International Sports Sciences Association
Encyclopedia
The International Sports Sciences Association is an organization that operates as a teaching institution and certification agency for fitness trainers, athletic trainers, aerobic instructors, and medical professionals.
The ISSA offers one general fitness certification course for personal training and six specialized fitness certification courses, including fitness nutrition, sports nutrition, strength and conditioning, exercise therapy, senior fitness and youth fitness. The student obtains the status of "Elite Trainer" after completion of three courses, and "Master Trainer" after completion of six courses. Instruction is based on exercise assessment, nutritional planning, fitness instruction, sports medicine practice, and post-rehabilitation training. The school has enrolled over 130,000 students, both in fitness education and continuing education courses.
The ISSA is the first fitness organization to earn national educational accreditation from a federally recognized agency (the Distance Education and Training Council
).
created a personal fitness training program to merge gym experience with practical and applied sciences." In keeping with this standard, the ISSA became a Provisional Affiliate of the National Board of Fitness Examiners in 2004. "The National Board of Fitness Examiners was founded to develop nationally based and uniform standards of practice for personal fitness trainers to be used to administer an NBFE provided written and practical examination followed by registration of those who successfully pass the test process. Under NBFE’s procedure, preparation for the NBFE examination can take several forms and includes training through a number of affiliated organizations who themselves include certifying organizations for fitness professionals," including the ISSA. In 2009, the ISSA became the first fitness organization to earn accreditation by a federally recognized accrediting agency—the Distance Education and Training Council
(an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education
and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation). As a result, the ISSA was added to the list of GI Jobs' Military Friendly Schools in 2010, being approved by the Department of Defense for the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) to accept U.S. Armed Forces Tuition Assistance and the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Financial Assistance program.
(DETC). The DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized agency, is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
(CHEA), and by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA).
ISSA is registered with the Better Business Bureau
and has been awarded the highest company rating of A+. The ISSA is approved by the New York Chiropractic College for Postgraduate and Continuing Education. The ISSA is also a Provisional Affiliate of the National Board of Fitness Examiners (NFBE).
The ISSA offers one general fitness certification course for personal training and six specialized fitness certification courses, including fitness nutrition, sports nutrition, strength and conditioning, exercise therapy, senior fitness and youth fitness. The student obtains the status of "Elite Trainer" after completion of three courses, and "Master Trainer" after completion of six courses. Instruction is based on exercise assessment, nutritional planning, fitness instruction, sports medicine practice, and post-rehabilitation training. The school has enrolled over 130,000 students, both in fitness education and continuing education courses.
The ISSA is the first fitness organization to earn national educational accreditation from a federally recognized agency (the Distance Education and Training Council
Distance Education and Training Council
The Distance Education and Training Council is a non-profit national educational accreditation agency in the United States specializing in the accreditation of distance education institutions.- History :...
).
History
The fascination and study of physical fitness, the physical form, and muscle definition originated centuries ago amongst various civilizations. However, no official requirements or standards of physical training had existed until the fitness boom of the 1980s. The International Sports Sciences Association was founded in 1988, when, "recognizing the need for standardization and credibility, Dr. Sal Arria and Dr. Fredrick HatfieldFredrick Hatfield
Fredrick C. Hatfield , nicknamed Dr. Squat, is a former American powerlifter and PhD holder in sports sciences...
created a personal fitness training program to merge gym experience with practical and applied sciences." In keeping with this standard, the ISSA became a Provisional Affiliate of the National Board of Fitness Examiners in 2004. "The National Board of Fitness Examiners was founded to develop nationally based and uniform standards of practice for personal fitness trainers to be used to administer an NBFE provided written and practical examination followed by registration of those who successfully pass the test process. Under NBFE’s procedure, preparation for the NBFE examination can take several forms and includes training through a number of affiliated organizations who themselves include certifying organizations for fitness professionals," including the ISSA. In 2009, the ISSA became the first fitness organization to earn accreditation by a federally recognized accrediting agency—the Distance Education and Training Council
Distance Education and Training Council
The Distance Education and Training Council is a non-profit national educational accreditation agency in the United States specializing in the accreditation of distance education institutions.- History :...
(an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation). As a result, the ISSA was added to the list of GI Jobs' Military Friendly Schools in 2010, being approved by the Department of Defense for the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) to accept U.S. Armed Forces Tuition Assistance and the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Financial Assistance program.
Divisions
- Public Division: "No restrictions, open to current students, current members, and the general public."
- Primary Function: To "encourage enrollment in ISSA education programs...[and] provide information via articles and links on health and fitness."
- Education Division: "Access restricted to students enrolled in ISSA education courses, and ISSA certified members in good standing."
- Primary Function: To "provide specialized education in health and fitness."
- Professional Division: "Exam access for ISSA students qualified to sit for final exam Full access for ISSA certified members in good standing."
- Primary Function: To "administer final exams, issue certifications, [and] oversee maintenance of professional status."
Founders and authors
- Salvitore Arria, MSS, DC: Co-founder and CEO of the ISSA.
- Fredrick C. Hatfield, MSS, PhD (a.k.a. Dr. Squat): Co-founder and President of the ISSA, Author.
- Thomas Fahey, EdD: Author, ISSA Director of Youth Fitness.
- John Berardi, PhD: Author.
- Ryan Andrews, MS/MA, RD: Author.
- Karl Knopf, EdD: Author, ISSA Director of Adaptive Fitness.
- Dan Gastelu, MS, MFS: Author, ISSA Director of Nutritional Sciences.
Accreditation and affiliations
The ISSA is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training CouncilDistance Education and Training Council
The Distance Education and Training Council is a non-profit national educational accreditation agency in the United States specializing in the accreditation of distance education institutions.- History :...
(DETC). The DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized agency, is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation is a United States organization of degree-granting colleges and universities. It identifies its purpose as providing national advocacy for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation in order to certify the quality of higher education...
(CHEA), and by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA).
ISSA is registered with the Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau , founded in 1912, is a corporation consisting of several private business franchises of local BBB organizations based in the United States and Canada, which work through their parent corporation, the Council of Better Business Bureaus .The Better Business Bureau, through...
and has been awarded the highest company rating of A+. The ISSA is approved by the New York Chiropractic College for Postgraduate and Continuing Education. The ISSA is also a Provisional Affiliate of the National Board of Fitness Examiners (NFBE).