ACE Group Fitness Instructor University Curriculum

Chapter 1: Who Is the ACE-certified Group Fitness Instructor?

 Learning Objectives

 Upon completion of this chapter, you will be

able to:
 Define the ACE-certified group fitness instructor’s
(GFI) scope of practice
 List the primary concepts of the ACE Code of
Ethics
 State the duration of the GFI certification period
and explain the process of renewal
 Describe strategies to further enhance the GFI’s
career development
 Introduction
 The human body responds to the stress of physical
movement with improved fitness and health.
 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
(U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
 Regular physical activity reduces the risk of many adverse
health outcomes.
 For most health outcomes, additional benefits occur as the
amount of physical activity increases.
 Most health benefits occur with at least 150 minutes a week
of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk
walking.
 Both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity are
beneficial.
 Health benefits occur across all population groups.
 The health benefits of physical activity occur for people with
disabilities.
 The benefits of physical activity far outweigh the possibility
of adverse outcomes.
Fitness Professionals Help Participants Improve Health

 Physicians generally do not provide specific

instructions for how to exercise.
 ACE-certified GFIs play a vital role in allied
healthcare.
 They help participants achieve positive health and
fitness improvements.
 Combating rising levels of obesity and diseases
related to lifestyle choices has led to a positive
outlook for professionals in the fitness industry.
The Allied Healthcare Continuum

 The allied healthcare continuum is

composed of health professionals who are
credentialed through:
 Certifications
 Registrations
 Licensure
 Physicians are at the top of the allied
healthcare pyramid, evaluating patients to
diagnose ailments and implement treatment
plans, or referring patients to specialists as
needed.
The Role of Fitness Professionals
 The role of fitness professionals in relation to
the other members of the healthcare team is
presented on the following slide.
 The GFI should obtain written permission
from the participant to communicate with the
referring physician.
 Even when participants do not have a
physician’s referral, it is important to maintain
confidential records that include the
participant’s:
 Program
 Progress
 Health-history information
Specialty Areas Within Allied Healthcare

Note: AHFS = Advanced Health & Fitness Specialist; LWMC = Lifestyle & Weight Management Coach
The ACE Group Fitness Instructor
Certification
 Candidates must meet or surpass a level of
“minimum competency” as assessed by a
competency-based evaluation (exam) to
show that they are adequately qualified to
work in the profession.
 The primary purpose of a certification is to
protect the public from harm.
 An ACE-certified GFI has proven
competence in:
 Making safe and effective exercise-programming
decisions in a variety of class situations
 Minimizing exercise participant risk and exposure
to harm
Defining “Scope of Practice”

 A scope of practice defines the:

 Legal range of services that
professionals in a given field
can provide
 Settings in which those
services can be provided
 Guidelines or parameters that
must be followed
 The laws, rules, and
regulations that govern a
profession are established for
the protection of the public.
 Fitness professionals as a
collective group have a general
scope of practice, as presented
on the following slide.
ACE GFI General Scope of Practice

 Developing and implementing exercise

programs
 Conducting pre-exercise health screens and
fitness assessments
 Goal setting
 Teaching correct exercise methods and
participant-monitoring techniques
 Implementing effective motivation and
adherence strategies
 Educating participants about relevant topics
 Protecting participant confidentiality
 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA)
Working With Other Healthcare Professionals

 A GFI should not make recommendations

that contradict those of a participant’s
healthcare team.
 Each state, province, and country has
specific laws about the responsibilities of
different healthcare professions.
 It is the responsibility of the GFI to:
 Learn and adhere to the laws in his or her
geographical area
 Work within the ACE-certified GFI scope of
practice and adhere to the ACE Code of Ethics
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

 The ACE GFI Certification is designed for fitness

professionals wanting to provide general exercise
leadership to apparently healthy individuals.
 The certification program is continually evaluated.
 The outline of tasks, knowledge, and skills is published
as the ACE Group Fitness Instructor Exam Content
Outline
 Appendix B in the ACE Group Fitness Instructor Manual,
3rd ed.
Education and Experience

 To prepare for the ACE GFI Certification

Exam, candidates may choose from:
 Preparatory courses or workshops delivered live
or online
 Educational internships
 Professional experience
 College courses
 Each candidate must select his or her own
path based on time, financial resources,
learning styles, and personal factors.
 ACE recommends three to six months of
study time to adequately prepare.
Preparation and Testing
 ACE Certification Candidate
Handbook
 www.acefitness.org/getcertified/pdfs/Certi
fication-Exam-Candidate-Handbook.pdf
 This complimentary handbook
explains:
 How ACE certification exams are
developed
 What the candidate should expect
 The procedures for earning and
maintaining an ACE certification
 Multiple-choice and client-scenario
questions found on the ACE certification
exams
 Test-taking strategies and available study
resources
Professional Responsibilities and Ethics

 ACE has established a professional

ethical code of conduct and
disciplinary procedures.
 ACE certifications have all received
third-party accreditation from the
National Commission for Certifying
Agencies (NCCA).
 ACE has developed the ACE Code of
Ethics to serve as a guide for ethical
and professional practices for all ACE-
certified Professionals.
 www.acefitness.org/getcertified/certifie
d-code.aspx

 All ACE-certified Professionals must

comply with the ACE Code of Ethics.
 ACE Code of Ethics
 ACE-certified Professionals will endeavor to:
 Provide safe and effective instruction
 Provide equal and fair treatment to all clients/participants
 Stay up-to-date on the latest health and fitness research and
understand its practical application
 Maintain current CPR certification and knowledge of first-aid
services
 Comply with all applicable business, employment, and
intellectual property laws
 Maintain the confidentiality of all client/participant information
 Refer clients/participants to more qualified health or medical
professionals when appropriate
 Uphold and enhance public appreciation and trust for the
health and fitness industry
 Establish and maintain clear professional boundaries
Professional Practices and Disciplinary Procedures

 ACE may revoke or otherwise take action with regard to

the application or certification of an individual in the
case of:
 Ineligibility for certification
 Irregularity in connection with any certification examination
 Unauthorized possession, use, access, or distribution of
confidential or proprietary ACE documents or materials
 Material misrepresentation or fraud in any statement to ACE or to
the public
 Any physical, mental, or emotional condition that impairs
competent and objective professional performance
 Negligent and/or intentional misconduct in professional work
 The timely conviction, plea of guilty, or plea of nolo contendere
(“no contest”) in connection with a felony or misdemeanor that is
directly related to public health and/or fitness instruction or
education
 Failure to meet the requirements for certification or recertification
 Disciplinary Process

 ACE has developed a three-tiered disciplinary

process.
 The process consists of review, hearing, and appeals
to ensure fair and unbiased examination of alleged
violation(s) of the Application and Certification
Standards in order to:
 Determine the merit of allegations
 Impose appropriate sanctions as necessary to protect
the public and the integrity of the certification process
Certification Period and Renewal
 ACE certifications are valid for two years from the date
earned.
 To renew, ACE-certified Professionals must:
 Complete a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education credits
(2.0 CECs)
 Maintain a current certificate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR) and, if living in North America, automated external
defibrillation (AED)

 Certified professionals should complete additional

continuing education.
 The ramifications for allowing an ACE certification to
expire include:
 Not being able to advertise the fact that they hold the ACE
certification until it is renewed
 Discontinued professional liability insurance
 Loss of employment
 Participant Privacy

 Participants will share confidential information with

the GFI.
 To help prevent violations of participant privacy, ACE-
certified Professionals should adhere to the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
 Following HIPAA regulations can help maintain the
confidentiality of each client’s protected health
information.
 Referral

 GFIs must refer participants who require services

outside their scope of practice.
 Proper referral ensures that participants are provided
with appropriate care from qualified providers.
 Referrals can also come to the GFI from other health
professionals.
Developing a Referral Network

 GFIs should identify allied health

professionals who are reputable.
 Potential referral sources include:
– Mind/body instructors
– Smoking-cessation programs
– Aquatic exercise programs
– Support groups
– Massage therapists

 Research potential referrals before

recommending any programs or services
to a participant.
 With proper networking, the GFI may
also gain referrals from the other health
and fitness professionals within the
network.
 Safety

 All fitness professionals should do what they can to

minimize risk for everyone in the fitness facility, including:
 Proper equipment maintenance and storage
 Ensuring appropriate cleanliness of the facility
 Understanding emergency procedures
 Conducting a health-history assessment
 Determining appropriate levels of intensity for initial exercise
program design
 Helping clients perform exercises in a safe and effective
manner with proper progressions

 Even with the best risk-management program, injuries and

incidents can still occur.
 As such, ACE recommends that all ACE-certified
Professionals carry professional liability insurance.
 Supplements

 Supplements are not regulated by the U.S.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
 It is not illegal for fitness facilities to sell
commercial nutritional supplements.
 However, it is irresponsible for them to provide
supplement recommendations without the
appropriate staff to give such advice.
 GFIs are not qualified to recommend
supplements to clients.
 Unless a GFI is also a registered dietitian or a
physician, he or she does not have the expertise
or legal qualifications necessary to recommend
supplements.
Educating Participants About
Supplements
 GFIs should educate themselves about
supplements.
 The GFI should help the participant
understand that:
– Fitness goals can be reached without
supplements
– Supplements can have negative and potentially
harmful side effects

 Some participants insist on using dietary

supplements.
– The GFI should refer the participant to a qualified
physician or registered dietitian for guidance.
Ramifications of Offering Inappropriate Services

 Offering services that are within the legal

realm of other healthcare professions is in
violation of the ACE Code of Ethics.
 The GFI is qualified to help participants with:
 General exercise programming needs
 Basic nutrition information based on the USDA’s
Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010
Accreditation of Allied Healthcare Credentials

 The acceptance of fitness professionals as legitimate

members of the allied healthcare team has been
lacking.
 As a result, ACE has earned third-party accreditation
from the NCCA for its fitness certification programs.
 The NCCA has reviewed and accredited the
certification programs for most professions within
allied healthcare.
Recognition From the Fitness and Health Industry

 NCCA accreditation is recognized as the

third-party standard for accreditation of
certifications for GFIs.
 NCCA accreditation is also recognized by
the following fitness industry professional
trade organizations:
 The Medical Fitness Association (MFA)
 The International Health, Racquet, and
Sportsclub Association (IHRSA)
 Requirements for hiring fitness professionals
that recognize the NCCA accreditation are
being developed.
Recognition From the Education Community

 The ACE GFI college curriculum:

 Helps instructors with course design
 Provides discounts on the study materials for
students
 Helps exercise science departments meet one of
the primary outcome assessments stated in the
Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of
Educational Programs for Personal Fitness
Training from the Commission on Accreditation of
Allied Health Education Programs
Recognition From the Department of Labor

 The Department of Labor (DOL) reports that

most organizations encourage GFIs to
obtain certification in the fitness field and
many require it to gain employment.
 ACE is specifically identified by the DOL as
offering quality certifications for GFIs.
 Career Development

 A GFI who wants full-time employment in

fitness should have a general idea of his or
her career path.
 Career paths are guidelines to help the
professional reach certain career goals.
 A career plan can help a professional
determine if a continuing education offering
is in line with his or her goals.
 A career plan can be used as a template for
researching and selecting continuing education to
work toward a GFI’s goals.
 Continuing Education

 Completing continuing education in one or

more areas of focus can advance a GFI’s
career.
 Factors to consider when selecting
continuing education courses include:
 Checking if the course will be at the appropriate
level
 Seeing if the instructor has the appropriate
qualifications to teach the course
 Learning if the course is ACE-approved or will
have to be petitioned for continuing educations
credits (CECs)
 Determining if the education provided is within the
scope of practice
 Specialization

 Specialization is a way to
become recognized as an
“expert” for a particular type of
exercise or client population.
 Areas of specialization should be
selected based on a GFI’s:
 Desired career path
 Interests
 Participant base
 The area of specialization
should:
 Fall within the scope of practice
 Provide the GFI with knowledge
that is complementary to what he
or she does within the scope of
practice
Additional Fitness Certifications

 ACE encourages fitness professionals to

earn certifications that provide them with
new areas of expertise.
 For example:
 GFIs can benefit from ACE’s Personal Trainer
certification.
 Fitness professionals can benefit from ACE’s
Lifestyle & Weight Management Coach (LWMC)
certification.
 Advanced or experienced fitness professionals
can benefit from ACE’s Advanced Health &
Fitness Specialist (AHFS) certification.
New Areas of Expertise Within Allied Healthcare

 A GFI who wants to expand his or her

services must earn the appropriate
credentials.
 This could include:
 Becoming a licensed massage therapist
 Earning a nutrition degree and becoming a
registered dietitian
 Earning a master’s degree in physical therapy
and becoming a licensed physical therapist
 Going to medical school and becoming a medical
doctor
 In all of these situations, the GFI can
become an advocate for exercise in his or
her new professional arena.
 Summary

 Many of the professions in healthcare are

devoted to treating disease, while a GFI
primarily helps people avoid disease.
 The role that ACE-certified GFIs play in the
healthcare continuum has never been more
important.
 This chapter covered:
 The allied healthcare continuum
 The ACE GFI Certification
 Accreditation of allied healthcare credentials
through the NCCA
 Career development