Issa vs nasm? (2023)

Is NASM harder than 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.

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.

The NASM CPT Exam is one of the best personal trainer certifications you can achieve as well as one of the more difficult. The pass rate is a hair-raising 65 percent! After you spend months reading a 700-page book, you don't want to go through it again.

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.

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%.

ISSA is a well-recognized CPT and therefore, is widely accredited by some of the biggest organizations. They are National Commissions for Certifying Agencies (NCAA) accredited, which is nationally recognized and respected.

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 certified trainers are nationally recognized in the fitness industry.

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.

If you do not pass the exam, call NASM's Member Services Department at 1-800-460-6276 to purchase a retest. Candidates who do not pass the certification exam on the first attempt will be allowed to retake the exam after a 1-week waiting period.

Why is the NASM test so hard?

Overall, the NASM certification has been notorious for being one of the more difficult in the industry over the last decade. NASM has made their test difficult on purpose because they are trying to raise the standard for the knowledge required for personal trainers.

Start to finish, expect to invest at least 15 weeks to complete the NASM personal training certification (NASM-CPT).

Testing Information

You have two hours to complete the final certification exam. The exam is NOT open book/open notes.

The online exam is un-proctored and open book.

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 ACE CPT Exam is known for being one of the most difficult personal training certifications to pass. Out of the almost 800-page textbook they select 150 questions that need to be completed in a three hour time limit. This can cause major anxiety as knowing what to study can be hard to determine.

You may take the quizzes as many times as necessary, but we highly recommend that you do so online.

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.

The current pass rate is 89.9%. Not only is ISSA the easiest certification to pass, but it is also one of my top three overall certifications. You'll cover all the important topics from functional anatomy, human biomechanics, and proper exercise techniques to learning how you can become a successful personal trainer.

Is ISSA it worth it? In short, yes, it usually is. Becoming an ISSA member offers a host of benefits, including the ISSA Show, CIMS certifications, ISSA Clean Standards, a Buyers' Guide, discount program, and more. If you really intend to grow within this industry, we think ISSA gives you great bang for your buck.

Is having a personal trainer a luxury?

A personal trainer may seem like a luxury only the wealthy can afford. But there are ways to get the individual attention and benefits of a trainer, even on a smaller budget. Sharing a session with just a few others can spread out the cost, while maintaining some level of a personalized workout.

Is NASM certification worth it? The NASM certified personal trainer certification is totally worth your while if you plan on becoming a fitness professional within a general population. It is a highly respected certification, and you will have many great specialization opportunities as well.

Which states are at the top of the list? According to the BLS, the state that pays the highest personal trainer salary is New York. The annual mean wage for an instructor in this state is $61,840 per year or $29.73 an hour. New York also has one of the highest employment levels for fitness professionals.

The NASM CPT Exam can be considered one of the most difficult Fitness Certification Exams in the industry. Completing 120 questions in 120 minutes, with only your memory, not even a piece of scratch paper, can be a truly daunting task.

The computer screen, questions, and browser are monitored by the proctor throughout the exam process.

You should plan on taking 10-12 weeks to fully complete the NASM certification training. After completing the course, you need to complete a 120 exam with a 2-hour time limit.

My NASM Study Tips

On NASM's website, there are practice tests. I didn't take them until just a couple of days before taking the NASM test— assuming they were the same as the study guide — and I regret that because they're not. The online practice tests were very similar to the actual exam.

After the first time, you can retake the test following a one-week waiting period. Those who fail the test a second time must wait at least 30 days before retaking the test. Anyone who fails the test after a third attempt has to wait a year before trying again. In each case, additional retest fees apply.

Purchase of NASM certification preparation materials is not required in order to become eligible to sit for the CPT exam, and does not guarantee a passing score on the exam. Candidates who pass the examination will be awarded the CPT credential.

Can I cancel my monthly payment plan? NASM offers a 28-day return period in which a request for cancellation can be made. If you wish to pay off your remaining balance, please contact the Member Services department.

Is the NASM final exam multiple choice?

The NASM exam contains 120 multiple-choice questions, 20 of which are unscored “pretest” questions, and the time limit is two hours. The pretest questions are used to evaluate questions for future versions of the test.

The standard NASM certification program is a 10-week online course. Candidates can also participate in a hands-on, live workshop component in addition to the online course. Start to finish, participants can expect to invest in approximately 10-12 weeks to complete the online modules and prepare for the exam.

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.

If you prefer to have a hardcopy textbook in addition to the digital learning platform, you can purchase the NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training (7th edition). NOTE: This hardcopy textbook is included in the Guided Study and All-Inclusive programs.

You must achieve a score of 70% or higher to pass the CNC exam.

NASM sets you up for success from the beginning of the course to the end. All you have to do is read the course text, watch the lecture videos, and study the materials at your own pace. It's all set up for you to succeed. You just have to put the time and effort into completing the program and you will be successful!

Introducing our NASM Personal Trainer Study Guide 2022-2023: Test Prep with 250+ Practice Questions and Detailed Answers for the National Academy of Sports Medicine CPT Exam!

* The “hardest” personal trainer certification: The NCSA-CPT is the most difficult of the three, as its content is relatively technical and assumes a solid background in the subjects of anatomy, physiology and physics.

The NASM CPT Exam can be considered one of the most difficult Fitness Certification Exams in the industry. Completing 120 questions in 120 minutes, with only your memory, not even a piece of scratch paper, can be a truly daunting task.

If you'd prefer to train athletes, ISSA may be the better choice for you. If you would like to work with clients on weight loss and cardio, ACE may be the better choice for you. While the ACE course is less expensive, it should be noted how much the ISSA course includes.

Is NASM easy to pass?

It's safe to say that one in three people will fail the NASM personal training exam. In general, this personal training certification is difficult compared to the average personal training certification.

The NASM exam has fewer test questions than other nationally accredited programs. NASM offers unique specializations in life coaching, women's fitness, MMA conditioning, and golf enhancement. The program allows you to bypass future renewal fees by paying $399 up front.

The easiest personal training certification to get is the American Council on Exercise certification known as the ACE Certification. In most states, this type of certification can be obtained in 3 to 6 months depending on how fast you work. Then, you must study for an exam and pass the exam.

The online exam is un-proctored and open book.

Is NASM certification worth it? The NASM certified personal trainer certification is totally worth your while if you plan on becoming a fitness professional within a general population. It is a highly respected certification, and you will have many great specialization opportunities as well.

Is NASM a good certification? The NASM-CPT is actually the best personal trainer certification program in the fitness industry. It is NCCA accredited, contains high-quality content to prepare for your exam, is cost-effective, offers unique specialization options, and contains the least amount of questions on the exam.

How many questions are on the CPT exam and how long do I have to complete it? There are 120 test questions, of which 20 are research questions and do not count toward or against the final score. There is a 2-hour time limit, and you must pass with a scaled score of 70% or better.

NASM sets you up for success from the beginning of the course to the end. All you have to do is read the course text, watch the lecture videos, and study the materials at your own pace. It's all set up for you to succeed. You just have to put the time and effort into completing the program and you will be successful!

What happens if I fail the test? After the first time, you can retake the test following a one-week waiting period. Those who fail the test a second time must wait at least 30 days before retaking the test. Anyone who fails the test after a third attempt has to wait a year before trying again.