Credentials / International Sports Sciences Association

ISSA Certified Personal Trainer

ISSA-CPTcertificationverifiedby International Sports Sciences Association· Compare
Verified: this record was checked against its official source. Last verified 2026-09-03. 11 sources on file.

At a glance

Credential type
certification
Status
active
Target professional
Personal trainers
Country
US
Official page
https://www.issaonline.com/products/certified-personal-trainer
Recertification page
unknown
Categories
Personal Training

Accreditation

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

Eligibility & examination

Eligibility

Minimum age
18
Education
High school diploma or GED; no college degree needed
Degree required
no
Experience
No experience needed
CPR/AED
yes
Other prerequisites
For the NCCA-accredited NCCPT-CPT exam: valid, unexpired signature photo ID and a valid CPR card or certificate of completion (digital CPR certificate not accepted); no prerequisite courses required

ISSA states requirements are: be 18 or older, high school diploma or GED, and a current CPR/AED certification (needed before the exam). CPR card must be uploaded as part of the certification process. No state license required. NCCPT states purchase/completion of prep courses is not required to sit for its exam.

Examination

Format
Two options: (1) ISSA course final exam — open-book/open-note, untimed, not proctored, multiple-choice questions plus a practical case study, taken online at end of course (all quizzes must be completed first); (2) optional NCCA-accredited NCCPT-CPT exam — closed-book, timed, proctored by Prometric, multiple-choice, at a testing center or via remote online proctoring
Online exam
yes
Testing center
yes
Length
120 minutes
Questions
140
Passing score
NCCPT-CPT: scaled score at or above the research-based passing standard (125 of 140 items scored; 15 unscored pre-test items)
Attempts included
unknown
Retake policy
NCCPT-CPT: mandatory waiting period between attempts — 14 days after the first attempt, 90 days after the second, one year after the third; a retake fee must be purchased. Candidates have 12 months from purchase to sit for/repeat the exam, extendable once for six months free (further six-month extension purchasable); voucher must be repurchased after two years.

Initial certification costs

$79
exam fee
  • $868 — ISSA Certified Personal Trainer course — one-time purchase (discounted from $1,068)
  • $89 — ISSA CPT course — 12 monthly payments, 0% interest ($89 today, then $89/mo)

Renewal & CEU requirements

2 yr
renewal cycle
20
CEUs per cycle
$99
renewal
Recertification required
yes
CEU unit system
ISSA CEU (20 CEUs per 2-year certification period; ISSA subsidiary NCCPT states 20 CEUs = 2.0 CEUs at 0.1 CEU per contact hour)
Ethics requirement
unknown
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
Deadline rule
Must renew before the certification expiration date shown in the Student Portal. Early renewal allowed up to one year before expiration, with the new period beginning from the original expiration date. A one-year grace period follows expiration (late fee applies); after one year, re-enrollment in the full certification course is required.

Renewal steps: complete 20 CEUs, maintain current CPR/AED, and submit renewal via Student Portal (My Account → Renewal); processing 3–5 business days. Standard renewal fee $99, waived if all 20 CEUs are completed through ISSA. CEUs completed with ISSA need no submission; outside-provider CEUs are uploaded as certificates/transcripts/proof of attendance and reviewed (3–5 business days). Excess CEUs do not carry over to the next period. 'Certify for Life' option can eliminate future renewal fees. The NCCA-accredited NCCPT exam credential (ISSA subsidiary) renews separately every 2 years with its own fees ($75 for one certification, $50 each for two or more; $25 late fee within a 30-day grace period).

CEU recognition

  • ISSA — accepts ceus from
    Approved CEU sources include ISSA continuing education courses, industry conferences and workshops, college/university courses, industry certifications, internships, and published articles; third-party CEUs must meet ISSA CEU requirements and are subject to review with documentation (certificate of completion, transcript with grade, or proof of attendance).
  • NCCPT (ISSA subsidiary) — petition accepted
    For NCCPT renewal, ISSA and NCCPT courses are automatically accepted; a CEU Petition Form is required for courses not offered by NCCPT or ISSA. NCCPT and ISSA credentials renew separately.

Pathway

What this credential requires

All of:
  • Age18 years old or older
  • EducationHigh school diploma or GED
  • CPR/AEDCurrent CPR/AED certification before the exam

Open in Pathways →

Sources (11)

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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