Credentials / International Sports Sciences Association

ISSA Strength and Conditioning 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
Strength and conditioning coaches
Country
US
Official page
https://www.issaonline.com/products/strength-and-conditioning
Recertification page
unknown
Categories
Conditioning, Strength & 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
High school diploma or GED
Degree required
no
Degree field
A degree is not required, but a background in exercise science, kinesiology, or a related field can be beneficial
Experience
None required; program designed to be accessible to beginners, though prior fitness/coaching experience is helpful
CPR/AED
yes
Other prerequisites
Current CPR (and First Aid/AED) certification; CPR card must be uploaded as part of the certification process (included free in most bundles or available separately through ISSA)

ISSA blog lists eligibility as: at least 18 years old, high school diploma or GED, and current CPR/First Aid certification. ISSA's Personal Trainer Certification is suggested (not required) as a foundation.

Examination

Format
Online, at-home, open-book/open-note certification exam with multiple-choice questions; not proctored and no time constraints; results provided immediately
Online exam
yes
Testing center
unknown
Length
unknown
Questions
unknown
Passing score
unknown
Attempts included
unknown
Retake policy
unknown

Initial certification costs

  • $639 — Strength and Conditioning Certification program - 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
Renew before the expiration date printed on the certificate (2 years from issue date). Early renewal allowed up to 1 year in advance, with the new 2-year period starting from the original expiration date. One-year grace period after expiration with a late fee; beyond one year, re-enrollment in the full course is required.

Renewal is not automatic: complete 20 CEUs, maintain current CPR/AED, and submit renewal in the Student Portal (My Account > Membership/Renewal). Processing takes 3-5 business days. Standard renewal fee $99, which may be waived if all 20 CEUs are completed through ISSA. Extra CEUs cannot carry over to the next period. Third-party CEUs require documentation (certificate of completion, transcript with grade, or proof of attendance) uploaded for review/approval. 'Certify for Life' option can eliminate future renewal fees. Blog notes ISSA Strength and Conditioning certification requires renewal every two years.

CEU recognition

  • ISSA (approved third-party CEU sources) — accepts ceus from
    Accepts CEUs from industry conferences & workshops, college/university courses, industry certifications, internships, and published articles; third-party CEUs must meet ISSA requirements and are subject to review with documentation uploaded to the Student Portal

Pathway

What this credential requires

All of:
  • AgeAt least 18 years old
  • EducationHigh school diploma or GED
  • CPR/AEDCurrent CPR certification
  • CertificationCurrent First Aid certification

Provider recommendations — not requirements

Stated by the provider as recommended, not required. These never affect eligibility.

Open in Pathways →

Sources (8)

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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