How to Become a Personal Trainer with ISSA Certification

Turning your passion for fitness into a career can be very rewarding, especially if you enjoy motivating others to get into better shape and achieve their fitness goals. One way to do this is to become a personal trainer. In this role, you'll work with individuals and small groups of all ages, abilities, and skill levels, and you'll help develop an exercise plan to meet their needs. Typically, this plan revolves around various aspects of fitness, such as cardiovascular workouts, strength training, and stretching.

While you can take many paths toward this career, one that some people choose to take is the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) certification. Discover how to become a personal trainer, including the qualifications and the ISSA certification for personal trainers that can help you launch a rewarding career.

What is a personal trainer?

Personal trainers are fitness experts who work with others to help them achieve fitness goals, whether they're new to exercise and want to get into shape or they've been doing it for years and want to take their workouts to the next level. In this role, you might work at a gym, a private fitness center, or even on the road, meeting clients in their homes or at outdoor locations like parks. Your hours may be irregular and include weekends, nights, and holidays. 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, personal trainers earn a median pay of $46,480 annually, and the field is rising [1]. The Bureau also predicts that the need for fitness professionals will grow at a rate of 14 percent by 2032, significantly faster than other industries [1].

As a personal trainer, your duties might include:  

• Assessing a client's fitness levels and abilities 

• Creating personalized plans for clients 

• Showing clients how to perform exercises 

• Helping clients exercise correctly to avoid injuries 

• Giving clients lifestyle advice and nutritional tips if they are a certified nutritionist  

• Providing encouragement and motivation 

• Performing emergency first aid when necessary

Depending on where you work, you may have additional duties. For example, if you work in a gym, you may have responsibilities like selling fitness programs, signing up new members, and giving tours of the facilities. 

What is ISSA personal trainer certification?

ISSA personal trainer certification is a credential nationally recognized throughout the fitness industry. It has received accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), an organization acknowledged by the Department of Education. There are several paths to becoming a personal trainer, but the ISSA personal trainer certification option enjoys global popularity. It currently has over half a million trainers in 174 countries and over 10,000 gym partners [2].

Once you enroll in the program, you can access an online textbook and instructor support. After finishing the coursework, you'll take a final exam that you must pass to get the credential. The National Commission for Certifying Agencies  (NCCA) accredits the exam, and as soon as you have your certification, you can begin looking for work as a personal trainer.

The coursework teaches a variety of topics, ranging from how to motivate clients to information on how diet contributes to overall wellness. You'll also have access to helpful tools, like an online textbook, audio and video lectures, an online workbook, a forum for learners, and practice quizzes. Once you earn your personal trainer certification, you can add on by becoming a fitness coach, elite trainer, or master trainer, which requires additional courses. 

How to become a personal trainer with ISSA certification

While earning the ISSA certification is a big step in your journey toward becoming a personal trainer, it's not the only thing to consider. It’s also helpful to determine if you have a passion for remaining healthy and physically fit because doing so will make it easier for you to demonstrate to your clients the benefits of that lifestyle. 

1. Assess your level of interest.

Before starting on your career path, make sure you really want to be a personal trainer. Even if you love to exercise, working closely with others and inspiring them to love it too may not be the best fit. For example, in addition to a passion for fitness, you'll need to genuinely enjoy helping people. Your entire career will revolve around working with and helping others, which can be rewarding. 

2. Develop your skill set.

It’s also helpful to have solid interpersonal and communication skills. You'll build relationships with your clients and try to earn their trust, and you may need to explain fitness and training principles to them in a way that they'll understand. 

Patience is another critical skill for personal trainers to cultivate. While you may be in great shape, your clients may need more help getting there. This means you'll need to be patient when they first try exercises and don't get them right or can’t do them. You'll need to work with them until they get it right, and you'll need to avoid being judgmental towards clients who aren't in good shape. 

While you'll need to be flexible while working with clients, you'll also need to be flexible when it comes to your schedule. People may need to schedule training sessions around their work or school schedules. You will usually work hours other than the standard workday while ensuring you’re available on weekends. 

Organization and problem-solving are also critical human skills that personal trainers need. You'll also need customer service skills and a willingness to learn and keep up with the latest trends in exercise and health. 

3. Get qualified.

Once you've decided this is the right career path for you, you'll want to ensure you've met any necessary qualifications to earn your certification. For example, to gain the ISSA personal trainer certification, you must be 18 years old. Previous experience in this field is optional, but you must have up-to-date CPR or AED certification. 

Also, keep in mind that when you apply for a job as a personal trainer, the facility where you work may have qualifications. Generally, you'll need a high school diploma or GED. Your state may also have requirements. Some may even seek candidates with an associate or bachelor's degree in a related field, like exercise science, physical education, or recreation and fitness. 

4. Enroll in and complete the ISSA certification program.

Once you've determined this is your path, and you've made sure you meet any qualifications, it's time to enroll in the ISSA certification program. ISSA offers three versions of its course. You can take the basic certified personal trainer course or the certified personal trainer course with a Live Learning Experience. While both offer the same information, the Live Learning Experience option allows you to participate in a virtual classroom at designated times.  You'll also find a Spanish language version of the course. 

To earn your certification, you must submit all quizzes associated with the course and attain a score of 70 percent or better [2]. 

5. Pass the ISSA certification exam.

After you complete the course, you'll need to take the final exam and score at least 75 percent on all sections to earn your certification. The exam is NCCA accredited, which ISSA claims may better help you find a job [2]. Topics included are anatomy and physiology, nutrition, physical fitness, injury and disease, and how to design programs. Give yourself ample time to study and take advantage of practice quizzes before you take the real thing. 

Additional ISSA certifications

While the ISSA Certified Personal Trainer is a great place to start, consider adding more advanced ISSA certifications. With additional coursework, you can become one or more of the following:

• Fitness coach

• Elite trainer

• Master trainer 

Fitness coach

When you choose the fitness coach specialization, you can become an ISSA-certified personal trainer and fitness coach at the same time. By taking additional courses, you'll better understand the topics taught and can choose a specialty. Fitness coaches may focus on any of the following paths:  

• Nutritionist 

• Corrective Exercise

• Bodybuilding

• Group Exercise

• Glute Specialists 

• Online Coaching

• Running Coach

• Strength and Conditioning Coaching 

Elite trainer

If you choose the path to elite trainer, you'll earn the nutritionist certification and learn one specialization. At the same time, you will earn your certified personal trainer certification. Courses offered with this program expand on basic personal training knowledge. You can also choose your specialty, just like a fitness coach. 

Master trainer

The ISSA Master Trainer certification combines six certifications in one, the highest level ISSA offers. You'll start with two core certifications—Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist—and then add specializations. 

ISSA specializations to consider

In addition to advancing your certification, you can add to it by choosing a specialization. If a particular area of fitness, nutrition, or wellness interests you, you can learn more about it and become very knowledgeable in it. Some popular ISSA specializations include:

• Nutritionist 

• Strength and conditioning

• Bodybuilding specialist

• Tactical conditioning coach

• Kickboxing instructor

• Exercise therapy specialist 

• Health coach

Can I be an online personal trainer?

Virtual personal training is quite popular nowadays, and ISSA even offers a specialization. Suitable for both new and veteran trainers, the ISSA Online Coaching Certification teaches you how to create online content to attract clients. You'll learn everything from advertising on social media to creating an email marketing campaign. 

Virtual personal trainers will also need some technical skills. You'll use programs and apps like video chats, data trackers, and payment services. You may need to maintain a website or a blog. If you're self-employed, you'll need to know how to run a small business.  

Next steps on Coursera

The need for personal trainers is on the rise, and the BLS expects growth in the industry to continue over the next decade. If you have a passion for fitness and a passion for helping others, this could be the career for you. 

Continuing your education throughout your career is a big part of being a personal trainer. One way you can do that is by taking courses on Coursera offered by some of the top institutions in the world. Consider online classes like the Science of Exercise from the University of Colorado, Boulder, or Weight Management: Beyond Balancing Calories offered by Emory University.