Accreditation · checked against each certifier
NCCA-accredited personal trainer certifications, and the ISSA catch
Every certification on this site leads to an NCCA-accredited credential, but not every exam sold under those brands does. For ISSA: NCCA (NCCPT-CPT only); the open-note course exam is not accredited. Below are the table, what NCCA accreditation actually covers, and how to check any certifier yourself in ICE's directory of accredited programs.
Accreditation, exam by exam
| Exam | Accreditation | Where you sit it | Eligibility | Renewal | Go to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NASM-CPTNational Academy of Sports Medicine | NCCA | PSI center or live remote | HS diploma/GED + adult CPR/AED; no exam age minimum | 2.0 CEU and $99 every 2 years | Practice testExam facts |
| ACE CPTAmerican Council on Exercise | NCCA | test center or live remote | 18 or older, with a high school diploma or equivalent and a current adult CPR/AED card that included a hands-on skills check | every 2 years with 2.0 CECs (20 hours) and a $129 on-time fee | Practice testExam facts |
| NSCA-CPTNational Strength and Conditioning Association | NCCA | Pearson VUE center only | 18+, HS diploma, CPR/AED | 6.0 CEU / 3 yrs | Practice testExam facts |
| ISSA CPTInternational Sports Sciences Association | NCCA (NCCPT-CPT only) | online open-note · Prometric | 18+, ID, CPR card | 2 yrs · 20 CEUs | Practice testExam facts |
What NCCA accreditation actually covers
The NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies) is the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). It accredits certification programs: how the exam is built and scored, how the pass mark is set, how candidates are treated and how certified trainers renew. It does not accredit textbooks, video courses or schools.
That is why one brand can sell an accredited certification next to a product that isn't. ICE even runs a separate standard for assessment-based certificate programs, so a certificate and a certification are different things, even when the logo is the same.
Myth: “my ISSA certificate is NCCA-accredited”
Only if you passed the proctored NCCPT-CPT exam. The open-note ISSA course exam carries no NCCA accreditation. NCCPT-CPT comes with the ISSA course or can be bought on its own, so if a gym asks for NCCA, book it.
Myth: “the ACE Certificate counts”
The ACE Certificate is a separate product: online, open-book, 100 questions, pass at 70% or higher. NCCA accreditation sits on the ACE CPT exam instead: 150 items in 3 h, online or in person, closed-book, live proctor.
Check any certification in two minutes
- Open ICE's NCCA program search (ice.learningbuilder.com); it is also linked from the ICE directories page (credentialingexcellence.org).
- Search the program name, such as “Certified Personal Trainer”, not just the brand. One brand can hold several programs, and not all of them are accredited.
- Match the exact credential letters on the certificate you'd earn (CPT, NCCPT-CPT) with the listing.
- Cross-check the certifier's own accreditation page. It should name the NCCA and the program, not just say “nationally accredited”.
Before you choose
- CompareEvery head-to-head, plus all four exams on one table
- Best CPT certificationEvery CPT on one table, in lane order, plus who each one suits
- Certification costExam fees, packages, retakes and renewal for each exam, dated
NCCA accreditation: quick answers
What is NASM accredited by?
The NASM-CPT exam is accredited by the NCCA. Accreditation covers the exam program, not NASM's study courses or specializations.
Is ISSA NCCA-accredited?
Partly: NCCA (NCCPT-CPT only). The open-note ISSA course exam is not accredited. The details are on ISSA accreditation.
Does NCCA accreditation matter for getting hired?
It's a common first check. Many US gym job ads ask for an NCCA-accredited certification plus current CPR/AED, so read the ads where you want to work before you choose.
Is NCCA the same as NCAA?
No. NCAA is college sports; the typo is common in searches. The body that accredits certification exams is the NCCA, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.