ACE Announces New Suite of Tools to Better Serve Exercise Professionals and Health Coaches
Posted: May 2, 2022 in Suppliers
ACE
SAN DIEGO, CA – The American Council on Exercise (ACE) announces a new suite of career support tools and resources to help exercise professionals and health coaches embark on lifelong learning and charter personalized career paths. This suite of resources includes ACE Pro Compass, a new tool that helps professionals navigate their careers through curated content and resources that help them define, develop and reach their full potential. ACE’s commitment to the success of exercise professionals and health coaches extends beyond certification, and this comprehensive new career support platform provides unprecedented ongoing support, guidance, tools and resources to help them thrive.
“Historically the fitness industry has sold the idea of a career in fitness through certification but has not done enough to support exercise professionals and health coaches beyond getting certified,” said Scott Goudeseune, ACE chief executive officer. “We are changing the game with ACE Pro Compass and additional tools by providing a tailored experience for professionals with ongoing support and guidance to create the career that fuels their passions for helping others from the first thought of getting started in the industry to when they decide to retire.”
The new suite of career support resources for exercise professionals and health coaches includes:
- Community Connection – Exercise professionals and health coaches can connect in various ways with other ACE Certified Professionals. Through the exclusive ACE Pro Connect mobile app, ACE Certified Professionals can have meaningful conversations, share resources, and network with like-minded exercise professionals and health coaches.
- Career Support – ACE Pro Compass is the flagship tool to guide exercise professionals and health coaches throughout their careers. Powered by customized content, ACE Pros can chart a career path that is tailored to their professional goals, all with detailed insights from experts providing an actionable path toward meeting career goals whether that means working in an entrepreneurial capacity or for a company that shares a like-minded mission.
- Education – ACE knows that knowledge is a lifelong pursuit and is here to keep exercise professionals and health coaches up to date with the leading evidence-based education available. Whether it be another certification or specialist program, continuing education, or the ACE Exercise Library, ACE is committed to supporting exercise professionals and health coaches well beyond initial certification.
“The COVID-19 pandemic caused many exercise professionals and health coaches to shift and adapt how or where they work, interact with clients or perhaps have even made people wary to enter into this industry,” said Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., FACSM ACE president and chief science officer. “As we begin to move toward a new normal, these professionals need trusted guidance and support as the fitness industry reimagines itself. ACE is proud to be a resource and an industry leader in providing career support so exercise professionals and health coaches can thrive.”
The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the fitness industry continues to evolve. Approximately 25% of all U.S. health and fitness facilities closed and 30% of studios permanently closed due to the pandemic (IHRSA, 2022). In addition, more than 1.5 million jobs, around 47%, in the fitness industry were cut due to the pandemic (IHRSA, 2022). Gyms and professionals who remain in the industry have shifted their service delivery, to include more hybrid options that include in-person and virtual sessions (IBIS, 2021; Club Intel, 2021).
As an industry leader and the top nonprofit certifying organization in the world, ACE is committed to changing the fitness industry and increasing career support of exercise professionals and health coaches, so that they may better serve individuals to lead healthier, more active lives.
