About the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)
Our Vision
Connect 100M people to the power of healthy
living by 2030.
Our Mission
Bring healthy living to everybody in the world through education and community.
Core Values:
Prioritize Personal Connection
We serve others.
We provide exceptional service.
We build solid relationships.
Live and Share Wellness
We promote healthy living.
We have a reciprocal relationship with wellness.
We actively pursue work / life synergy.
Enjoy the Drive
We collaborate.
We focus on solutions not problems.
We work step-by-step ferociously.
We Are All In
We set goals to accomplish our mission of changing lives.
We hold ourselves and each other accountable to show up and put the work in.
We "Get It Done".
Affiliations
Health and Fitness Association
The Health and Fitness Association is a trade association serving the global health club and fitness industry. Its mission is to grow, promote, and protect the health and fitness industry, and to provide its members with the benefits that will help them be more successful. The association and its members—health and fitness clubs, gyms, studios, sports and aquatic facilities, and industry partners—are dedicated to making the world healthier through regular exercise.
Yoga Alliance
Yoga Alliance is the leading authority on yoga standards and credentialing, responsible for upholding ethics in yoga instruction and course framework to ensure safe, high-quality, accessible and equitable yoga teaching. It is the largest non-profit organization representing the yoga community.
ISSA’s Yoga 200 course is a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School (RYS-200), which meets the elevated standards of the Yoga Alliance. Students who complete ISSA’s Yoga 200-Hour Teacher Training are eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200).
NBFE Provisional Affiliate
The National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure to the public that qualified fitness professionals who have successfully passed the National Board examination have achieved an approved level of competency in the health and fitness industry. The NBFE promotes the services of qualified fitness professionals as a viable means of improving public health.
CAPPS
Since 1985 the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools has worked with the State's Governors, Legislature, elected officials and the numerous regulatory agencies to promote high quality education.
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau's mission is to promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer and business education, and service excellence.
Inc. 5000
ISSA has been ranked on the 2023 Inc. 5000 annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The prestigious ranking provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent, entrepreneurial businesses. The Inc. 5000 class of 2023 represents companies that have driven rapid revenue growth while navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and seemingly intractable hiring challenges.
ISSA Timeline
1988 — The International Sports Sciences Association
The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) is formed by a team of renowned fitness experts to stem the tide of physical decline. ISSA is founded with the mission of increasing the fitness of the people on our planet by helping more fitness professionals enjoy a successful career in fitness.
1990
ISSA launches Weekend Educational Workshops
1992
The ISSA becomes the first fitness certification organization to mandate continuing education.
1994
The ISSA sees the educational and information sharing potential and power of the Internet and launches its first online site at ISSA-USA
Summer 1995
ISSA launches ProTrainer Online Magazine
Fall 1995
Specialist in Performance Nutrition Course is launched
1996
Strength & Conditioning Course is launched
1997
Youth Fitness Trainer Course is launched
1998
ISSA celebrates its 10-year anniversary
1998
Specialist in Senior Fitness Course is launched
2002
Certified Fitness Trainer final examination is offered online
Summer 2005
ISSA becomes a Provisional Affiliate of National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE)
2005
8th edition of ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer is launched
Summer 2006
ISSA earns an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
2006
New Study Guides added to all major certification courses
March 2008
3D Exercise Lab is launched
2008
ISSA celebrates its 20-year anniversary
June 2009
ISSA launches new Specialist Fitness Nutrition course authored by John Berardi
November 2010
ISSA launches 10 week Guided Study On Track lecture and audio series
April 2011
ISSA begins offering Members Free Professional Website for business purposes
June 2011
ISSA Launches Public Division For the Health of It monthly newsletter
November 2011
ISSA earns full Affiliate status with the NBFE
2012
ISSA launches Thank a Vet — Hire a Vet national campaign
2013
Champions Youth Fitness teams up with KidShape 2.0 and ISSA to boost youth fitness
2015
ISSA busts the myth that one-size-fits-all diets work
2016
Huffington Post names ISSA one of the top Personal Training Certifications in America
2018
Andrew Wyant, former National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) president, becomes President and CEO of ISSA. The global leader in fitness and nutrition education shapes ISSA's new headquarters in Arizona
2019
ISSA launches first certification for DNA-Based fitness training programs
2019
Rich Brown joins ISSA from Digital Air Strike as the new CIO
2019
ISSA releases Fitness Certification Program tailored to military veterans and their families looking to make fitness training a career
2019
Rachael Cordova joins ISSA from Manifest as the new CFO
2019
ISSA launches partnership with leading online fitness and allied healthcare professionals organization, MedFit Network and MedFit Education Foundation
2019
DNA-Based Fitness Coach program is launched
2020
The National Council for Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT) is acquired, allowing ISSA to significantly expand its accredited certification offerings
2020
Yoga Certification course is launched
2020
Weight Management Instructor course is launched
2020
Powerlifting Instructor course is launched
2020
Online Coaching Certification course is launched
2020
Lifespan Coach Certification course is launched
February 2021
ISSA Launches Certified Indoor Cycling Instructor Course
March 2021
Tailwind Capital Acquires ISSA to Build the Leading eLearning Platform for the Fitness & Wellness Industry
August 2023
ISSA Ranked in Inc. 5000 annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.
