- ISSA Personal Training Certification Review - May 15, 2025
Not until I entered the world of personal training did I realize that cliques still existed outside of high school. Let me tell you, they are alive and well in the fitness industry. So many trainers are proud of their certification (rightly so, because a good program requires work to complete), but everyone disagrees on which certification is best. Ultimately, we all agree or disagree on certifications for a reason, because there truly is no one best certification. However, there may be a best certification for you, and based on what I’m about to tell you, ISSA could be your perfect match (and if not, there are other programs out there that are).
As a multi-state manager of personal trainers, I’ve had a lot of experience with different programs and the trainers that take them, so my thoughts come from a lot of personal experience and many other real-life experiences with ISSA (because I love a good deep dive when it comes to research).
So lace up your shoes and let’s get into the nitty-gritty of choosing to certify with ISSA.
If you’re short on time, here are the fast facts you need to know about the ISSA Personal Training Certification:
- ISSA excels at people skills – training, coaching, and empathizing. Their approach focuses more on breadth, rather than depth of exercise science, leaving it too shallow for some.
- ISSA is a highly accessible option. They use a self-study, self-paced method (although live learning is available in some packages), and offer payment plans, language options, and test choices for ultimate customization.
- ISSA provides a job placement guarantee to help you get started training. Some facilities may not accept all ISSA certifications, so do your research before testing.
The ISSA personal training certification is great for those new to the fitness industry who are looking for a base-level knowledge or who plan to be self-employed or train online.
Contents
Introduction to the ISSA
The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) has been around since 1988, in the same era as other big-name certifying bodies, including the NASM. Their history alone helps them stand alongside other pillars in the fitness industry. They offer many certifications to help individuals start or progress in the fitness industry, and were recently ranked 107th on an Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing companies in America.
An Honest Review of the ISSA Personal Training Certification
The ISSA’s personal training certification starts with some big claims, including a 3-month completion time, job placement guarantee, and several exam options. But how do these claims really hold up?
ISSA Course Content: Competent or Commonplace?
The primary option for the certified personal trainer course is an independent study style program, where you can move at your own pace, with the potential to finish in as little as three months. That seemed incredibly fast for someone who had just spent 4 years studying exercise science at a university. At first, I balked. I thought, “No way could you learn enough in three months to be a good trainer!” Shortly after, I was proven wrong.
I met a trainer who had completed his ISSA certification, and I was impressed. While I had spent several years focusing on the ins and outs of periodization schedules and the comorbidities that come with chronic illness, he had been learning how to train people in the real world. All of the trainers I’ve met with ISSA certifications all seem to come out of the program with great people skills. Even ISSA’s website speaks to its care for its clients. That is hard to teach in a book, but somehow, the ISSA does it.
But there’s give and take in every program. While they excel at soft skills such as coaching and empathy, some graduates have expressed concerns about the program’s depth. It is known to provide great surface-level information in most cases, but if you’re looking to work with clients facing complex health situations, you may want to look into another certification or plan on complementary continuing education courses to prepare you. I agree with these graduates completely. I’ve felt that the ISSA certification does not cover health conditions as well as other programs, but for some trainers, that may be a non-issue if you know the clientele you will be training and have a solid understanding of their health statuses.
This certification is for you if you value people skills over understanding complex exercise science principles.
This certification is not for you if you are looking for a lengthier, in-depth program that dives deep into the field of exercise science.
Making the Program Work for You: Accessibility and Ease of Use
With more programs than ever, it can be difficult to wade through the different teaching styles of personal training courses. The ISSA personal trainer course is designed to be taken completely online at your own pace through prerecorded audio, video, and written content. This makes the program accessible to those who are working or are enrolled in other educational programs without having to sacrifice more time to a classroom course.
This style of learning isn’t for everyone. If you prefer live classes, ISSA offers bundled options that include live learning for a more personal experience. The live sessions are only available with the higher price tier options, so evaluate whether or not you will benefit from the live sessions before making your choice.
Speaking of pricing, the ISSA personal training course has price tiers, all with extra inclusions that may improve your experience and place you ahead of your competitors when it comes to career advancement. The base certification starts at $89/month for 12 months or $868 if paid for all at once. This falls closely in line with NASM’s offerings of $79/month for 12 months. Both of these options are pricier than ACE, which is currently $489.50, and ACSM, which is priced at $659. If you’re looking for a one-time purchase, ISSA is on the high end, but if you prefer monthly payment options, it offers much more accessible options than its competitors.
When it comes to accessibility, understanding is key. ISSA offers its personal training course in Spanish, which isn’t necessarily a common practice among other providers.
This certification is for you if you enjoy and thrive in self-study, self-paced environments, or if you benefit from monthly pricing or language options.
This certification is not for you if you are looking for the cheapest one-time purchase price or to learn best from live, in-person settings.
Testing and Job Placement: Real-World Advice
The thing everyone dreads almost as much as the dentist: tests. Another thing we all thought we left behind in high school, but didn’t. In order to pass a personal training course, a test is inevitable, but here’s where the ISSA really shines. They give you options! And I am all about options to support different abilities and ways of regurgitating knowledge. When you complete your ISSA course, you can take your test in two ways:
- At home, where the test is taken online. It’s an open-book, multiple-choice test.
- At a proctored facility, where the test is closed-book.
With these two test types come some stipulations. If you want your certification to be accredited by the NCCA, you have to take the proctored version. This is the version required by many gyms and facilities, so if you plan to work in a commercial gym, the proctored route is the way to go. If you will be working for yourself or in another capacity that doesn’t require an accredited certification, the at-home test is definitely the more pleasant experience.
Once you pass your test, the ISSA guarantees you a position as a personal trainer within 6 months of receiving your certification if you meet their requirements (which are not hard). You’ll need to pass their exam, interview with at least 3 gyms, and meet basic requirements for employment at those facilities.
As I was already employed, I haven’t personally experienced their job guarantee, but I can attest to hiring ISSA-certified individuals at several locations I’ve worked with. But I won’t sugarcoat it. I’ve hired some ISSA trainers, and I’ve also passed several by because their knowledge didn’t meet the needs of some of my facilities with more complex clientele. Gyms and their hiring processes are incredibly cliquey. They have favorite certifications, and if yours isn’t on that list, they often toss out your resume without a second thought. If that’s the case, move on to another facility that sees beyond a piece of paper.
Out of the many trainers I’ve hired and worked with, two of my top trainers were both ISSA certified. Their sessions were outstanding, and their empathetic training style shone through, leading to their success in the field.
This certification is for you if you thrive more in a home testing environment or do not need an accredited certification.
This certification is not for you if the facility you plan to work at has a complex clientele or strict stipulations regarding accepted certifications.
The Final Judgement Call
ISSA offers a solid choice for personal training certification. It excels in its flexibility and easy entrance into the field of personal training and is ideal for those wanting to get their feet wet without becoming immersed in complex, heavy material used in more medical or therapeutic settings.
Because of this, though, it is not always held in the same esteem by some employers, and it may be more difficult to find work if you plan to work at a high-end facility or one with clients facing serious health concerns.
When it comes down to it, ISSA is the perfect entry to personal training for those who want to work independently, start a side hustle, or train online. It provides key knowledge and application to help you find the direction you want to take, and encourages continuing education to help you reach the next step, wherever your journey takes you.