ISSA Review: Costs, Exam, Salary, How to Become a CPT & More
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ISSA Review: Costs, Exam, Salary, How to Become a CPT & More
So you’re thinking of becoming a personal trainer, and you’re researching the different certifications out there.
Rest assured, we’ll help you determine if the ISSA cert is the best one for your individual goals.
Related: Take the Quiz to See Which Certification Is For You
Below is an ISSA personal trainer certification review from an actual ISSA certified personal trainer (me).
I will include an overview of who ISSA is, what the exam costs (including exclusive discounts for you!), what it entails, ISSA reviews, potential salaries, and next steps should you choose an ISSA certification to pursue your personal training career.
Why I am qualified to analyze ISSA?
Hi, I’m Eddie Lester, the founder and CEO of Fitness Mentors. I’ve been a personal trainer for nearly two decades and have eight personal training certifications. In addition, I have taught personal training at the college and university level, specifically the NASM, ISSA and ACE curriculums. My journey to create Fitness Mentors stemmed from this amazing teaching experience.
Myself and the team at Fitness Mentors were the first to cover this topic in-depth and one of the few that actually have experience with all the top certifications in the industry. I hope this helps you choose a certification that meets your career goals!
Who Is The ISSA?
ISSA stands for the International Sports Sciences Association. Founded in 1988, ISSA is composed of fitness experts and exercise scientists. They are recognized as a world leader in fitness training education and a respected teaching institution for professionals in all fields of healthcare and fitness.
The ISSA offers four accredited exams, including certified personal trainer (CPT), yoga instruction, group exercise, and strength training specialist. These certifications are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), which is an independent agency formed to set the standards for certifications.
ISSA Certification Cost
The ISSA personal training certification has multiple study options for trainers-to-be, which we will discuss below. You can choose the one for you based on your own study skills and how quickly you’d like to get certified.
This certification course starts at $1,598* for a self-study option, but you can find a special promotion here and pay less.
This self-study option includes:
- A full online textbook and course materials
- Complete 10-week guided study program
- Audio Lectures and Written Notes
- Online Exercise Lab
- Practice Exams and Section Quizzes
- Online Student Forum
- Online certification exam
- Job guarantee within six months or a full refund
- Free Professional Website for your fitness training career
- Unlimited Educational Support with on-staff professors
Alternatively, the Fast Track certification is another course option but is more intense and puts your whole course into four weeks of exam preparation. This selection is excellent for anyone who would like to get started as a personal trainer quickly.
In addition to everything the self-guided study course provides, the Fast Track certification course also includes a Fitness Genius live scheduled helpline, unlimited retests, and the New Trainer Guide to Success. This course, while more expensive, is like your “answer key” to the certification. This option starts at $2,294*, but you can get a much better price here.
*Note: prices are subject to change, and terms and conditions may apply.
The ISSA course includes a