About the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)

  1. Our Vision

    Connect 100M people to the power of healthy
    living by 2030.

  2. Our Mission

    Bring healthy living to everybody in the world through education and community.

Core Values:

  1. Prioritize Personal Connection

    • We serve others.

    • We provide exceptional service.

    • We build solid relationships.

  2. Live and Share Wellness

    • We promote healthy living.

    • We have a reciprocal relationship with wellness.

    • We actively pursue work / life synergy.

  3. Enjoy the Drive

    • We collaborate.

    • We focus on solutions not problems.

    • We work step-by-step ferociously.

  4. 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".

Accreditations and Affiliations

  1. IHRSA logo

  2. IHRSA - International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association

    The IHRSA is a trade association serving the global health club and fitness industry. The mission of IHRSA is to grow, protect and promote the health and fitness industry, and to provide its members with benefits that will help them be more successful. The IHRSA is dedicated to making the world healthier through regular exercise and activity promotion.



  1. Yoga Alliance Embedded Image | ISSA

  2. 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).





  1. NBFE logo

  2. 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.

  1. CAPPS Logo

  2. 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.




  1. New York Chiropractic College Logo

  2. NYCC

    The New York Chiropractic College assists future doctors of chiropractic achieve their career goals, New York Chiropractic College offers a unique educational program that gives students access to many career possibilities. The mission of New York Chiropractic College is to provide leadership and academic excellence in all our degree granting programs through a commitment to quality education and patient care, research excellence, professional service, and the fostering of lifelong learning for all members of our community. ISSA is approved for continuing education credits for chiropractors through the New York Chiropractic College.

  1.  Better Business Bureau Logo

  2. 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.

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

      ISSA acquires NCCPT (National Counsel of Certified Personal Trainers), now NCCA accredited

    • 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

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