Is ISSA certification legitimate?
ISSA is legitimate and respected by many fitness employers. It's governed by the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), an organization founded in 1988.
ISSA can be considered a general certification, so it is a well-rounded certificate for first-time personal trainers. On the other hand, NASM focuses on corrective exercise training and overcoming muscular imbalances. You'll find that once you are qualified, you are able to train a wide group of individuals.
ISSA (The International Sports Sciences Association) is an organization that offers education and certification for fitness trainers, coaches, nutritionists, and medical professionals. Founded in 1988, ISSA formed their organization to solve the lack of standardization in the personal fitness training industry.
How Long Does ISSA Certification Take? The ISSA personal trainer certification usually takes about 8 – 10 weeks. That said, the length of the program depends on the work the student is willing and able to put in.
It is far from a NASM, ACSM, or NSCA exam, so you don't need to worry about a near 60% pass rate, but the general pass rate is still hovering near 90% for the ISSA CPT cert. ACE would make it in the list just a tad higher on the difficulty rating if you were wondering.
Time to complete this education training ranges from 20 hours to 6 months depending on the qualification, with a median time to complete of 3 months. The cost to attend ISSA Trainer ranges from $500 to $1,200 depending on the qualification, with a median cost of $799.
ISSA Final Exam for Personal Trainers
You will need a score of 75% or better to pass the exam. ISSA offers a free retest if you fail on your first attempt – however, you likely won't need it, as the pass rate is an astounding 89.9%.
7: What personal trainer certificate is most respected? The personal trainer certifications with an option for NCCA accreditation are the most respected in the industry. The NCCA is the gold standard for third-party personal training certifications. Some of these certs include, NASM, ACE, Fitness Mentors, and ISSA.
While both exams require extensive study and knowledge, ISSA's pass rate is much higher. However, this doesn't necessarily mean it's easier material.
If you have an ISSA certification, renewal is simple. It starts with completing the continuing education credits. The ISSA requires 20 credits every two years for recertification.
Is the ISSA final exam open book?
Testing Information
You have two hours to complete the final certification exam. The exam is NOT open book/open notes.
Rigorous accreditation
Proud to be accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
You may take the quizzes as many times as necessary, but we highly recommend that you do so online. If you request additional answer sheets to submit repeated quiz answers by mail, you will be required to pay an administration fee plus shipping and handling costs.
Default: If a payment plan is declared to be in default, where legally permitted ISSA reserves the right to call your entire balance immediately, as well as pursue balances due through legal action or third-party collections agencies.
7: What personal trainer certificate is most respected? The personal trainer certifications with an option for NCCA accreditation are the most respected in the industry. The NCCA is the gold standard for third-party personal training certifications. Some of these certs include, NASM, ACE, Fitness Mentors, and ISSA.
While both certifications are nationally accredited, NASM's accreditation is with the NCCA, and the ISSA is accredited by DETC. These differences may also define which your potential employer prefers.
ISSA fitness professionals are required to renew their personal training certifications every two years with 2.0 CEUs (20 hours). ISSA requires personal trainers to renew their CFP to provide the public proof that they maintain a high level of competence.
The ISSA College of Exercise Science is a Title IV school, and our bachelor's degree program, associate degree program, and Master Trainer certificate program are all eligible for federal student aid.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Personal Trainer? With ISSA, you can get certified in as little as four weeks with the Fast Track program!
OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING CAREERS
The ISSA offers certifications in personal training, bodybuilding, strength and conditioning fitness nutrition, exercise therapy, corrective exercise, sports nutrition/supplementation, group fitness, senior and youth fitness, as well as an associate's degree.
How many times can you retake the ISSA exam?
You may take the quizzes as many times as necessary, but we highly recommend that you do so online.