ISSA Group Exercise Certification Review 2024

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If you are considering a career in leading fitness classes, the best place to start—besides actively participating in group exercise classes—is to get certified. One of the best certifications out there is the ISSA Group Exercise Certification. Unlike the ISSA Personal Trainer Certification, the group fitness program is more affordable, a bit less intense and great for those who are more interested in teaching group classes than doing one-on-one training.

There are a couple different group exercise certifications out there to choose from, but ISSA is both accredited and well-respected. Plus, it has a comprehensive curriculum that will prepare you to teach a range of classes, learn to adapt exercises to your students and understand the science behind the exercises.

If you think this may be the certification for you, keep reading to learn more about what we loved and what we think could use some improvement, and to get a first hand account from one of our editors who took the course for herself.

ISSA Group Exercise Certification at a Glance

Key features and specs:

• Cost: $639.20; 6- and 12-month interest-free plans available
• Exam type: 100 multiple-choice questions and 6 essay questions, online, open-book
• Length of course: 3–5 months
• Main focus: Skills for teaching 12 different exercise formats, group exercise science, safety and injury prevention, how to design and instruct a group fitness class
• Prerequisites: CPR/AED, high school diploma
• Pass rate: 90 percent

Overview of the ISSA Group Exercise Certification

The ISSA Group Exercise Certification covers a range of topics that prepare you to successfully lead group fitness classes. This includes skills needed to teach and lead 12 different exercise formats—bootcamp, step class, stretch, hi-low aerobics, kickboxing, indoor cycling, aquatic aerobics, suspension training, battle ropes, HIIT, Kettlebells and muscle conditioning—safety and injury prevention, the science behind group exercise, and how to design and instruct group fitness classes. Once you complete this course, you will be able to design, lead and tailor exercise classes to the needs of your clients.

This is a self-paced program, which means you don’t have to devote specific hours or days to it. It is also completed entirely online—including the exam—so you won’t have to attend any in-person classes or seminars.

The course comes with a digital textbook, chapter quizzes and a personal success coach who is assigned to you in order to help you navigate and understand the material. These study materials—when used properly—leave you well prepared for the exam. Plus, you will be able to use your notes for the exam, as it is open-book.

What we like:

• Faster and easier than CPT course
• Relatively affordable
• Course is completed online
• Offers support from trained fitness professionals

What to consider:

• Only prepares you to teach group fitness, not one-on-one training
• Only offers digital textbook

Content

Here’s a breakdown of the subjects covered and some examples of the chapters and content you will see:

• Skills needed to teach 12 exercise formats: Bootcamp, step class, stretch, hi-low aerobics, kickboxing, indoor cycling, aquatic aerobics, suspension training, battle ropes, HIIT, Kettlebells, muscle conditioning
• Safety and injury prevention: Exercise and pregnancy, injuries and more
• Science behind group exercise: The human body, special populations and health concerns, physical activity
• How to design and instruct group exercise class: Code and ethics, equipment, teaching group exercise, designing a fitness class

Coursework

Since this is a self-led course, it can be done at whatever pace works best for you. You receive everything you need to learn and study for the exam when you sign up for the course. The curriculum covers everything from exercise science to how to lead a class to injury prevention and more, with each subject laid out in a chapter. After each chapter, you will have open-book chapter quizzes to help gauge your understanding and get an idea of what is most necessary to study. You also will have access to a personal success coach, who can answer any questions you may have or help with comprehension of the more challenging material.

Study Materials

The study materials include the digital textbook, online educational support from a team of fitness professionals—as well as your individual coach—individual chapter quizzes to help you track your progress, and a take-home practice exam.

Since there is a range of study materials, the course is manageable for those with different study habits and learning styles. The quizzes and practice tests are also open-book which helps you prepare for the open-book exam. While open-book exams are often considered easier, taking practice tests can help you configure your notes for easy access to important information during the final exam.

Exam and Accreditation

The exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions and six essays. The pass rate is 90 percent, so it is on the easier side when it comes to fitness certification exams. It can be taken online through the ISSA study portal. It is open-book, so you’re allowed to use all of your notes and material provided to you throughout the course.

You can also take it a step further with a proctored exam, accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), which is one of the best and most reputable certifications you can get. (This will require an additional fee of $599.)

Continuing Education

This certification not only offers continuing education units, but encourages them. The ISSA Group Fitness certification requires recertification every two years, but if you complete the continuing education requirements, it will give you a free recertification, keeping the overall cost down—though the continuing education units (CEUs) themselves do come at an additional cost.

Our Experience with the ISSA Group Exercise Certification

Colleen Quigley, editor and certified Barre3 instructor recently completed the course, here’s her experience.

Working through the course

Overall, Quigley found this to be a pretty manageable course. Though she had some previous fitness training with Barre3, she noted this course varied greatly from her last certification. One of the biggest differences was the ISSA course was completed all online, while Barre3 required mixed classes both online and in person, including one-on-one training and weekend-long sessions. Because of this, the ISSA course was much more manageable—especially for those with an inflexible schedule.

Since she already teaches group fitness, Quigley took this course as more of a refresher. “I was curious if the course would help deepen my knowledge of fitness, anatomy and kinesiology and provide some helpful tips for teaching a group fitness class.” Ultimately, she found it provided the information she needed to help her improve how she teaches her classes.

She did mention that she feels an online course cannot fully replace an in-person course when it comes to learning how to teach a specific class style/exercise type.

“With an in-person course where you learn exercise moves, you get direct feedback on proper form and cueing techniques to ensure you teach safely and effectively. You do not get that in the ISSA Group Fitness course.”

When it comes to the curriculum, Quigley felt it was relatively easy to follow. “The course utilizes an online textbook. A downloadable PDF was available, but I used my computer and took notes in my notebook. ISSA offers a six-week ‘Guided Study’ outline. Each week includes reading multiple chapters followed by a series of videos based on what was discussed in the corresponding chapters. The chapters were relatively short, with the exception of the chapter on anatomy.”

She also mentioned the curriculum was very heavy on step and aerobics classes but lacked a bit when it came to strength and HIIT.

In order to prepare you for the exam, each chapter is followed by a 10-question multiple choice quiz which—like the exam—is open-book.

One of Quigley’s favorite parts of the course was that it can be taken at your own pace. “While the guided study recommends six weeks, I was able to complete the course in less than two weeks. I think it's feasible to complete the course in an even shorter amount of time if you can spend a few hours a day on it. However, it's also a great option for a certification course if you can only dedicate a few hours a week to learning the material, for example after you finish work or put your kids to bed.”

As for the cons? “There were two things that I really disliked about the course: I felt the material was dated, and the video lectures were dull. As I mentioned, there was a large focus on aerobics and step classes. In my personal experience, strength conditioning, pilates-style classes and HIIT classes are some of the most popular/most frequently offered classes at a gym right now.”

Taking the exam

Quigley didn’t mention too much about the exam, but she did point out she appreciated that both the quizzes and final were open-book. “While some of the questions were intuitive, especially as a current fitness instructor, others were very dense or specific about scientific studies or kinesiology. It was helpful to have the text to reference.”

After the certification

After receiving her certification and completing the program, here’s what Quigley had to say:

“Overall, I think this course is a good starting point for someone wanting to become a fitness instructor at a gym and teach aerobics or step classes. However, I strongly believe that any fitness certification course should require in-person coaching to help you understand proper form and alignment and develop strong cueing techniques to make sure your classes are safe and effective.”

She did point out, however, she does not recommend it to anyone looking to be a boutique fitness instructor—think yoga, barre, Pilates, spin—as those certifications are much more specific, and will require more detailed instruction in order to teach effectively.

If you're interested in instructing a more boutique style fitness class, check our our ISSA Pilates Certification review. 

Support and Customer Service

Though this is a self-guided course, ISSA doesn’t leave you to fend for yourself. In fact, it offers a dedicated success coach who will help you navigate the course, and make sure you understand the curriculum if you find youself struggling.

As for customer service, there didn’t seem to be many negative reviews, and if you need to reach out, you can call their number at 800-545-4772, or email at support@issaonline.com. There is also a chat option that pops up on the contact screen on the website.

Benefits of Becoming a Group Exercise Instructor

Salary

Group fitness instructors make an average of about $62,000 per year, according to Glassdoor. While this will vary by location and class type, this can definitely be a full-time career if you are passionate about working in the field and have the proper experience.

Career options

The great thing about a group exercise instructor certification is the opportunities are endless. This course covers a range of different types of classes including bootcamp, conditioning, step class, aerobics, kickboxing, cycling, aquatic aerobics, suspension training, battle ropes, HIIT and kettlebells. This allows you to leave knowing how to teach an array of different types of classes. Though this course is designed to teach you how to be an instructor of sorts, the type of classes you teach—and the group size—is up to you to determine.

ISSA vs. NASM

When it comes to ISSA and NASM, you can’t really go wrong with either. Both are well respected courses, but there are a couple differences to consider.

As far as pros go, the NASM course is much more affordable at only $299. It is also a self-paced program that is conducted fully online—though NASM anticipates that it takes about 6-8 weeks to complete. You’ll find curriculum similar to the ISSA program, though it is perhaps a bit more up to date. The biggest perk is there is a job guarantee offer with the program, which is super useful if you are just beginning your career.

Cons? The most notable is probably the exam. It is 120 multiple-choice questions, not open-book, and it must be completed in a two-hour time limit. The pass rate is also significantly lower at only 61 percent—so while you may be saving money, the open-book exam alone may be worth opting for the ISSA.

The curriculum also seems to leave out corrective exercise training, which can be important as it helps to inform you how to work with a range of people of different ages and physical abilities.

If you're interested in both programs, check out our ISSA vs. NASM review for more information. 

ISSA Group Exercise Certification FAQs

How hard is the ISSA exam?

Though it isn’t a walk in the park to pass, the open-book exam makes it easier. Overall, it has a 90 percent pass rate, so if you study, you should be able to pass with relative ease.

Is ISSA as good as NASM?

Yes, though the curriculum varies a bit, ISSA is considered just as respectable as NASM when it comes to fitness certifications.

Final Thoughts: Is the ISSA Group Exercise Certification Right for You?

If you are looking for a relatively affordable, flexible certification to become a fitness instructor, the ISSA Group Exercise certification is a great place to start. Although it won’t give you as in-depth of an education as a single workout style certification—like yoga, Pilates, etc—it does give you a great place to start from so you can teach a range of classes, and if you so choose, pursue another certification to specialize in later.

Since you need a certification to teach any fitness classes—especially if you would like to get brought on as an employee of an established company—this is a great option for anyone looking to start their fitness career.

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