ACE Health Coach Certification Practice Test 2026 - Free Health Coach Certification Practice Questions and Study Guide

In phase 1 of cardiorespiratory training, the primary characteristic is the emphasis on helping clients build a foundation of cardiorespiratory fitness. The correct answer highlights an important milestone in this phase: clients are progressed to phase 2 when they can sustain steady-state exercise for a duration of 20 to 30 minutes. This duration indicates an improvement in the client's cardiovascular endurance and readiness to handle more challenging workouts in subsequent phases.

Prior to entering phase 2, the focus is on developing basic fitness levels and establishing consistency in exercise routines. Being able to sustain steady-state exercise for a significant period not only demonstrates the client’s improved fitness but also ensures they have developed the foundational skills necessary to safely increase intensity and duration in their training. While fitness assessments may indeed take place prior to starting a training program, they are not a defining characteristic of phase 1 itself; the phase primarily revolves around building endurance.

Additionally, incorporating intervals at a high intensity or the target of achieving seven or more hours of exercise per week does not pertain to the foundational nature of phase 1 training, which is about establishing a safe and effective exercise routine at a more moderate level. Thus, the focus on sustainable exercise duration as a progression criterion truly represents the essence