which would start you over again so it would be good for 2 years).
Let me know if your cert is completely expired or not so I can give you the best information.
Hi Joe,
I need to re-certify as a Personal Trainer. I live in Whiting, NJ and was wondering if you know of any AAAI re-certification classes closer to my area than Gloucester Comm College in Sewell, NJ and any sooner than 3/3/2012 as that is the same date I was planning to get my CPR class/certification from American Red Cross. Thanks for any info you can give.
Hi Janice, there may be a class closer. try checking the AAAI website. there is a calendar there that has ALL of their classes. you can take ANY class to get recertified as long as the cert did not expire.
Do you have to re certify in the same year the cert expires? Or how far in advance can you take another course or the same course to re certify? If I certify as a Zumba instructor will AAAI honor those CEU’s as credit toward AAAI recertificaton?
Thanks
Pearl Kirkland-Smith
Hi Pearl, Im pretty sure AAAI will honor your Zumba CEUs but it wont count as all your 8 CEUS. AAAI stipulates that at least half (4 CEUS) have to come from a AAAI class. All of AAAI classes count for 8 CEUS.