ISSA For Part-Time Personal Trainer?

by Shane
(Lexington, KY)

I currently already have a great career established in the IT industry, but I frequently find myself helping others out with health/fitness questions, diets, or their workouts. I've lifted weights and studied bodybuilding/weight lifting for over 10 years and have plenty of experience through my own trials. I would really enjoy personal training on a part-time basis. I also don't *plan* on getting too serious about it, maybe having 5 clients a week or so.

Would this certification be well suited for that? Would another that is accredited through the NCCA such as ACE be better?

Thanks

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ISSA
by: Anonymous

some gyms in my area do not hire ISSA trainers.

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ISSA is good, but not always recognized because not NCCA-approved
by: Anonymous

My sister got ISSA certification. She complained to me that she could not get on at the local gyms because they weren't recognizing ISSA. I'm also a personal trainer and my gym would hire her, but would not give her the training hour pay increase that they give to those with NCCA-approved certs. This hasn't prevented her from getting her own private clients, but starting at a chain gym is helpful to get hands-on experience and build a client base. While I know she's very knowledgeable (she is an RN and has trained for years, competing in bodybuilding and figure competitions) when you're starting out it's harder to prove your competency without the satisfied clients to back you up. At that point, people are really looking at your certification.

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ISSA CERTIFICATION
by: Anonymous

ISSA is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency, and is a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). NCCA is not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education they just simply set themselves up as the accrediting body. Keep in mind that NCCA does not require that a prospective trainer enroll in any education classes, they simply have to pass a test so many of these organizations charge a fee for a test and that's it. You of course have to have the knowledge and many of the tests are not easy, but the amount of time expended preparing for a test requires nowhere near the amount of time required to complete an ISSA course. The manual for the Certified Fitness Trainer is over 700 pages of material. The test to become certified can be completed online at home, but it is not 100 multiple choice questions. I am now enrolled in the Specialist in Fitness for Older Adults course and the exam questions includes five 250 word essays, case studies where you have to actually explain how you would train disabled senior citizens with certain afflictions as well as design periodized training programs for these clients. Completing exams where you answer multiple choice questions in no way prepares you to train a client. The gyms who do not accept ISSA graduates is diminishing and many major gyms such as 24 Hour Fitness and Gold's welcome their trainers.

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ISSA TRAINERS
by: Anonymous

I have found out recently that 24 Hour Fitness will only except ISSA certs has a secondary certification. They have a large list of priority approved certifications and with ISSA they will only hire if you have a cert from there priority list and with a secondary cert or another form of cert. If you need that information and want to work for 24 Hour Fitness or any corporate design gyms would be a good idea to do so, to save you time. I am not knocking ISSA i believe that there certification training is outstanding and i am disappointed that ISSA is not one of the top certs in the world and should be recognized as so by NCCA.

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Should be recongnized.
by: Midge

As someone else mentioned. Their test is not just a multiple choice test. You have 2 case studies which are extremely detailed and then you have 5, 250 word essays. They want to know that you know what you are talking about. Because it's how you word things that they'll really know if you should be certified. Anyone can pass a multiple choice test. Maybe in time ISSA will become more recognized. It is NOT easy by any means. That's why I chose them. The others looked too simple and if I wanted to just be certified to say I was certified I could of easily gone that route.

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I agree - ISSA Certs are challenging
by: Anonymous

I took the senior fitness cert and it was comparable to an online college course. You get books to read and you write papers, you also prepare workout programs for specific types of people. It was a good mix of challenge but informational as well. I have an established IT career and train part time. I have run into the same issues at clubs Lifetime only takes the ISSA Personal Trainer, Bally doesn't take it at all. Checking another local one nearby.

I think the school provides enough material to get you started just as any other online college or private school. It's just like any other thing in life. If you want it you have to go for it. (http://about.me/kmsdove)

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ISSA
by: Anonymous

ISSA cert's should be accepted by everyone but the fact is that they are not. Currently they are 599 for a fitness trainer cert. Come on people the most assceptd and accredited sert is AACSM and only cost around 300 for the exam. Best best is to just go with the most known cert.

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ISSA
by: Anonymous

AS ON today 24 hour fitness does accept ISSA certifications if you want to get more info on this cantact Mrs Marshall Marquardt ant mmarqardt@24hourfit.com good luck, and yes I am a ISSA certified trainer.

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jobless
by: Anonymous

I am ISSA certified and the only gyms in my area that accept it are gyms that you rent space. I am so upset. Even the YMCA won't accept it. If I could do it over, I would have spent my money on ACE. They are accepted at all gyms everywhere.

ISSA For Part-Time Personal Trainer?

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