For Ace it's not so much of human physiology or anatomy, there are only 2-3 questions on the whole test that cover either, you can skip both and still have a very high score. It's more about rules you need to follow how to calculate body fat, calorie needs, how to read the nutrition label on back of box of food, etc. And basic guidelines you must know so you stay in the white area as a trainer instead of the gray area where if sued you'd lose everything.
Also check with your state laws for PT each state as certain rules you must follow or not break or you can be sued. Some tell you you can't give any food advice, others tell you the only way to give advice would be to recommend something you read that is copyrighted, others tell you it's find to coach them about their eating habits.
If you got 2 to 3 hours a day for those 90 days, or hit a review session and then study an hour or two for a week after the review session you won't have a problem taking the test and getting certified, if you don't take the review you can end up studying for weeks on stuff they only ask 2 or 3 questions total about as they put that first in the book and the first thing you do is study the stuff you don't know, and as detailed as that book can get, it's easy to spend way too much time on it. I did that and I was so upset about all the wasted time, to find out they mainly test over stuff I already knew from being an group exercise instructor. Just at the time, I was working at the gym and it wasn't all that big of a deal if you weren't certified, it was well over 10 years ago, and it was the only gym for a 50 mile circle. So the rules were a bit different then.
Do get certified, it does cost a bit of money to do, but if you got a gym willing to help you get clients then it's pretty easy to make some extra cash, just realize that weekends generally aren't your busest time as a PT. As there are a lot of exerciser who take the weekends off to do stuff with family etc. There are always some around the gym, but depending on your area, will determine how hard it is or isn't to get clients.
Also note to be certified it's not a one time thing, you got to earn 2.5 credits every 2 years to keep your certification, so depending on what you do, it's either it's time spent at conferences which generally are on the weekends, so you'd lose a day of work, or studying material at home and taking tests. It will depend on where you live which one is mainly available to you. And yes all this, is money out of your pocket, so if you are trying to earn extra money, and only going to do it on the weekends, this can cut into your profit really quickly. As confrences are generally $100 - $500, home study $35 - $200, + fee for test.
So depending on what the gym is going to pay you, or if you are a subcontractor, will also depend if you got to pay for your own liability insurance, that's pretty cheap but still adds up over time, and it's another expense you must at least figure in to see how much you need to work to make what you want to make and have everything covered.
One thing I'd suggest is go to IDEA or ACE website or both and take a look at the CECs classes, and figure out how much it will cost you the first two years to get your 2.5 credits, they called continuing education credit, plus the $150 fee for taking the certification, and the $80 for the basic study materials unless you want a better package. And then see what the gym will pay you or if you can charge your own fee, and how many hours/weekends you need to work to pay for all that.
And remember at first it takes a bit to get a group of clients that will continue to come back, some will try you once or twice, and then you never see them again, others will stay with you, until you, move, quit or retire. So don't count on being able to have 4 clients each day, Saturday and Sunday to start out with. It may or may not happen, and if you got to do the orientation thing for the gym, to get clients, some pay you, your normal fee as a PT. Others only give you half your normal fee as your just doing orientation. So check into that as well. Being a PT is owning your own business even if you work under someone elses name, there are a ton of hidden costs and things you constantly got to keep track off. I'm sure you know more about that then anyone being a lawyer.
I don't want to scare you off, but I don't want to see a good person end up at the bill at the end of the year, instead of money in their pocket. As you weren't warned about all the other hidden stuff that went along with it. I've seen so many good PTs quit because they didn't know about having to earn the 2.5 credits every two years, and lose their certification. Or didn't check into the state they were working in and get sued for giving advice they shouldn't have and lose their business, and generally their house and cars as well, due to not being able to pay the court bills and their bills as they are now out of work, etc.
HTH,
Kit
