Credentials / International Sports Sciences Association

ISSA Functional Aging Specialist Certification

certificationverifiedby International Sports Sciences Association· Compare
Verified: this record was checked against its official source. Last verified 2026-09-03. 8 sources on file.

At a glance

Credential type
certification
Status
active
Target professional
Fitness professionals coaching older adults
Country
US
Official page
https://www.issaonline.com/products/functional-aging-specialist-certification
Recertification page
unknown
Categories
Older Adult Fitness, Mobility, 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
ISSA general guidance states a high school diploma or GED; no college degree needed (stated on ISSA's how-to-become-a-CPT page, not specific to this specialization)
Degree required
no
Experience
No prior fitness experience required ("No experience required! ISSA is designed for beginners and experienced professionals alike.")
CPR/AED
yes
Other prerequisites
Certification process includes uploading a CPR card ("Included for free in most bundles or also available separately through ISSA"). No stated prerequisite certification for this specialization.

ISSA site-wide FAQ: "Must be 18+ with CPR/AED certification. No prior experience needed." No specialization-specific eligibility criteria stated on the Functional Aging Specialist pages.

Examination

Format
Online, at-home final exam; open-book, open-note, untimed. Chapter quizzes track progress during the course.
Online exam
yes
Testing center
unknown
Length
unknown
Questions
unknown
Passing score
unknown
Attempts included
unknown
Retake policy
unknown

Initial certification costs

  • $639 — Functional Aging Specialist Certification – one-time purchase
  • $53 — 12 monthly payments at 0% interest ($53 today, then $53/mo; promo $49 today)

Renewal & CEU requirements

2 yr
renewal cycle
20
CEUs per cycle
$99
renewal
Recertification required
yes
CEU unit system
ISSA CEU (Continuing Education Unit); 20 CEUs per 2-year certification period
Ethics requirement
unknown
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
Deadline rule
Renewal must be completed before the expiration date printed on the certificate; may renew up to 1 year early (new 2-year period starts from original expiration date). One-year grace period after expiration with a late fee; beyond one year, re-enrollment in the full course is required.

ISSA certifications are valid 2 years from issue date (3 years for Yoga 200). Renewal requires 20 CEUs, current CPR/AED, and submission through the Student Portal; processing takes 3-5 business days. Standard $99 renewal fee may be waived if all 20 CEUs are completed with ISSA. Excess CEUs do not carry over. 'Certify for Life' option can eliminate future renewal fees. CEU documentation (certificate of completion, transcript with grade, or proof of attendance) required for outside CEUs.

CEU recognition

  • Third-party/outside 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; documentation (certificate of completion, transcript with grade, or proof of attendance) must be uploaded in the Student Portal for approval (3-5 business days)

Sources (8)

Latest verification activity: initial verification → confirmed (2026-09-07) · 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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