About the ISSA

The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) is a distance education institution and certifying agency committed to our students' fitness education and professional goals. Our highly acclaimed online Personal Trainer Certification program has been designed so that our students can turn their passion for fitness into a paycheck.

ISSA's personal trainer education approach is backed by top fitness industry professionals throughout North America. The International Sports Sciences Association's Personal Trainer Certification advisors and authors are some of the most prestigious and respected names in the fitness industry. The years of scientific research they have conducted, in conjunction with the hundreds of professional publications and college textbooks they have authored, form the basis of virtually all exercise, physiology, nutrition, and fitness courses taught around the world.

While others talk about their "experts" we urge you to see for yourself and take an in depth look at their biographies, publications, and accomplishments. We're confident you'll see why ISSA is truly the World Leader in Fitness Education.

Divisions

• Public Division
• Education Division
• Professional Division

Fast Facts

• Established in 1988
• 9 fitness certification courses with no residency requirements (also available online!)
• 180,000 students and alumni
• 85 countries worldwide
• Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency, and is a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Mission Statement

The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) believes that the health and fitness of our society can be significantly improved by our students' success as health, sports and fitness professionals. Our efforts to stem the tide of poor health and physical decline are multiplied exponentially as our graduates and members disseminate the ISSA principles and methods to their clients, peers and associates.

Now, after more than a decade of successfully fulfilling our initial mission of setting and developing standards within the fitness industry, our goals currently focus on providing expanded access to the highest quality certification and continuing education programs available.

In view of our leadership role as fitness educators, we are also unconditionally committed to advancing our industry as a whole, and to develop greater access to career opportunities for those who share our vision of helping others live a healthier, more dignified life. Our mission is to inspire our students to impact the quality of life of each individual with whom they come in contact.

Vision Statement

ISSA seeks to be recognized as the world leader...

... in providing accessible, quality, advanced fitness education and personal training certification to the motivated, non-traditional learner/professional who seeks to be a leader in the emerging fitness industry--a fast-growing market sector of the global economy...

... for providing new levels of access to motivated, non-traditional students who have not had the opportunity for advanced fitness education and personal trainer certification for reasons of time, money, or geography...

... for innovative use of technology that creates new standards in assessment and achievement of academic excellence...

... for understanding and meeting the changing needs of its students, their clients, and their communities...

... for excellence in student and alumni services and support.