College Credit Now Available for Students Who Pass Fitness Certification Exams

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE via COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--March 7, 2000--College students can now earn credit toward graduation for passing an American Council on Exercise (ACE) certification exam.

The largest nonprofit certifier of fitness professionals, ACE is the first and only fitness certifying organization to obtain college credit recommendations for its four exams.

ACE`s certification exams were approved by the American Council on Education`s College Credit Recommendation Service as comparable to college-level coursework. The council`s recommendations for ACE`s exams are as follows:

-- Personal Trainer: equivalent to two semester hours.

-- Group Fitness Instructor: equivalent to two semester hours.

-- Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant: equivalent to two semester hours.

-- Clinical Exercise Specialist: equivalent to four semester hours.

''This is great news for fitness-minded students,'' said ACE`s Certification Director, Tony Ordas. ''Not only can they get college credit for passing ACE exams but they also have the opportunity to earn extra money while working as a personal trainer or exercise instructor.''

Approximately 1100 colleges and universities nationwide recognize the American Council on Education`s college credit recommendations. To determine if your college or university recognizes the council`s recommendations, visit www.acenet.edu/calec/corporate/partic-univ-U.html. Each educational
institution makes the final decision in awarding credit.

For more information about college credit recommendations for ACE certification exams, log onto the ACE Web site at www.acefitness.com/getcertified/college.html or call 800/825-3636.

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of physical activity and protecting consumers against unsafe and ineffective fitness products and instruction. As the nation`s ''workout watchdog,'' ACE conducts university-based research and testing that targets fitness products and trends. ACE sets standards for fitness professionals and is the world`s largest nonprofit fitness certifying organization.

The American Council on Education`s College Credit Recommendation Service (formerly ACE/PONSI) was created to evaluate learning in business and industry settings. With mounting concern about America`s ''productive edge,'' organizations in business and industry, as well as local and federal government, are having their in-house training evaluated for possible college credit recommendations.