Once you finish the ISSA practice exam above, you’ll have a better understanding of which domains you know better and which need more work. Afterwards, you can use the domain quizzes below to dial-in your weaker areas.
Free ISSA CPT Quizzes
Domain 1: Applied Science (Anatomy, Kinesiology, Physiology)
Domain 2: Nutrition
Domain 3: Intake and Ongoing Evaluation
Domain 4: Program Design and Implementation
Domain 5: Exercise Selection, Technique, and Training Instruction
Domain 6: Professional Practice and Responsibility
After taking each domain-specific quiz, note the material you struggled with most and go to th
My experience teaching students to pass the ISSA exam
The International Sports Sciences Association Certified Personal Trainer (ISSA CPT) is one of the best personal training certifications in the industry.
I’ve helped thousands of personal trainers pass the ISSA exam on their first try and developed this ISSA practice exam to allow you to do the same.
Be sure to take the test in full and review your answers, then review the sections of the exam that you had the most trouble with.
What is the ISSA CPT Exam?
The ISSA exam is the final hurdle before you become an ISSA-certified personal trainer. You can take either an NCCA-accredited version of the ISSA CPT exam or the non-accredited version. I always recommend the accredited one for both reputation and credibility reasons.
The NCCA accreditation status ensures the material has been vetted by subject matter experts to ensure it adequately prepares you for the demands of the personal training industry.
Understanding the ISSA CPT exam
ISSA Exam Info Table
![FREE ISSA Practice Tests [year] - 280+ Practice Questions 2](https://www.ptpioneer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/issa-exam-info-table.webp "FREE ISSA Practice Tests [year] - 280+ Practice Questions 31")
NASM Exam Registration
You can register for your ISSA exam on the ISSA website or through your study portal. You must take your exam within 6 months of signing up for the ISSA CPT course.
Online vs In-Person Exam (NCCA-Accredited)
For the NCCA-accredited version, the following are your two testing options.
ISSA CPT Exam Career Impact
With a 14% projected 10-year growth in the fitness industry, becoming a personal trainer is a very promising career. With an ISSA certification, you will be prepared for success from day one with the skills and knowledge you need to become a top-notch fitness expert.
I have seen my ISSA-certified students do amazing things with their certification fairly quickly into their training careers, so it’s safe to say ISSA can have a serious impact on your professional fitness trajectory.
ISSA Exam Breakdown
The ISSA exam covers a total of 6 domains across 140 multiple-choice questions for the NCCA-accredited version and 200 questions including multiple-choice and essay questions. Due to the 2-hour time limit on the NCCA version, you really need to has a firm grasp of the material prior to sitting for the exam.
Knowledge and Skills on the ISSA CPT Exam
The six domains of knowledge across the ISSA exam are as follows:
- Anatomy and Physiology – 13%
- Kinesiology and Biomechanics – 15%
- Health and Physical Fitness – 18%
- Program Development – 17%
- Nutrition – 20%
- Fitness For All – 17%
ISSA Exam Domain Percentage Breakdown
The following pie chart visualizes the breakdown of each domain percentage.
Effective ISSA Study Strategies
Based on my collaboration with my ISSA CPT students, we have developed the following tips and strategies to help you pass your ISSA exam on the first try:
- Practice Tests: Taking practice tests is among the most powerful things you can do when it comes to making sure you pass your ISSA CPT exam. They help you identify weaknesses in your knowledge base so you can really hone-in on your weakest areas.
- Concepts and Vocabulary: Focus on vocabulary concepts, chapter review roundups, and noting down charts and graphics.
- Utilize our ISSA Cheat Sheets.
- Consider Third-Party materials like the ISSA CPT MVP Prep Course.
Common Pitfalls when Studying for ISSA
Over the years, I’ve seen students make the following pitfalls when studying for the ISSA, leading to unnecesary exam failures. Be sure to avoid them!
ISSA Study Resources
Be sure to check the following ISSA study resources:
- Free PTPioneer ISSA Test Plan
- ISSA CPT Test Curriculum
- Trainer Academy ISSA CPT MVP Study Course
- ISSA Exam Prep Home Page
- ISSA Study Plan
- ISSA Study Guide
- ISSA Practice Exams
- ISSA Flashcards
- ISSA Cheat Sheet
- ISSA Exam FAQ
ISSA Exam Test Day Tips
Be prepared for your ISSA CPT exam with these strategic study tips:
- Set Your Exam Date: Scheduling your ISSA CPT exam creates a deadline for your preparation. Stick to a consistent study timetable to cover all the necessary material before this date.
- Utilize Study Materials: Leverage the comprehensive study guides and resources provided by ISSA. These materials offer valuable insights from experienced fitness professionals.
- Broaden Your Knowledge Base: The ISSA exam questions may span multiple knowledge areas. Ensure you understand concepts across all the domains to handle complex questions that test interdisciplinary understanding.
- Identify Muscle Imbalances: Be proficient in recognizing which muscles are overactive or underactive during postural assessments, as this is a critical skill for a personal trainer.
- Understand Exercise Progressions and Regressions: Master how to modify exercise intensity to suit different clients. Your ability to adjust workouts will be evaluated.
- Master Exercise Cues and Classifications: Knowing the correct cues and classifications for exercises is crucial. Make sure you’re well-versed in this area.
- Learn the ISSA Training Model: Familiarize yourself with ISSA’s fitness training principles and models. They are fundamental to the ISSA CPT exam.
- Trust Your Preparation: Have confidence in the knowledge you’ve gained through your studies. Avoid overthinking your responses during the exam to save time and minimize errors.
- Prioritize Your Answers: Answer the questions you are certain about first. This strategy helps to maximize your score while ensuring you have ample time to address more challenging questions later.
By following these tips, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle the ISSA CPT exam with confidence.
Secrets to Passing the ISSA Exam
Secret #1:
Get your copy of the ISSA CPT exam cheat sheet and our study plan. It helps immensely in your ability to study for the ISSA test.
Secret #2:
Check out Trainer Academy for premium ISSA CPT study materials. They will reduce your ISSA study time by 50% and have an exam pass guarantee.
Plus, the ISSA MVP Program contains over 800 practice questions – so by the time you complete the program, you will have a ton of repetitions on ISSA practice tests and quizzes, which is why they offer their exam pass guarantee.
Read my full review of them here and save $100 on their MVP study system with the code: PTPSUB.
Secret #3:
The PT Pioneer ISSA practice tests will take numerous sessions to complete. I don’t expect you to knock it out in one shot. With that said be sure to bookmark this page to ensure you can find it for your next ISSA Study Session.
Trust me, you will be very frustrated if you lose this specific ISSA exam study material.
Alright, let’s dive into the best ISSA exam prep, the ISSA CPT exam study guide!
How to pass The ISSA CPT Exam
Qualified for the exam?
If you are at least 18, have a high school diploma (or the equivalent), and possess a current and valid CPR and AED certification, then you can enroll and take the exam!
The ISSA certification test is an open book, with a pass rate of 90%, making it one of the easiest fitness certifications to obtain in terms of pass rate statistics.
But that alone is not a pass guarantee.
Please prepare adequately.
Most test-takers pass their first attempt largely due to the loose restrictions on how they take the test.
Firstly, the final NCCA-accredited exam is non-proctored, so no one or nothing monitors the integrity or activity of a candidate during the exam.
Secondly, because it’s an entirely open-book exam, you can refer to all your study materials and workbook as you test.
You can even use the almost infinite knowledge dump on the internet during the test!
Thirdly, your ISSA-CPT certification exam is self-paced, meaning there isn’t a time constraint outside of the enrollment period.
But here’s the caveat.
Although this certification course and exam are easier to pass than, say, the ACSM CPT or the NASM CPT, there are sections of this exam that are relatively difficult.
Difficult sections are common in most certification programs.
To pass, you must score at least 75% overall in each area.
And while most other CPT exams are exclusively multiple-choice, the ISSA exam also includes case studies that, according to those who have taken this exam, are the hardest section overall.
You will receive two random fictional clients with different challenges and goals, and from there, you will be required to develop an appropriate 12-week individualized program for both clients.
So I’d suggest you familiarize yourself with biomechanics, body composition, muscle fiber types, and strength training fundamentals.
The more knowledge you learn, you can apply, and this is what gears you toward learning the most effective and safe ways to transition different clients through their unique fitness routines.
My second biggest piece of advice would be to extensively study the special populations and the training program design section of the textbook.
If you fail, thankfully, ISSA has a very lenient approach to retakes.
Immediately following the failure, you can retake the exam for free.
Of course, it’s a one-time deal, so if you fail your free retake, you must pay a $50 fee to be allowed another try.
But the fee is still pretty decent compared to what other physical fitness certifications may charge, sometimes as high as $200.
What Topics are on the ISSA CPT Exam?
You need to learn a fair number of concepts to maximize your chances of passing the ISSA CPT exam and become a successful personal trainer.
The subjects and concepts covered include:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Biomechanics
- Resistance training technique
- Special populations training
- Providing feedback to clients
- Business skills for personal training
final tips on your iSSA Exam
Searching for more ways to ace your ISSA CPT exam?
You’re not alone, and we’ve got your back.
PTPioneer is also home to other study resources, including flashcards, a study plan, an exam FAQ page, and a great chapter-by-chapter study guide highlighting all the important topics.
For a more focused and intensive study experience, visit the ISSA CPT Exam Prep Study Hub section to explore all the best ISSA exam prep materials you can find without paying.
However, I do also recommend Trainer Academy and its high-quality paid study ISSA CPT study program. Students can complete the entire exam at their computer with the digital systems that provide the best assurance for mastering the abilities and subjects in the material, passing your ISSA exam, starting your training career, and earning money as fitness professional.
Most fitness professionals I’ve spoken to successfully passed the exam on their first try using Trainer Academy’s study materials based on the latest updates from the ISSA provider.
All-in-all, I wish you the best in preparing for your ISSA CPT exam!
Hey there Tyler! I went to take one of these practice exams and after finishing said it would be able to tell me how I did because the test isnt published and is in draft mode only? Is that something I have to do on my end to fix or is this a website issue? Thanks!
-Kelsey
Hey Kelsey, the tests should be fixed now and I hope you and others are able to test successfully. Let me know how you do on the tests and what you think of them when you get the chance to take it.