Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
ACSM vs Testprep Training
Where ACSM and Testprep Training differ
| Compare |  ACSM |  Testprep Training |
|---|---|---|
| Certification type | Fitness | It |
| Price from | $310 to $410 | $12.99Lower |
| Course hours | 20 hours | 45 hoursHigher |
| Exam fee included | YesHas it | No |
| Teaching practicum | No | Not confirmed |
| Tutor support | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Recertification period | 3 years | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 7 days |
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Key differences
- Testprep Training scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Price from is lower at Testprep Training: $12.99 vs $310 to $410.
- Course hours is higher at Testprep Training: 45 hours vs 20 hours.
- Exam fee included: only ACSM.
- 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.
Testprep Training
Testprep Training suits GMAT, GRE and PMP candidates who want to test themselves cheaply before paying for course packs, with entry fees of $12.99. Its money-back terms ask for a claim within 7 days of a result, so read that window before you buy.
Score breakdown
| Area | ACSM | Testprep Training |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Entry cost of $310 to $410 for the personal trainer certification, ranking at 50 of 87, with the exam fee included. | 10.0Higher$12.99 sits near the cheap end, ranking 4 of 65 brands on entry price. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherStudy of 20 hours with the exam fee included, no practicum to place, and renewal every 3 years. | 8.4Live classes are no, but 105 practice questions, a free tier and 7 days for claims keep the offer solid. |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | ACSM | Testprep Training |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $310 to $410 | $12.99 |
| Course hours | 20 hours | 45 hours |
Which one suits you
Pick ACSM if offer and exam fee included matter most.
Pick Testprep Training if cost, price from, and course hours matter most.
A third option
National CPR Foundation has price from at $12.95, against $310 to $410 for ACSM and $12.99 for Testprep Training.
National CPR Foundation reviewWhere these facts come from
ACSM
- acsm.org: 9 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Testprep Training
- testpreptraining.ai: 9 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | ACSM | Testprep Training |
|---|---|---|
| Fitness, IT and coaching certifications | 12 of 48 | 7 of 48 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ACSM | Testprep Training |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Online, In personCovers more | Online |
| Headquarters | United States | India |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Online courses
| Fact | ACSM | Testprep Training |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Platform type | Not confirmed | Curated |
| Subjects | Not confirmed | Coding, Data, It, Business, Design |
| Number of courses | Not confirmed | 200 |
| Graded assessments | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Team plan | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ACSM | Testprep Training | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $310 to $410above the median | $12.99lowest quarter | $79 |
| Course hours | 20 hoursbelow the median | 45 hoursbelow the median | 60 hours |
| 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.
Testprep Training
Pros
- Entry price of $12.99 sits well below Zebra Education at $49 and LSAT Lab at $65.
- A free tier and a free trial are both listed, so the material can be sampled before any spend.
- Tutor support and a team plan are both offered, which is unusual this close to the $12.99 entry point.
Cons
- Live classes are not part of the offer, so no scheduled teaching sits behind the practice material.
- Support runs on email only, so a phone line or live chat is not in the package.
- The exam fee is not included on the it course, so exam day costs sit on top of $12.99.
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.
Testprep Training
Who it suits
- GMAT candidates testing the water before buying course packs, since the entry point is $12.99.
- Self-paced learners, as online is the only delivery mode listed and live classes are no.
- PMP and GRE candidates who want tutor support attached to the practice material in gmat, gre and pmp.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants live classes: E2Language teaches through live sessions, while Testprep Training lists live classes as no.
- LSAT or MCAT candidates, since LSAT Lab centres on a test outside the gmat, gre and pmp range here.
- Buyers who want one deeper purchase rather than a low entry price: Zebra Education starts at $49, while $12.99 buys a single practice exam.
Current offers
Testprep Training
Current offer
Free trial
Free GMAT Practice Test (44 questions): 44-question free mock test
Free Practice Test for GMAT Comprehensive Exam, immediate access, life long access
Source, checked September 30, 2026
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.
Testprep Training
What does Testprep Training cost to start?+
The entry point is $12.99 for a single GMAT practice exam, cheaper than Zebra Education at $49 and LSAT Lab at $65. Buying wider means a course pack or Pro Plan bundle, and those cost more than the practice exam alone, so scale your spend to the exams you actually sit.
What can I get without paying?+
A free tier is listed and a free trial is available as well, so you can sit a practice paper and open part of the catalogue before spending. The free side is a taster rather than the course: course packs sit well above the $12.99 entry point, and tutor support applies to what you buy.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- ACSM vs Future Skills Academy
- ACSM vs 101 Blockchains
- ACSM vs Upgrad knowledgehut
- ACSM vs Marisa Peer
- ACSM vs Simplilearn
- Testprep Training vs Summit Professional Education
- Testprep Training vs Centre of Excellence
- Testprep Training vs Amen University
- Testprep Training vs E2Language
- Testprep Training vs LSAT Lab
- Testprep Training vs Zebra Education