NCCA accredited online certification

Is there an NCCA certified online personal trainer course? Perhaps there have been new developments online. :)

Thanx

Eric

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NCCA online options are scarce
by: Katie - Admin

It depends on how you define online... Several of the NCCA accredited personal training certifications have a self-study option where you can just show up and take the exam. But if you are looking for a 100% online option, you are not going to find it accredited by the NCCA that I have found. Probably because it would be too easy to cheat.

There are several decent online education programs that you can take that will even get you a diploma. You can then take any of the NCCA accredited exams because you will be ready to past most of them (ACSM may be the exception).

- Katie

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ISSA
by: Anonymous

What about ISSA? This is what ISSA say's about being accredited.
ISSA is proud to be 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).
Now, they are not accredited through NCCA. Can there be more than one accrediting agency? Isn't the DETC better than NCCA because it's listed with the U.S.D.E? I don't understand why personal training certs. are not on board with on-line testing. I know for a fact that you can take classes from most colleges (even accredited by the Dept. of Higher Education)and test on-line. It's the sign of the times everything is online. If you don't know the answer, why not look it up? You would do that in REAl life. The question should be, do you have an understanding? Are you grasping it? So, what are your thoughts on ISSA?
Thanks.

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ISSA perfect choice
by: Anonymous

ISSA is perfect. Everything you need is online and fully accredited. They're the only fitness organization to be nationally accredited by the DETC. If you need to take a proctored test, they have that too. For us in the military, you're eligible for free tuition thru tuition assistance because Dantes recognizes em.

My opinion, they were the first and they are the best!

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Who accedited the NCCA
by: Anonymous

The NCCA is not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or CHEA. In fact, all fitness certification organizations that have chosen to have their exam accredited by NCCA are required to clearly state that it is not necessary to take any of their educational programs, classes, or courses as a prerequisite to take their test to become a certified trainer.

Fitness certification organizations that chose NCCA are only offering an accredited exam. Nothing else. The institution or organization is NOT accredited. The education is NOT accredited. Only the test has gone through a review process, by an independent organization that is not recognized by any third party or authorized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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Very Confused!
by: Anonymous

Im trying to take a PT course and am looking at ISSA but am very confused. Is it reputable and accredited or not? because this is what the fine print says: "ISSA is accredited by DETC, and all of its educational programs are approved by DETC. However, DETC does not accredit any certification exams, including ISSA's"

So what does this mean? The school and programs are accredited but your certification is not accredited? How does that make any sense? Please help!

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Confusion and misleading NCCA NEW
by: Anonymous

The confusion surrounding personal trainer agencies stems from misleading claims made by some organizations about being "accredited." In reality, they are not accredited in the way people assume. The only aspect that might have oversight is the exam—not the courses or the overall education process.

NCCA, for instance, does not accredit agencies or courses, nor is it recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. It is simply a company formed by a few personal trainer agencies, such as NASM, AFAA,NCSF, ACE, NPTI, NSCA, ACSM, NFPT, and more as a marketing strategy to attract attention and sell more courses. Unfortunately, this has led to false advertising and deception. Even gyms have been misled by these claims.

There are many organizations that provide high-quality education and certifications without relying on this type of accreditation. The best approach is to learn directly from professional athletes who have firsthand experience in the industry. When choosing an educational program, take the time to research thoroughly. Call and confirm that the organization offers genuine support, personal guidance, hands-on training, and the opportunity to have your questions answered directly—not just via email.

Many excellent agencies are not accredited by entities like the NCCA, yet they excel at educating and producing top-tier personal trainers. Accreditation, especially from the NCCA, is not a meaningful measure of quality or effectiveness in this field. Focus on the substance of the education rather than the marketing hype. Beware of online courses and exams. Remember that obtaining a paper as certified does not mean qualified. Search for the PROS.

NCCA accredited online certification

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