ISSA Certification: What You Need to Know About How to Get ISSA CPT Certified

This certification allows personal trainers to flex their muscles—literally or more figuratively—in front of potential clients and employers. While ISSA offers dozens of certifications in various aspects of the fitness world (including nutrition, health, and even DNA-based fitness coaching), CPT is typically a potential trainer’s first step into the broader fitness ecosystem.

ISSA has a long-standing reputation in the industry for its dated until the late 1980s and has since certified hundreds of thousands of trainers. For trainers interested in enrolling in the ISSA CPT course, here’s what you need to know.

What is ISSA certification?

Typically, when we talk about “ISSA certification,” we are referring to the Certified Personal Trainer certification, or it is often referred to as “CPT.” The CPT certification is a basic personal training certification that is much like a diploma or degree, demonstrating that a trainer has successfully completed the ISSA program.

Having a CPT certification “suggests that you have broken the barrier to entry into the field,” says John Bauer, content developer at ISSA. “For those looking for a job at a health club, this means that not only have you overcome the barrier, but you have the necessary knowledge to get in there and get the job done,” he says.

Bauer says the ISSA CPT credential also focuses on an aspect that may make it particularly useful for some trainers: practicality. The ISSA program is “more practical and relevant” than competing certifications, he says, and “a lot of what we’ve built into it are time-tested elements that many of us [trainers] what we have learned over the years.”

In this sense, obtaining the ISSA CPT certification is the first step for many instructors, although there are many other areas in which they can also specialize and obtain additional certifications. This is the path that many coaches recommend.

“You can get more specific certifications, but start with the basics,” says Peter Marino, CEO and founder of the company Chic Fitness, an online and in-home personal training company operating in New York and Connecticut. Marino was certified as a DNA Fitness Trainer by ISSA, which taught him how to use genetic testing to create fitness plans for clients. But again, Marino recommends that trainers start with a basic certification like ISSA CPT. “If you want to become a trainer, take the simplest certificate first,” he adds.

ISSA CPT Exam

To receive the certificate, students must pass a final exam, and there are several versions.

First, there is “accredited, with an exam proctor, a time limit and no notes,” Bauer says. The exam consists of 140 multiple choice questions and has a time limit of two hours. It must also be taken through a third-party proctoring company, Prometric. This version is certified by the National Council of Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT-CPT) and accredited by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

The other version is an online test offered directly through ISSA. While this will earn you a certification that will be useful for trainers who are planning to start a career on their own, it may not be the best choice for trainers hoping to get a job at a gym.

“Most employers, such as large gyms, seek accredited certification,” Bauer says.

How much does ISSA certification cost?

The cost of the ISSA CPT certificate varies, but for most students the cost of the course will likely be around $1,000. Prospective students can take advantage of certain promotions or sign up for payment plans.

If you choose to pay through a payment plan, costs will be higher. ISSA offers 12- or six-month payment plans with payments of approximately $94 per month for a 12-month plan. But again, these prices are subject to change, so it’s best to have a ballpark figure in mind.

The course price also includes an online textbook, access to practice tests, and other tools. Students who need more time to take the certification exam can also pay for an extension, which costs about $10 per month.

How long does it take to obtain an ISSA certificate?

In addition to financial costs, it is also important to consider time commitments. And the time it takes to achieve ISSA certification can, again, vary greatly.

Bauer says aspects of the course are designed to have students complete the course within a few months, as long as they study at least part of the time, five days a week. “I would say you could do it a lot faster,” he says, “but three months is a reasonable amount of time to get through 18 chapters and a 700-page book.”

However, perhaps the biggest factor that will affect the time it takes to obtain a certificate is how much background knowledge the student already possesses. For example, someone with a degree in exercise science or kinesiology may be able to complete the entire course in a few weeks, but someone starting to learn the material without such experience may take much longer.

Is it worth getting an ISSA certificate?

Whether ISSA certification is ultimately worthwhile will depend on individual circumstances.

If you are a new trainer looking to break into the industry and get a job at a gym, then yes, getting ISSA certified can be worth the time and effort. But if you are an experienced trainer who may have other certifications or a college degree related to exercise, this may not be the case. Additionally, if you’re unsure about how serious you are about becoming a personal trainer, this could also be a sign that you might want to wait until your goals crystallize.

“A lot of people right now are just trying to make an impact in fitness,” Marino says. For these people, certification may not be worthwhile. But at the end of the day, “it depends on your goals” when trying to evaluate whether ISSA certification is worth the cost.

Conclusion

The ISSA CPT certification is potentially a good entry-level certification for personal trainers, especially those looking to get a job in a gym. This may be expensive and will require some time and energy to complete, but it will demonstrate to employers and clients that you know the ropes. However, for more experienced trainers this may not be practical.

Those who want to take the course, then take the exam and get certified should take it seriously and think about their next steps. Again, a CPT certificate is likely just the first step in a long journey—a signal that you know the ropes.

“I think we’ve done a good job of giving them the training they need to be ready for the job,” Bauer says.