Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
ACSM vs Future Skills Academy
ACSM vs Future Skills Academy: the differences
| Compare |  ACSM |  Future Skills Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Certification type | Fitness | It |
| Price from | $310 to $410 | $25Lower |
| Course hours | 20 hoursHigher | 10 hours |
| Teaching practicum | No | YesHas it |
| Tutor support | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Job support | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Typical completion time (weeks) | Not confirmed | 4 |
| Recertification period | 3 years | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 7 days |
Same on both: Exam fee included (Yes).
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Key differences
- ACSM scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.8.
- Price from is lower at Future Skills Academy: $25 vs $310 to $410.
- Course hours is higher at ACSM: 20 hours vs 10 hours.
- Teaching practicum: only Future Skills Academy.
- Support channels: only ACSM offers Phone, Help centre.
- Delivery: only ACSM offers In person.
Our verdict on each
ACSM
It suits people moving into personal training who want a short, exam-led fitness certificate and no placement on the plan. The ACSM personal trainer certification runs 20 hours of study, includes the exam fee, and asks for renewal every 3 years, which keeps the cost recurring.
Future Skills Academy
Future Skills Academy suits IT learners who want a professional certificate fast and a plan that already carries the exam. Entry costs $25, monthly pricing runs $25 to $75 and the certificate adds $299, the figure to weigh against Hotmart at $0 and a refund window of 7 days.
Score breakdown
| Area | ACSM | Future Skills Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Entry cost of $310 to $410 for the personal trainer certification, ranking at 50 of 87, with the exam fee included. | 8.9Entry plan at $25, monthly plan at $25 to $75, and a separate certificate at $299 keep the opening outlay low but the award costly. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherStudy of 20 hours with the exam fee included, no practicum to place, and renewal every 3 years. | 8.8Free tier, offline download, assessments, job support and tutor support sit alongside 20 courses inside 12 months of access. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.8CPD credit recognition, assessments and a professional certificate support the claim, while the refund window of 7 days is the weak point. |
By the numbers
| Fact | ACSM | Future Skills Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $310 to $410 | $25 |
| Course hours | 20 hours | 10 hours |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | ACSM | Future Skills Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Fitness, IT and coaching certifications | 12 of 48 | 1 of 48 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ACSM | Future Skills Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Online, In personCovers more | Online |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ACSM | Future Skills Academy | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $310 to $410above the median | $25below the median | $79 |
| Course hours | 20 hoursbelow the median | 10 hoursbelow the median | 60 hours |
| Typical completion time (weeks) | Not confirmed | 4below the median | 6 |
| Recertification period | 3 yearshighest quarter | Not confirmed | 2 years |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 7 daysbelow the median | 14 days |
Median across 52 listed providers.
Pros and cons
ACSM
Pros
- The exam fee is included in the $310 to $410 for the ACSM personal trainer certification, so the test adds no extra cost on the day.
- Study runs 20 hours, well under the 78-hour typical across the site, so candidates can qualify without a long block of study.
- Delivery covers online and in person, letting candidates choose where they sit the course.
Cons
- Practicum is no, so there is no supervised placement to pair the 20 hours of study with.
- Price from ranks at 50 of 87, so the $310 to $410 for the ACSM personal trainer certification sits toward the dearer end of the field.
- Renewal lands every 3 years, so the outlay recurs for anyone who wants to keep the credential current.
Future Skills Academy
Pros
- The entry plan at $25 sits above Hotmart at $0 and level with Academy for Health and Fitness at £25.
- The exam fee is included, so $299 is the full cost of the professional certificate rather than the start of it.
- A free tier, offline download and job support all sit inside the plan, so a learner can sample the material and keep studying away from a connection.
Cons
- The refund window of 7 days ranks 120 of 159, the weakest of the measures tracked here.
- The certificate fee of $299 sits at 47 of 47 among the brands compared.
- Support runs on email alone, so questions to the platform travel in writing.
Who each suits
ACSM
Who it suits
- People moving into personal training who want a fitness credential they can finish quickly and sit the exam for in the same package.
- Learners who need the option to study online or attend in person without hunting for a placement.
- Anyone budgeting ahead for a certificate that comes back around for renewal.
Who should look elsewhere
- Marisa Peer, whose certificate is coaching and therefore aimed at coaching rather than gym floor work.
- CrackCerts and Testprep Training, whose certifications are it and it, a different market entirely.
- Anyone who needs a placement, since Practicum is no for the ACSM route.
Future Skills Academy
Who it suits
- Learners in IT who want a professional certificate with the exam fee already inside the price.
- Self-paced learners who want delivery fully online, with a free tier and offline download for study on the move.
- Teams covering several learners, since a team plan is available.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who need a free start, since Hotmart lists $0 as its entry plan price.
- Learners who want a wider catalogue than 20 courses and can accept another subject, where DRCertifications starts at $19.99.
- Anyone who needs a refund window longer than 7 days, since the field reaches 360 days at its most generous.
Questions about each
ACSM
How much does the ACSM personal trainer certification cost?+
The ACSM personal trainer certification is listed at $310 to $410 for entry, and that figure already carries the exam. On price from, ACSM ranks at 50 of 87 in the comparison, so it sits toward the dearer end of the field rather than the cheap end.
Is the exam fee included in what I pay?+
Yes, the exam fee is included, so the $310 to $410 for the ACSM personal trainer certification covers study and the test together. Worth checking what the package covers at renewal, which comes round every 3 years.
Future Skills Academy
What does it cost to join Future Skills Academy?+
The entry plan is priced at $25 and the monthly plan runs $25 to $75. A free tier is offered as well, so a learner can look at the material before paying anything. The professional certificate is not folded into either figure and is charged on its own.
How much is the certificate, and is the exam included?+
The professional certificate costs $299. The exam fee is included in the plan, which means $299 is the whole award cost rather than a starting point with an exam charge on top. Course fees and the certificate sit on separate lines in the budget.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Future Skills Academy vs The TEFL Institute
- ACSM vs 101 Blockchains
- ACSM vs Upgrad knowledgehut
- ACSM vs Marisa Peer
- ACSM vs Testprep Training
- ACSM vs Simplilearn
- Future Skills Academy vs CrackCerts
- Future Skills Academy vs Summit Professional Education
- Future Skills Academy vs Centre of Excellence
- Future Skills Academy vs Amen University
- Future Skills Academy vs DataCamp
- Future Skills Academy vs Legale Lover
- Future Skills Academy vs International Open Academy