As the first certification provider in the United States to earn approval by the European Health & Fitness Association (EHFA) Standards Council, fitness professionals certified with American Council on Exercise (ACE) now meet the European standards to practice in fitness facilities located throughout Europe.
The EHFA has awarded ACE the designation of an EHFA Accredited Training Provider, meaning fitness professionals holding ACE Personal Trainer or Group Fitness Instructor certifications can join the European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPS).
“Meeting the European standards for practice allows our fitness professionals to work throughout Europe as full members with EREPS,” said ACE Director of Credentialing Todd Galati. “As the first U.S. fitness certification organization to earn designation as an EHFA Accredited Training Provider, ACE has taken a critical step in meeting the credentialing needs of the international fitness community.”
EREPS operates as an independent body for the registration of all instructors, trainers and teachers working across Europe in the exercise and fitness sector. Through its quality assurance process, the organization gives recognition to exercise professionals who are qualified to do their jobs by meeting the standards specified in the official European Qualification Framework (EQF) – EQF level 3 for Group Fitness Instructor and EQF level 4 for Personal Trainer.
“We are delighted that ACE has earned accreditation from EHFA, and we welcome ACE Personal Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors practicing in Europe to apply for registration with EREPS,” said Cliff Collins, EHFA Director of Programmes. “ACE, EREPS and EHFA have missions that align globally to get more people, more active, more often, and we approve of developing higher levels of global cooperation.”
With the new designation, ACE-certified Personal Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors with at least one year of recorded experience can join EREPS with full member status, while newly certified ACE professionals are granted provisional member status for their first year of practice.
“Accreditation from EHFA gives the ACE Personal Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors currently practicing in more than 75 countries worldwide the portability to work throughout Europe,” Galati said. “By meeting the rigorous accreditation standards of both the EHFA and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), ACE continues its global commitment to enriching quality of life through safe and effective exercise and physical activity.”
Dr Thomas Rieger, EHFA’s Standards Council Chairman formally presented the certificate of accreditation to Graham Melstrand the Vice-President of Corporate Affairs for ACE at the International Standards Meeting in Barcelona on Friday 10th November.