The NASM certification, emphasizing corrective exercise with its OPT model, contrasts with ISSA’s focus on athletic performance and programming. Both are NCCA-accredited and widely accepted by employers. From my experience, each offers unique strengths to a trainer’s repertoire in the fitness industry.

Let’s see which one is best for you and your personal needs.

NASM and ISSA Quick Breakdown

CPT	ACSM vs ACE Quick Breakdown	Features	Price
	NASM CPT	Focus on corrective exercise Groundbreaking OPT Model More expensive No easy Difficult exam option	View on NASM Website
	ISSA CPT	Solid technique and exercise programming Excellent business skills Comprehensive skill set Internationally recognized Highly cost effective certification bundles	$828.00 for ISSA

In my experience as a personal trainer, expanding my knowledge through additional certifications has been invaluable in helping clients achieve their health and fitness goals efficiently.

Starting with a foundational certification gave me the basics, but specialty certifications, like nutrition, have allowed me to deepen my skills and provide more targeted guidance, even though my scope is limited without a dietitian’s license. These extra qualifications helped me land my first job, compensating for a lack of experience, and some gyms even offer a small pay bump for trainers with multiple certifications.

For those looking to boost their credentials quickly, NASM and ISSA offer cost-effective bundles for earning multiple certifications at once.

The ISSA option is a bit more expensive at $1,199.64 828, or $99.97 per month for 12 months.

NASM’s Nutrition and Fitness bundle is $1,124 or $93.66 per month for 12 months 999, which is slightly cheaper, but roughly the same price as ISSA’s package.

Double-check that these deals are still running on the ISSA website or NASM page, because both ISSA and NASM are known to change their offerings somewhat regularly.

Accreditation

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NASM and ISSA are both widely accepted because they meet the rigorous accreditation standards set by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), which ensures that certification exams are fair and that trainers are qualified to work safely and effectively in the fitness industry,

NASM and ISSA both offer accredited and non-accredited versions of their exam, but I highly recommend you pick the accredited final test, which is closed-book and more respected.

I worked at many gyms and most will want you to have a NCCA-accredited certification.

Cost of Study Packages

Choosing the right personal training certification often comes down to budget. Investing in a quality certification, like NASM or ISSA, can certainly pay off, but your available funds may dictate your choice. I’ve seen this firsthand—knowing that while a more affordable option might be tempting, sometimes the added resources in higher-tier packages genuinely make a difference.

In terms of costs, NASM and ISSA’s pricing structures are quite similar, especially when accounting for the additional certifications bundled in ISSA’s packages. ISSA’s base package is comprehensive, costing $1,199.64, and includes essentials like a practice exam and other study tools, supporting both the main certification and any bundled bonuses.

NASM, meanwhile, offers multiple study package options, each varying in resources but all including essentials like the CPT textbook and exam. NASM’s flexibility is helpful if you’re on a tighter budget, as they provide a range of options from basic to comprehensive packages.

While NASM’s bundles are generally more costly, they reflect a higher overall quality of educational resources, which may justify the price. ISSA, however, stands out for offering a great balance between cost and additional certifications, providing substantial value for the money.

Ultimately, ISSA may offer a cheaper per-certification rate, while NASM can offer a more thorough educational experience for a slight premium. Both routes have their merits, so understanding your budget and study needs will help guide your choice.

Quality of Study Materials

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NASM’s study packages are ideal for grasping exercise science concepts thoroughly, and from my experience, their practice exams are invaluable for exam readiness. I found that the comprehensive All-Inclusive package, which offers 17 resources, gave me a deep dive into each topic, with multiple study formats that cater to different learning preferences.

Having flexible study options helped me focus on areas where I needed the most support while skipping material I already felt confident in.

However, if you prefer a more streamlined approach, International Personal Trainer Academy (IPTA) offers a premium package that condenses essential study content into a simpler, more focused format. This can cut study time in half and may help improve your chances of passing on the first try. Plus, IPTA’s package includes a money-back guarantee if you don’t pass, adding a layer of security to your investment.

Click on the link here to access the NASM MVP study package.

Let’s have a look at NASM’s study suites for a clearer idea:

Pretty dense with features, resources, and materials as you can see, but is it worth the price?

The only way to tell is by comparing it to what ISSA has to offer.

Comparing NASM and ISSA, it’s clear NASM’s base packages offer more study materials, with a deeper dive into exercise science fundamentals. When I took the NASM CPT, their in-depth resources helped me build a strong, nuanced understanding of exercise science, giving me the confidence to make independent decisions in real-world scenarios.

ISSA, on the other hand, focuses more on practical, hands-on aspects, which makes it simpler to grasp for those looking to quickly get up to speed in the basics of personal training. ISSA’s materials also cater well to trainers aiming to run their own business, offering a business-focused textbook, Fiscal Fitness, that was helpful for understanding the essentials of business management—something NASM doesn’t emphasize as strongly.

Both options have their merits: NASM provides a solid foundation if you’re looking for depth in exercise science, while ISSA offers streamlined, practical content with additional support for those aspiring to work independently. It comes down to whether you’re seeking a deeper understanding or a faster track to building a personal training business.

For all that, I give ISSA the edge with an 8/10 rating, while NASM receives a 7/10 rating.

Exam Layout and Passing Grade

Both NASM and ISSA exams are multiple-choice, but with some key differences. NASM’s exam has 120 questions and a 70% passing requirement, while ISSA’s has 160 questions with a 75% pass mark. This 5% difference might not seem much, but it reflects ISSA’s aim for mastery in practical knowledge.

I found NASM’s setup helpful for in-depth understanding, especially with the added security of proctoring, but ISSA’s fully online approach is ideal if you’re looking for flexibility and are interested in building an international personal training career.

NASM and ISSA’s proctored exam, which you can take at a test center or remotely via webcam, felt secure and structured, but it required a bit more planning.

If you take the un-proctored exam at home it is an easier experience because you can do it anytime.

Now let’s look at the structure of the individual tests.

NASM is broken down into 6 sections.

These are:

• Professional Development and Responsibility
• Client Relations and Behavioral Coaching
• Basic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts
• Assessment
• Program Design
• Exercise Technique and Training Instruction

These sections are all weighted differently meaning that the number of questions on the exam that fall into each section will differ. You’ll find more questions related to content areas that have higher percentage values attached to them.

Looking at this, you get a pretty good impression of where to focus when doing exam prep for the NASM exam.

In my experience, both NASM and ISSA offer a good balance between theory and practical applications, with NASM focusing more directly on core training principles, like anatomy and kinesiology. This scientific grounding helped me feel prepared for the hands-on decisions I’d make in real training situations, where understanding the science behind actions is crucial.

Since both certifications are NCCA accredited, the exams reflect a baseline of practical knowledge. However, ISSA’s approach broadens this scope, incorporating more on business and nutrition.

This made ISSA appealing if you’re looking to go beyond fitness instruction into areas like business management and client nutrition—a bonus if your goal is to run your own training business. Both options are strong; it just depends if your focus is on practical fitness skills (NASM) or if you’d like a broader view that includes business aspects (ISSA).

Exam Difficulty and Pass Rate

Exam difficulty is a key difference between NASM and ISSA certifications. The NASM CPT, with a 74% pass rate, is moderately challenging, though this pass rate may reflect that NASM often attracts candidates with a strong baseline in fitness knowledge.

In my own prep, I found NASM manageable but requiring dedicated study, especially compared to the NSCA-CSCS, which has a reputation for being particularly tough.

ISSA, however, has a 93% pass rate for its open-book exam, making it one of the easier certifications to pass. Still, preparation is essential, as a small percentage of candidates do fail. The open-book option is especially helpful if you prefer a less intensive testing experience, but even so, I recommend utilizing study guides and practice exams to ensure a first-time pass, as I did—it really made a difference in feeling confident on test day.

Retake Fee

If you don’t pass on the first try, both NASM and ISSA offer options for retaking the exam, though there are some differences. With NASM, you can retake the CPT exam for $199—a bit steep but common in the industry. When I took the exam, knowing about this fee kept me motivated to prepare thoroughly the first time around!

ISSA offers a more forgiving approach: you get one free second attempt, and the retest only requires you to focus on the questions you missed. This flexibility boosts the pass rate on retakes. If a third attempt is needed, ISSA’s re-exam fee is just $50, which is far below typical fees, making ISSA a winner for affordable retakes.

Certification Popularity

Both NASM and ISSA are well-established in the fitness industry, attracting numerous candidates annually. However, NASM typically enrolls more candidates in its CPT program, and its brand shows higher search frequency on Google compared to ISSA. While search frequency isn’t a precise measure of brand awareness due to various influencing factors, it does loosely reflect NASM’s broader recognition.

Having gone through this process myself, I noticed that NASM’s reputation as a leader in fitness education often makes it the go-to choice for many aspiring trainers. That said, it’s important to remember that both NASM and ISSA offer multiple certifications beyond personal training, so enrollment numbers and search interest may include candidates for other programs as well.

Expected Study Time

The time needed to prepare for and complete each certification depends on the enrollment period. Both NASM and ISSA give you six months from registration to sit for the final exam. If you need more time, ISSA offers a free two-month extension, while NASM allows a 90-day extension for an additional fee, which you can find on their website.

I would say three months of study should be enough for most candidates, even without a fitness background. This timeframe leaves plenty of room within the six-month enrollment window.

The actual study time varies based on weekly commitment, study quality, and the exam’s difficulty. For instance, ISSA’s open-book format is more manageable than NASM’s standard proctored exam, potentially requiring less intensive prep.

ISSA also offers a helpful 10-week study plan, guiding you through the material with a structured pace. This schedule was especially beneficial in reducing stress and ensuring I stayed on track—having that timeline helped me feel more organized and prepared by the exam date.

Average Income

As a certified personal trainer, you can work across various fitness facilities, each with its own pay standards. While the certification itself usually doesn’t significantly impact pay, NASM and ISSA-certified trainers often have slightly different earning potentials due to where they typically work.

From my experience, NASM trainers tend to earn over 10% more than ISSA trainers, largely because NASM-certified trainers often pursue positions at higher-paying facilities. ISSA trainers frequently start in commercial gyms, where pay rates are generally lower.

NASM’s job guarantee can be a valuable perk, especially for new trainers navigating how to build income in the fitness industry.

Primary Focus of Certification

Each certification has unique strengths, making it suited for specific niches. Both NASM and ISSA will equip you with the skills to be an effective personal trainer, meeting industry standards.

ISSA focuses heavily on business and practical programming, which I found beneficial for quickly building programming skills and managing client loads in a busy gym setting. This emphasis makes ISSA an excellent choice if you’re looking to work independently or in fast-paced environments, as it prioritizes business skills and quick decision-making in programming.

NASM, on the other hand, excels in corrective exercise and exercise mechanics, providing a solid foundation in the science behind movement. With its OPT model, NASM trainers are equipped to address more complex client needs and develop programs that consider deeper mechanical factors, which I found invaluable when working with clients who required more tailored, advanced support. If you’re aiming for a deeper scientific approach to training, NASM may be the better fit.

CEU Requirements

Both NASM and ISSA require you to renew your certification every two years.

This may be done by obtaining CEUs, or continuing education units.

Fitness professionals must keep their skills sharp and with the current scientific and industry trends.

To qualify for recertification, you will have to submit CEUs as well as pay the required recertification fee.

Both ISSA and NASM certifications require 2.0 CEUs for recertification, which amounts to 20 hours of continued education.

Certification Roundup

Certification Take Aways

Choosing between ISSA and NASM can be challenging, but it comes down to what you’re aiming for in your training career. Both are excellent certifications with unique strengths. From my perspective, NASM offers a more in-depth, science-focused program that gives you a solid foundation for long-term career growth. This depth makes NASM a great investment for aspiring trainers looking for a higher return on their certification.

However, ISSA is also a solid option, especially if you’re looking to quickly build practical skills and potentially work independently. Ultimately, both certifications will open doors and provide a solid foundation to start earning in the personal training field.

References

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