Fit to Thrive (F2T) FAQs

F2T is our newest wellness and fitness program. Born as an extension of the IAFF/IAFC Peer Fitness Trainer (PFT) program, F2T is designed to support the IAFF/IAFC Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative (WFI) by helping more fire fighters be more active, more often.

The F2T program will provide direct and immediate access to resources that help every certified member serve in their role as a wellness and fitness ambassador. This includes resources tailored to address specific departmental needs. F2T will emphasize practical strategies that improve physical, psychological and social well-being; accommodate the diverse needs and interests of all fire fighters; and make education, training, mentorship and support accessible – all while promoting solutions to change behaviors. Additional information about the F2T program can be found here.

F2T members will have access to a wide range of resources including virtual, online and in-person courses and workshops; webinars with industry leaders; implementation guidelines for exercise programming; wellness education and return-to-work protocols; mobility and fitness assessment tools; a series of questionnaires and surveys; and practical strategies to influence the physical activity behaviors of all fire fighters. New resources will be made available every month!

A website dedicated specifically to the F2T program, complete with a member portal, resources and a learning management system will be launched soon. It will serve as a central hub for everything F2T-related and allow you to track your continuing education and certificate status.

Individuals that held an active IAFF/IAFC/ACE PFT certificate as of January 1, 2022, can have their certificate transferred to us and be given a membership to the F2T program. Please reference the section “Active PFTs” below for more information about this process for active PFTs.

Individuals that held an IAFF/IAFC/ACE PFT certificate that expired on or before December 31, 2021 are considered Legacy PFTs. Legacy PFTs are eligible to be reinstated as PFTs within the F2T program by completing the F2T 110 course. Please reference the section “Legacy PFTs” below for more information about this process for legacy PFTs.

Individuals that have never held a PFT Certificate but would like to learn more about the F2T program, can do so by completing this short questionnaire.

ACE is and will continue to be a respected fitness organization and a partner of the IAFF and IAFC. However, over the past 25 years, the IAFF and IAFC have positioned themselves as authorities on fire fighter wellness and fitness by assembling a task force comprising fire fighters, fire chiefs, labor leaders, researchers, physicians, clinicians, and wellness and fitness professionals. Assuming oversight of the PFT Certificate will allow us to better serve the fire service by providing education, training, support and mentorship via the F2T program.

Yes. The F2T program also involves two certificates aside from the PFT Certificate. The Fitness and Performance Specialist (FPS) Certificate reflects a more advanced level of training and the Wellness-Fitness Ambassador (WFA) Certificate reflects a more foundational level of training. Each certificate is associated with a membership that offers access to resources specific to that level of training, in addition to general benefits associated with F2T membership. Further details on the certification and renewal process for each certificate level can be found here.

Please click here to view  F2T Program Costs resource document.

The full F2T Payment & Registration refund/exchange/transfer policy can be found here.

Each certificate level has different continuing education requirements to recertify. Details can be found here.

Individuals that held an active IAFF/IAFC/ACE PFT certificate as of January 1, 2022, can have their certificate transferred to us and be given a membership to the F2T program. Please continue reading below for more information.

The only action item is to confirm your personal details by filling out this brief questionnaire. This step is essential to ensure the information we have on file is up to date so that we can contact you, create your F2T PFT Certificate and provide you with access to an F2T membership.

Regardless of when your ACE/IAFF PFT certificate was meant to expire, your F2T PFT Certificate will remain active through December 31, 2023 (2-year renewal cycle). During this two-year period, you will be required to complete 8 CECs and 1 F2T Challenge (which will consist of a contribution to the F2T community). Further details of the renewal process can be found here. A list of upcoming F2T educational opportunities can be found here.

Once you complete the short questionnaire at the link above, we will begin processing your certificate. You will receive an email from our team with your new F2T PFT certificate. We are batch processing all new certificates so please allow for 1-2 weeks to receive it. Some department accounts do block and/or direct our emails to the junk folder, so if you don’t hear from us after 2 weeks please check there and/or reach out to our team at [email protected].

As someone who was previously certified as a PFT, you are eligible to be reinstated without completing F2T 101 (the PFT Certificate course). However, you will be required to fill out the brief survey HERE and complete our online Fitness Fundamentals course (F2T 110) before December 31, 2024. This four-hour online course can be completed on your time and does not include a final exam. Members who complete the survey and the F2T 110 course will receive active PFT status through December 31, 2024. Click HERE if you are a Legacy PFT and want to register for F2T 110 – Fitness Fundamentals. Complete eligibility details can be found on the F2T 110 registration paged linked above.

Individuals who are reinstated as PFTs by completing the requirements detailed above will be required to complete 8 CECs and one F2T Challenge (which will consist of a contribution to the F2T community) during the 2023-2024 renewal cycle. Further details of the renewal process can be found HERE. A list of upcoming F2T educational opportunities can be found HERE.

We are batch processing all new certificates so please allow for 2-3 weeks to receive it. Some department accounts do block and/or direct our emails to the junk folder, so if you don’t hear from us after 3 weeks please check there and/or reach out to our team at [email protected].

F2T 101 introduces an integrated approach to the physical preparation of fire fighters for work, life and play. The central tenet of this approach is that every fire fighter, regardless of age, experience, fitness or job status, needs the capacity to meet the demands of their life. The framework and principles taught will help attendees establish exercise recommendations for peers with diverse needs and interests. Specifically, upon completing this course (in-person and virtual delivery), students will have improved their ability to:

• Apply the demands-capacity framework (work, life, play)
• Observe, assess and interpret the movement patterns of others
• Design exercise sessions that suit a range of objectives, interests and physical abilities
• Perform, demonstrate and coach a variety of simple and complex exercises
• Communicate, ask questions, and give and receive feedback
• Think critically, problem solve and work with others

First, participants will receive access to a series of online practical activities (e.g., observation, coaching and program design applications) that can be completed on their own time to reinforce the course material. Second, participants will engage in weekly group activities that include a series of hands-on activities, each of which involves multiple experiences to reinforce relevant skills related to assessment, program design, implementation and leadership.

• Course schedule – Four consecutive eight-hour days versus two, two-hour virtual interactions per week over six weeks.
• Enrollment – Minimum of 25 students coordinated by host department versus no minimum enrollment and no host department.
• Course format – Lectures and small/large group activities versus video lectures and Zoom small/large group activities.
• Course package – The host department receives equipment versus each student receives equipment.
• One-on-one instructor interaction – No one-on-one interaction versus two one-on-one interactions to discuss expectations, progress and feedback.

The six-week online F2T 101 course is delivered asynchronously (on your own time) and synchronously (with IAFF instructors) using interactive small and large-group activities, case studies and virtual exercise sessions. Specifically, prior to each of the first four weeks, students will be given access to a series of videos and learning activities that detail each of the associated modules. Approximately two hours per week will be required to complete these learning activities. In addition, students will participate in 11 two-hour virtual group activities over the six-week period with 15-25 other individuals. Four scheduling options are available for these group activities.

In general, we do not allow individuals with other fitness-related education and certifications to challenge the F2T 101 exam without taking the course. We do understand and appreciate the overlap with some other professional designations, but consider the F2T 101 course to be sufficiently unique in its scope, experience and overall learning objectives. In contrast to other fitness-related courses, degrees, etc., F2T 101 is specific to the fire service, emphasizes wellness and fitness program implementation, and provides practical experiences to reinforce the many roles that PFTs might play. These differences are part of what will help to establish the foundation for an effective Fit To Thrive program.

In order to host an in-person F2T 101 course, interested departments should complete the pre-approval process detailed here. Once submitted, we will review your documentation and contact you with a proposed date and details about payment and registration.