Credentials / International Sports Sciences Association

ISSA Group Exercise Instructor 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
Group exercise instructors
Country
US
Official page
https://www.issaonline.com/products/group-exercise-instructor
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
unknown
Degree required
no
Experience
No prior experience needed; "No Experience required"
CPR/AED
yes
Other prerequisites
Current adult CPR/AED certification must be submitted (valid at least 30 days beyond submission date); all course quizzes must be completed before unlocking the final exam

ISSA FAQ: "What are the prerequisites or qualifications for ISSA students? Must be 18+ with CPR/AED certification. No prior experience needed, just a passion for fitness!" CPR/AED is included free in most bundles or available separately from ISSA. Specialization courses must be completed within 8 months of purchase.-->

Examination

Format
Online, at-home, open-book, open-note final exam (online testing preferred; home study/mail-in option also referenced); some ISSA exams include written sections plus multiple choice
Online exam
yes
Testing center
unknown
Length
unknown
Questions
unknown
Passing score
FAQ states a score of 70% or better on the final examination (another FAQ entry 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 — Group Exercise Instructor certification program - one-time purchase
  • $53 — 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 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) — 20 units per 2-year certification period
Ethics requirement
unknown
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
Deadline rule
Renewal must be submitted before the certification expiration date (certification valid 2 years). May renew up to one year early, with the new period starting from the original expiration date. One-year grace period after expiration during which a late fee applies; after one year, full re-enrollment in the certification course is required.

Renewal requires 20 CEUs, a current CPR/AED certification (valid at least 30 days beyond submission date), and submission through the Student Portal (My Account → Renewal); processing takes 3-5 business days. Standard renewal fee $99, waived if all 20 CEUs are completed through ISSA. Excess CEUs cannot carry over to the next period. Third-party CEUs must be uploaded with a certificate of completion, transcript with grade, or proof of attendance and are subject to review (3-5 business days for approval). A 'Certify for Life' option eliminates future renewal fees.

CEU recognition

  • Outside/third-party CEU providers (general) — accepts ceus from
    Third-party CEUs must meet ISSA CEU requirements, be documented (certificate of completion, transcript with grade, or proof of attendance), and are subject to review/approval via the Student Portal
  • Industry conferences and workshops, college/university courses, industry certifications, internships, published articles — accepts ceus from
    Listed as approved CEU sources; documentation required 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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