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ISSA — the International Sports Sciences Association — is one of the most talked-about personal trainer certifications in the world. Some trainers swear by it. Others question whether it carries enough weight with employers. After spending hours digging through student forums, official curriculum documents, employer job listings, and real graduate experiences, here is our honest, unbiased verdict.
What is ISSA certification?
ISSA was founded in 1988 by a team of fitness and health experts with one mission — make quality fitness education accessible to everyone. Today ISSA operates in 174 countries and has certified hundreds of thousands of fitness professionals globally. Their flagship program is the ISSA Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) — a fully online, self-paced certification that covers exercise science, program design, nutrition, and business skills.
Unlike most competitors, ISSA includes an entire module on business and marketing — teaching you not just how to train clients but how to attract and retain them. This is a genuine differentiator that ACE and NASM do not offer at the base certification level.
Is ISSA accredited?
Yes — but with an important detail worth understanding.
ISSA holds NCCA accreditation through the National Council for Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT), which is an affiliate organisation. Their standard CPT exam is open-book and untimed — which makes it more accessible but means it sits outside the traditional NCCA-accredited exam format used by NASM and ACE.
If you want the fully NCCA-accredited credential, ISSA offers a pathway through the NCCPT proctored exam. Most gyms in the US, UK, UAE, and Australia accept ISSA certification — including Anytime Fitness, Gold’s Gym, Lifetime Fitness, Equinox, Crunch, and F45.
How much does ISSA certification cost?
ISSA is one of the most affordable major certifications available:
| Package | Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic CPT (pay in full) | $868 |
| Monthly payment plan | From $89/month |
| Interest rate | 0% |
| Job guarantee | Yes — full refund if not working within 6 months |
ISSA also regularly runs promotions — the price can drop significantly during sale periods. It is worth checking their current pricing before committing.
One standout feature — ISSA offers a job guarantee. If you are not working as a certified personal trainer within 6 months of completing the certification, ISSA will give you a full refund. No other major certification offers this.
How hard is the ISSA CPT exam?
The ISSA exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions. You need to score 75% or higher to pass.
The exam is open-book — meaning you can refer to your study materials during the test. This makes it significantly more accessible than NASM or ACE exams which are closed-book. As a result, ISSA has the highest pass rate of any major personal trainer certification — approximately 90%.
The open-book format does not mean the exam is easy — you still need a thorough understanding of the material to find answers quickly and accurately. Students who do not study properly still fail.
If you do not pass on your first attempt, ISSA allows one free retake within 30 days. After that a $50 retake fee applies.
What do you learn in the ISSA CPT program?
The ISSA CPT curriculum covers 10 weekly modules:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Exercise science and kinesiology
- Program design and periodization
- Strength and resistance training
- Cardiovascular training
- Nutrition fundamentals
- Client assessment and goal setting
- Special populations (seniors, youth, pregnant clients)
- Injury prevention and corrective exercise
- Business and marketing for personal trainers
The inclusion of nutrition and business modules in the core certification is a genuine advantage — these are areas where NASM and ACE charge extra for specialisations.
Which gyms accept ISSA certification?
ISSA is accepted at thousands of gyms globally including:
- Anytime Fitness
- Gold’s Gym
- Lifetime Fitness
- Equinox
- Crunch Fitness
- F45 Training
- Many independent gyms and health clubs worldwide
ISSA is recognised in 174 countries — giving it the widest international reach of any major certification. If you plan to work abroad or build an online coaching business with global clients, ISSA’s international recognition is a significant advantage.
ISSA vs NASM vs ACE — how does it compare?
| ISSA | NASM | ACE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $868 | $629 | $675 |
| Payment plan | $89/month | Available | $38/month |
| Pass rate | 90% | 85% | 65% |
| Exam format | Open book | Closed book | Closed book |
| Countries | 174 | 45 | 90+ |
| Job guarantee | Yes | No | No |
| Business module | Yes | No | No |
| Accreditation | NCCA via NCCPT | NCCA | NCCA |
Who should get ISSA certification?
ISSA is ideal for you if:
- You want to get certified quickly at an affordable price
- You plan to build an online coaching business
- You want the security of a job guarantee
- You prefer a flexible open-book exam format
- You want business and nutrition included in your base certification
- You plan to work internationally — ISSA’s 174-country reach is unmatched
ISSA may not be right for you if:
Real student experiences
Based on analysis of hundreds of student reviews across Reddit, Trustpilot, and fitness forums, here is what real ISSA students consistently say:
Students praise ISSA for its flexible pacing, comprehensive study materials, and the inclusion of business coaching content. The open-book exam format is widely appreciated by students who struggle with exam anxiety.
Common criticisms include occasional delays in customer support response times and the perception among some employers that the open-book format makes ISSA less rigorous than NASM or ACE. However the vast majority of students who completed ISSA found employment within their expected timeframe.
Frequently asked questions
Is ISSA a legitimate certification? Yes — ISSA is a legitimate, established certification organisation founded in 1988. It is recognised by thousands of gyms in 174 countries and holds NCCA accreditation through the NCCPT.
Is ISSA harder than NASM? No — ISSA is generally considered easier to pass than NASM. ISSA’s exam is open-book with a 90% pass rate compared to NASM’s closed-book exam with an 85% pass rate.
How long does ISSA take to complete? Most students complete ISSA in 8–10 weeks studying 1–2 hours per day. The fastest completion is around 4 weeks with intensive study. You have up to 12 months to finish.
Does ISSA have a job guarantee? Yes — ISSA guarantees you will be working as a personal trainer within 6 months of certification or they will give you a full refund. This is unique among major certifications.
How much does ISSA cost? ISSA starts at $868 paid in full or $89/month with 0% interest financing. Prices vary and ISSA regularly offers promotional discounts.
Is ISSA accepted at Equinox and Gold’s Gym? Yes — ISSA is accepted at Equinox, Gold’s Gym, Anytime Fitness, Lifetime Fitness, Crunch, F45, and thousands of independent gyms worldwide.