ISSA not widely accepted?

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ISSA not widely accepted?

by Tony Brice
(Iraq)

I am currently looking at which Certification is right for me. I like your website. It's GREAT info but there is a correction to be made regarding ISSA. ISSA DOES NOT provide unlimited retesting. According to the information I have received from ISSA they allow for one free retest. Now, I don't know if this is a new option for ISSA but I do think it is very fair to offer one free retest considering the prices of Certification.

I did send ISSA an email in reference to why they are not listed by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). I have not received an answer as of yet. I checked the websites of the two largest and most popular gyms in my home town and ISSA was not listed as an accepted certification for employment as a personal trainer.

ISSA appears to be more than just legitimate to me. It appears to be a very extensive certification that provides excellent support. My question is WHY is it not recognized by the NCCA. Thanks. Tony Brice

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Why ISSA not NCCA
by: Anonymous

Found this on ISSA's Q&A: Guy asked why they're not NCCA accredited.
With regard to your question consider the following. The two reasons we at the ISSA are pursuing options other than the NCCA is that NCCA standards specifically state that any organization that seeks accreditation of their examination, can NOT require any courses, classes, training, or workshops as a prerequisite to sit for their examination.
What that recommendation means for our profession (and to the public) is that to become a personal trainer, you just need to take a test - no education required. This creates a potential situation where students can literally buy or study test questions to pass an examination.

We believe that students should be required to complete educational courses, classes and training prior to taking an examination to become a personal trainer. ISSA along with over 15 other national and international organizations also believe that all personal trainers should be judged by one national standard, via National Board examinations.

Here are the facts regarding IHRSA's recommendations:

The following information is directly from IHRSA regarding their position on accreditation.

Q: Is this a standard for IHRSA membership?

A: No. This statement represents the opinion of IHRSA. It is a recommendation for IHRSA members, not a requirement.

Q: Are there certification bodies that are preferred or recommended by IHRSA?

A: No. IHRSA maintains no list of preferred certifying bodies. This recommendation is neither an endorsement nor a censure of any particular personal training certification organization/body.

Q: Is IHRSA mandating certain personnel decisions, such as firing or refusing to hire trainers who are not certified by an accredited body?

A: Absolutely not. Hiring criteria for personal trainers and other employees are set by club management, not by IHRSA. There are many sources of information on the topic of certification and personal trainers, and the IHRSA recommendation is one. This recommendation represents the opinion of IHRSA and is intended ultimately to benefit consumers. Whether and in what way an IHRSA member may choose to act consistent with the recommendation is a decision for each member.

Therefore, in an effort to ensure to our members that we are a legitimate distance education provider, we have aligned our course objectives with that of the National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE) and are currently undergoing the process of accreditation through a USDE and CHEA government recognized organization. Given that we are in the midst of the process we are not allowed to disclose the name of the organization at this time. However, we should potentially know by January of 2008 which is when the accrediting commission meets for approval of new organizations.

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Submitted by: Anonymous

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Found this on ISSA's Q&A: Guy asked why they're not NCCA accredited. With regard to your question consider the following. The two reasons we at the ISSA are pursuing options other than the NCCA is that NCCA standards specifically state that any organization that seeks accreditation of their examination, can NOT require any courses, classes, training, or workshops as a prerequisite to sit for their examination. What that recommendation means for our profession (and to the public) is that to become a personal trainer, you just need to take a test - no education required. This creates a potential situation where students can literally buy or study test questions to pass an examination. We believe that students should be required to complete educational courses, classes and training prior to taking an examination to become a personal trainer. ISSA along with over 15 other national and international organizations also believe that all personal trainers should be judged by one national standard, via National Board examinations. Here are the facts regarding IHRSA's recommendations: The following information is directly from IHRSA regarding their position on accreditation. Q: Is this a standard for IHRSA membership? A: No. This statement represents the opinion of IHRSA. It is a recommendation for IHRSA members, not a requirement. Q: Are there certification bodies that are preferred or recommended by IHRSA? A: No. IHRSA maintains no list of preferred certifying bodies. This recommendation is neither an endorsement nor a censure of any particular personal training certification organization/body. Q: Is IHRSA mandating certain personnel decisions, such as firing or refusing to hire trainers who are not certified by an accredited body? A: Absolutely not. Hiring criteria for personal trainers and other employees are set by club management, not by IHRSA. There are many sources of information on the topic of certification and personal trainers, and the IHRSA recommendation is one. This recommendation represents the opinion of IHRSA and is intended ultimately to benefit consumers. Whether and in what way an IHRSA member may choose to act consistent with the recommendation is a decision for each member. Therefore, in an effort to ensure to our members that we are a legitimate distance education provider, we have aligned our course objectives with that of the National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE) and are currently undergoing the process of accreditation through a USDE and CHEA government recognized organization. Given that we are in the midst of the process we are not allowed to disclose the name of the organization at this time. However, we should potentially know by January of 2008 which is when the accrediting commission meets for approval of new organizations.

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Accreditation
by: Jen Lilienstein

ISSA is currently pursuing accreditation through a CHEA (Council on Higher Education) and U.S. DOE (Department of Education) approved accrediting body, which NCCA is not. We want to make sure ISSA holds an accreditation that offers the most value/benefit to our trainers in their fitness careers, which is why we chose the alternate accreditation path.

It's important to note that in the March 2007 issue of Club Business Industry on page 29, IHRSA noted that personal trainer certifications either pursuing accreditation or accredited by NCCA **or an equivalent organization such as the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education** would meet IHRSA's recommendations for accreditation.

I hope this helps!

To your good health,
Jen Lilienstein
Director of Marketing
ISSA

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NCCA
by: Anonymous

ISSA is getting the accreditation through DETC Accrediting Commission. Check it out http://detc.org/new_applicants.html

Regarding to NCCA, it is highly accepted but it is NOT recognized by the Department of Education. Check this site *** Editor's Note: wikipedia link removed due to length, it was causing the page to format improperly****

Plus ISSA give unlimited one on one support via email to any problem from why my client is not losing or gaining weight. ISSA is the best choice.

ISSA not widely accepted?

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