Credentials / International Sports Sciences Association

ISSA Exercise Therapy Certification

certificationverifiedby International Sports Sciences Association· Compare
Verified: this record was checked against its official source. Last verified 2026-09-03. 6 sources on file.

At a glance

Credential type
certification
Status
active
Target professional
Fitness professionals working with post-rehabilitation clients
Country
US
Official page
https://www.issaonline.com/products/exercise-therapy-certification
Recertification page
unknown
Categories
Mobility, Corrective Exercise, Special Populations

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 (stated on ISSA's general 'how to become a certified personal trainer' page; no college degree needed)
Degree required
no
Experience
None stated — ISSA states 'No degree required. No experience needed.'
CPR/AED
yes
Other prerequisites
Enroll in the program and complete all course quizzes to unlock the final exam; upload a current adult CPR/AED card (must be valid at least 30 days beyond submission date). ISSA-approved online CPR/AED course available; included free in most bundles.

The Exercise Therapy Certification product page does not list explicit enrollment prerequisites; the age (18+), high school diploma/GED and CPR/AED points come from ISSA's general certification pages/FAQs rather than this specialization page. Specialization courses must be completed within 8 months of purchase.

Examination

Format
Online, at-home, open-book/open-note final exam completed on your own schedule; ISSA exams may include multiple-choice and written sections (written sections take 3-5 business days to grade)
Online exam
yes
Testing center
unknown
Length
unknown
Questions
unknown
Passing score
ISSA FAQs state 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 Therapy Certification — one-time purchase (course + online exam)
  • $636 — Payment plan: $53 today, then $53/month for 12 months, 0% interest

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)
Ethics requirement
unknown
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
Deadline rule
Must renew before the certification expiration date (certifications valid 2 years); may renew up to one year early with the new period beginning from the original expiration date. A one-year grace period after expiration allows late renewal with a late fee; after one year, full re-enrollment in the certification course is required.

Renewal requires 20 CEUs, a current CPR/AED certification, and submission through the Student Portal (3-5 business days processing). Standard renewal fee is $99, which may be waived if all 20 CEUs are completed through ISSA. Third-party CEUs must meet ISSA requirements and are uploaded for review; excess CEUs do not carry over to the next period. 'Certify for Life' option avoids future renewal fees. Requirements are stated generally for ISSA certifications, not specifically itemized for Exercise Therapy.

CEU recognition

  • Outside/third-party CEU providers (industry conferences & workshops, college/university courses, industry certifications, internships, published articles) — accepts ceus from
    Must meet ISSA CEU requirements and are subject to review; certificate of completion, course transcript with grade, or proof of attendance must be uploaded via the Student Portal (3-5 business days for approval)

Sources (6)

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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