Credentials / International Sports Sciences Association

ISSA Running Coach 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
Running coaches
Country
US
Official page
https://www.issaonline.com/products/running-coach
Recertification page
unknown
Categories
Conditioning, 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
ISSA general FAQ states no experience required; CPT guidance cites high school diploma or GED (not specified for Running Coach)
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 requires uploading a CPR card (included free in most bundles or available separately through ISSA)

Program-specific prerequisites are not listed on the Running Coach page; ISSA's course catalog FAQ states general student qualifications: "Must be 18+ with CPR/AED certification. No prior experience needed."

Examination

Format
Online, at-home, open-book/open-note exam completed on your own schedule; ISSA course exams are not proctored and have no time constraints
Online exam
yes
Testing center
not_applicable
Length
unknown
Questions
unknown
Passing score
unknown
Attempts included
unknown
Retake policy
unknown

Initial certification costs

  • $639 — Running Coach program — one-time purchase
  • $636 — Running Coach program — 12 monthly payments at 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)
Ethics requirement
unknown
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
Deadline rule
Renewal must be submitted before the certification expiration date; may renew up to one year early (new period begins from original expiration date). One-year grace period after expiration with a late fee; after one year, full re-enrollment in the certification course is required.

Renewal requires 20 CEUs, current CPR/AED certification, and submission via the Student Portal (3-5 business days processing). Excess CEUs do not carry over. Third-party CEUs must meet ISSA requirements and are uploaded for review/approval. 'Certify for Life' option can eliminate future renewal fees. Renewal requirements are stated generally for ISSA certifications; the Running Coach product page itself only notes CPR card upload during certification.

CEU recognition

  • Outside/third-party CEU providers (approved) — accepts ceus from
    Third-party CEUs must meet ISSA CEU requirements and are subject to review; documentation (certificate of completion, transcript with grade, or proof of attendance) uploaded via Student Portal, 3-5 business days for approval
  • Industry conferences and workshops, college/university courses, industry certifications, internships, published articles — accepts ceus from
    Listed as approved CEU sources; proof of completion/attendance required

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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