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Why We Do It
Accreditations and Affiliations
ISSA Timeline

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".

Accreditations and Affiliations

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.

ISSA | Yoga Alliance Asset
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).

ISSA | NBFE Provisional Affiliate Asset
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.

ISSA | CAPPS asset
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.

ISSA | NYCC Asset

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.

ISSA | Better Business Bureau Asset
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-inc 5000 row-image

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

    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

  • August 2023

    ISSA Ranked in Inc. 5000 annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

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