Credentials / International Sports Sciences Association

ISSA Bodybuilding Specialist Certification

certificationverifiedby International Sports Sciences Association· Compare
Verified: this record was checked against its official source. Last verified 2026-09-03. 7 sources on file.

At a glance

Credential type
certification
Status
active
Target professional
Fitness professionals and physique coaches
Country
US
Official page
https://www.issaonline.com/products/bodybuilding-specialist
Recertification page
unknown
Categories
Nutrition Coaching, Recovery, Body Composition

Accreditation

No accreditation on record — status unknown. Absence of a claim is recorded honestly rather than guessed.

Eligibility & examination

Eligibility

Minimum age
18
Education
unknown
Degree required
no
Experience
No prior experience needed ('No experience required!')
CPR/AED
yes
Other prerequisites
Upload CPR card as part of the certification process (CPR included free in most bundles or available separately through ISSA)

General ISSA student prerequisites stated site-wide: 'Must be 18+ with CPR/AED certification. No prior experience needed.' The product page does not list specialization-specific prerequisites.

Examination

Format
Online, at-home, open-book, open-note exam completed on your own schedule
Online exam
yes
Testing center
unknown
Length
unknown
Questions
unknown
Passing score
unknown
Attempts included
unknown
Retake policy
unknown

Initial certification costs

  • $639 — Bodybuilding Specialist course/certification - one-time purchase
  • $53 — Bodybuilding Specialist - 12 monthly payments at 0% interest ($53/mo; $49 or $53 today)

Renewal & CEU requirements

2 yr
renewal cycle
20
CEUs per cycle
$99
renewal
Recertification required
yes
CEU unit system
ISSA Continuing Education Units (CEUs) — 20 units per 2-year certification period
Ethics requirement
unknown
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
Deadline rule
Must renew before the certification expiration date shown in the Student Portal; may renew up to one year early (new period starts from original expiration date). One-year grace period after expiration with a late fee; after more than one year, full re-enrollment in the course is required.

ISSA certifications are valid for 2 years. Renewal requires 20 CEUs, a current CPR/AED certification (valid at time of renewal), and submission through the Student Portal (My Account → Renewal); processing takes 3-5 business days. Standard renewal fee is $99, and it may be waived if all 20 CEUs are completed through ISSA. Extra CEUs cannot carry over to the next period. Third-party CEUs must meet ISSA requirements, are uploaded as documentation and are subject to review (3-5 business days for approval). A 'Certify for Life' option can eliminate future renewal fees. Evidence is ISSA-wide renewal policy; the Bodybuilding Specialist product page does not state separate renewal terms.

CEU recognition

  • Industry conferences & workshops, college/university courses, industry certifications, internships, published articles — accepts ceus from
    Certificate of completion, course transcript with grade, or proof of attendance required for CEU approval
  • Approved third-party/outside CEU providers — accepts ceus from
    Third-party CEUs must meet ISSA CEU requirements, are uploaded via the Student Portal and are subject to review/approval

Sources (7)

Latest verification activity: initial verification → confirmed (2026-09-06) · reverification → confirmed (2026-09-06) · initial verification → confirmed (2026-09-06) · initial verification → confirmed (2026-09-04) · reverification → confirmed (2026-09-03)

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