Credentials / International Sports Sciences Association

ISSA Exercise Recovery 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 coaches
Country
US
Official page
https://www.issaonline.com/products/exercise-recovery-specialist
Recertification page
unknown
Categories
Mobility, Recovery, Sports Performance

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'; ISSA FAQ: 'No prior experience needed, just a passion for fitness!')
CPR/AED
yes
Other prerequisites
Must upload a current adult CPR/AED card (valid at least 30 days beyond submission); ISSA accepts most online and in-person CPR certifications. All course quizzes must be submitted before the final exam can be accessed.

ISSA site-wide prerequisites: 'Must be 18+ with CPR/AED certification. No prior experience needed.' Certification process for this specialization: enroll, pass exam, upload CPR card, receive e-Certificate. Specialization courses must be completed within 8 months of purchase.

Examination

Format
Online, at-home, open-book, open-note, untimed final exam taken on your own schedule (some ISSA exams include written sections graded by staff)
Online exam
yes
Testing center
unknown
Length
unknown
Questions
unknown
Passing score
ISSA FAQ states a score of 70% or better on the final examination (another FAQ states 75% or better on all sections)
Attempts included
2
Retake policy
If you fail any portion of the exam you may resubmit that portion free of charge (second attempt); each retest beyond the second attempt incurs an administrative fee.

Initial certification costs

  • $639 — Exercise Recovery Specialist certification course – one-time purchase
  • $53 — Exercise Recovery Specialist – 12 monthly payments, 0% interest ($53 today then $53/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; contact-hour equivalence not stated)
Ethics requirement
unknown
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
Deadline rule
Renewal must be submitted before the certification expiration date (date shown in Student Portal); CEUs must be completed before expiration. May renew up to one year early, with the new period beginning from the original expiration date. One-year grace period after expiration to renew with a late fee; after one year, full re-enrollment in the course is required.

ISSA certifications are valid for 2 years. To renew: complete 20 CEUs, maintain current adult CPR/AED certification (must be valid at least 30 days beyond submission date), and submit renewal via Student Portal (My Account > Renewal); processing takes 3-5 business days. Standard renewal fee $99, may be waived if all 20 CEUs are completed through ISSA. 'Certify for Life' option avoids future renewal fees. Approved CEU sources include ISSA continuing education courses, industry conferences/workshops, college/university courses, industry certifications, internships, and published articles; certificate of completion, transcript with grade, or proof of attendance required. Third-party CEUs must meet ISSA requirements and are subject to review (3-5 business days for approval). Excess CEUs cannot be carried over; all 20 may come from one source.

CEU recognition

  • Outside/third-party CEU providers (unspecified), including industry conferences and workshops, college/university courses, industry certifications, internships, and published articles — accepts ceus from
    Must meet ISSA CEU requirements and are subject to review; documentation (certificate of completion, course transcript with grade, or proof of attendance) must be uploaded in the Student Portal for 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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