ACE Marks 40 Years as a Fitness Industry Leader
ACE is celebrating 40 years of certifying fitness pros, partnering with public health leaders and pushing for a future where movement is medicine
Forty years ago, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) set safety standards for aerobics instructors. Today, it certifies health coaches in more than 110 countries and partners with leading public health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The nonprofit is marking its 40th anniversary with a renewed focus on expanding access to fitness education and championing the role of movement in preventive health.
Founded in 1985, ACE has grown into one of the most respected names in exercise science and health coaching, with more than 90,000 certified professionals helping people move more and live better. In the past year alone, ACE pros led 11.7 million fitness sessions around the world.
“A lot of things have changed in the health and fitness industry over the past four decades, but one thing has remained the same: ACE’s commitment to helping all people make healthy lifestyle choices and build sustainable habits that will ultimately help them live long and fulfilling lives,” ACE CEO Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., said. “We are very proud of our journey and excited to continue advancing health and well-being through the power of movement.”
Over the decades, ACE has grown in lockstep with the fitness industry, evolving from the aerobics boom of the 1980s to today’s personalized, tech-enabled approach to health and movement. The organization originally launched as the IDEA Foundation, created to set safety and certification standards for aerobics instructors at the height of the high-impact dance fitness craze. By the 1990s, it had rebranded as ACE and emerged as a credible voice in the industry, earning the nickname “America’s Workout Watchdog” from The Wall Street Journal.
In the 2000s, ACE reached a new level of professional legitimacy by securing NCCA accreditation for its four primary certification programs. As the national conversation around physical activity shifted toward public health in the 2010s, ACE took on leadership roles in key initiatives, including First Lady Michelle Obama’s Joining Forces and the World Health Organization’s global physical activity strategy.
In recent years, ACE has continued its mission of innovation and inclusion. It launched coaching frameworks like the ACE Mover Method and the RRAMP Approach while deepening partnerships with organizations such as the CDC, Special Olympics International and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
Amanda Cass, ACE president and chief operating officer, said the organization will continue to evolve while staying grounded in science and accessibility.
“We will also continue our long-standing commitment to the ACE mission to promote access to health and fitness resources while encouraging innovation within the fitness industry,” she said.