ISSA CPT · accreditation, checked 19 Oct 2026
Is ISSA NCCA accredited? One of its two exams is
Short answer: the NCCPT-CPT exam is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The exam inside the ISSA course is not, and ISSA says so on its own course page. Which one you pass decides which credential you hold.
- NCCA (NCCPT-CPT only)accreditation
- 140items on the accredited exam
- $79Prometric fee to sit it
The short answer
| Fact | ISSA CPT | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation | NCCA on the NCCPT-CPT exam only; the ISSA course exam is not accredited | IC · NF |
| Where you sit it | course: online, open-note, unproctored · NCCPT: Prometric center or live remote, closed-book | IF · NE |
| Pass mark | course 70% (one ISSA FAQ answer says 75% on all sections) · NCCPT scaled score (cut score not published) | IF · NP |
| Exam-only fee | included with the course · $599 alone (+ $79 Prometric delivery fee) | NX · NM |
| Who runs the NCCPT-CPT | the National Council for Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT), a subsidiary of ISSA | IF · NF |
What NCCA accreditation covers here
NCCA accredits certification programs and their exams, not training courses. In ISSA's case that is the NCCPT-CPT: 140 items in 2 hours, closed-book, taken at a Prometric center or online. The ISSA course exam is open-note and untimed; ISSA calls it "not accredited".
So "Is ISSA accredited?" has two answers. If you passed only the course exam, your ISSA CPT is not NCCA-accredited. If you passed the NCCPT-CPT, you hold an NCCA-accredited credential, the same kind as the NASM-CPT.
Myth: "ISSA is NCCA-accredited, so any ISSA certificate counts"
The accreditation belongs to one exam. The CPT course exam is not NCCA-accredited, even though it leads to an ISSA certificate. When a job ad says "NCCA-accredited certification", the NCCPT-CPT is the ISSA exam that meets it.
Is ISSA legit?
Yes, ISSA is a real certifier, and the NCCPT-CPT it offers through NCCPT is NCCA-accredited. The question to ask is not "is ISSA legit" but "which ISSA exam did this trainer pass". The course exam is open-note with a 70% pass mark; the NCCPT-CPT is a proctored exam scored against a fixed standard.
If you are choosing ISSA, plan for the NCCPT-CPT from day one. It is included with the ISSA CPT course, so skipping it saves you only the $79 Prometric fee.
Gyms that accept ISSA
No public list of gyms that accept ISSA exists, and lists on review sites cannot be checked. What you can check is the job ad: if it names NCCA accreditation, bring the NCCPT-CPT. If it just says ISSA, ask the manager which accreditation they need before you book. All NCCA-accredited CPT exams.
Is ISSA certification worth it?
That depends on which exam you finish. The course gives you a self-paced route (6 months to complete) and an exam with one free resubmission of a failed portion. Its weak spot is that the course exam alone is not accredited. Add the NCCPT-CPT and that weak spot disappears. What it costs.
Get ready for the NCCPT-CPT
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More on the ISSA exams
- ISSA CPTTwo exams under one name: format, cost, domains, sources
- ISSA CPT practice testQuestions sorted by the six NCCPT-CPT domains, every option explained
- ISSA CPT exam factsFinal exam format, passing score, retakes, CPR and CEU renewal
- ISSA CPT costCourse price, NCCPT exam and Prometric fees, retakes, renewal
- ISSA CPT NCCPT examThe NCCA-accredited ISSA exam: items, rules, fees, retakes
ISSA accreditation, quick answers
Is ISSA accredited by the NCCA?
The NCCPT-CPT exam is. NCCPT says its CPT exam "is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies". The ISSA course exam is not accredited.
Is ISSA a reputable certification?
ISSA is an established certifier. Its accredited credential is the NCCPT-CPT; employers that ask for NCCA accreditation will want that one rather than the course exam.
Do I have to take the NCCPT exam to be ISSA certified?
No. ISSA calls the two exams "options". Passing the course exam makes you an ISSA CPT. You need the NCCPT-CPT only for the NCCA-accredited credential.
Is ISSA as good as NASM?
With the NCCPT-CPT, both are NCCA-accredited. NASM-CPT has 120 items in 2 hours; the NCCPT-CPT has 140 in the same time. Without the NCCPT-CPT, an ISSA CPT is not accredited and NASM-CPT is.