The Best Bodybuilding Coach Certification in 2024

The best bodybuilding certifications in the industry are the ISSA Bodybuilding certification and the NASM bodybuilding certification, with several other major bodybuilding coach certifications coming in afterward.

In this review, I’ll break down each of these bodybuilding certifications so you can understand exactly which ones make the most sense for your career.

My name is Tyler, I have 12+ years as a personal trainer and fitness coach and I’ll guide you through the intricate world of professional fitness.I also highly recommend that you take the quiz and find out which bodybuilding certification is best for your career goals.

This quiz is something I developed to provide you some insight on which certification would be your best bet based on your variables.

With that out of the way, let’s get into the topic at hand, which in this case, is the Best Bodybuilding Coach Certification you can catch to become an excellent coach.

To get you up to speed, I’ll be touching on the following points:

• Content breakdown for each certification
• Cost and value for each bodybuilding coach of certification
• Is the bodybuilding certification worth it?

Let’s get into it ASAP! There are two main programs I’d recommend and then a few others worth mentioning. 

CPT	CPT	Features	Price
	ISSA Bodybuilding Specialist	Excellent Coverage of Muscle-Building Techniques  Good Programming and Periodization Best Fitness Certification Bundles	Check ISSA Pricing
	NASM CPT	Great Price Teaches You How to Peak for Competition Up-to-Date Exercise Programming	Check NASM Pricing

ISSA Bodybuilding Certification

What is the ISSA Bodybuilding Specialist certificate?     

You can’t go wrong with the ISSA Bodybuilding Specialist Certification.

This certification program bears all the hallmarks of a good ISSA program and is endorsed by Kai Greene, one of the world’s most successful bodybuilders.

I highly recommend combining the ISSA Bodybuilding Coach with other certifications like the ISSA Certified Personal Trainer. If you stack these certs, you can drastically increase your income as a personal trainer and see much more rapid growth in your career.

The ISSA Elite Trainer program is the best option to knock out as many certifications as possible and land an exceptional discount.

ISSA Bodybuilding General Information

• Exam cost: $639 (only purchased with study materials)
• Study material cost: $53/month for 12 months
• Prerequisites: None
• Exam passing score: N/A
• Exam pass rate: Not known
• Average completion time: 2 to 3 months

View on ISSA Website

ISSA credibility and reputation

The International Sports Sciences Association, or ISSA, is a top-tier certifying agency and institution in fitness.

They are in the same league as industry juggernauts like NASM, ACSM, NSCA, and ACE.

They have administered certifications for over three decades, cementing themselves as a top name in fitness credentials. They were one of the first to offer a completely online personal training certification. 

ISSA also has one of the most robust varieties of specializations in fitness credentials, allowing trainers from even the most obscure fields of fitness to certify.

ISSA is a fitness industry stalwart and one of the health and fitness credentialing leaders. 

One of the world’s most prominent bodybuilders, Kai Greene, also endorsed this bodybuilder course.

ISSA Bodybuilding Certification pros and cons

ISSA Bodybuilding study materials and costs

The ISSA Bodybuilding Certification costs $639, which you can pay for in 12 installments of $53.27. 

ISSA also offers some good bundles that include the Bodybuilding certification such as the Elite Certified Trainer Bundle and the Certified Fitness Coach Bundle. 

The study materials include ISSA’s guided study program which takes you through the textbook coursework. This includes practice quizzes to test your understanding.

ISSA Bodybuilding Certification content coverage

Here are the chapters in the ISSA Bodybuilding textbook:

1. Hypertrophy and Adaptations to Strength Training

2. Basic Kinesiology and Biomechanics

3. Back to Basics

4. Top Ten Exercises

5. Bands and Chains Break into Bodybuilding

6. Aerobic Training

7. Stretching

8. Testing and Evaluation

9. Periodization

10. Bringing Up Symmetry and Attacking Weaknesses

11. Bodybuilding Methods and Traditions

12. Nutrition

13. Supplements and Drugs

14. Recovery

15. Injuries in Bodybuilding

16. Bodybuilding Sports Psychology

My favorite aspect of the ISSA Bodybuilding Specialist is the section on bodybuilding methods. ISSA’s approach leaves no stone unturned. You get the most detail regarding bodybuilding training techniques of any specialization. ISSA covers weight training for muscle hypertrophy but also nutrition as well and how to maximize recovery, so you can help a client achieve the most “gains” in training sessions.  

ISSA also goes into how to use motivation principles to help bodybuilders push their muscles to the edge. When working on building muscle in the gym, you must train in uncomfortable rep ranges and with heavy weights. You, as the bodybuilding coach, need a certain level of expertise to be able to give advice and inspire your clients during the off-season and during contest preparation. 

Taking the ISSA Bodybuilding certification exam

You can take the final ISSA Bodybuilding Specialist exam after you go through the chapter quizzes. The exam is open book, and you get one free retake attempt if you fail the first time. 

ISSA Bodybuilding continuing education

The ISSA Bodybuilding Specialist will give you 20 CEU credits. When you look for cheap CEUs for personal trainers, often picking up one of these specialist courses is one of the better options because you also get an additional credential to add to your name. With 20 CEUs you can completely renew your current ISSA CPT.

NASM Physique and Bodybuilding Coach Specialist

What is the NASM Bodybuilding Specialist certificate?     

The NASM Physique and Bodybuilding Coach Certification equips you with the strategies used by professional coaches to assist clients in reaching their bodybuilding objectives. Unlike other NASM certifications designed for the general public who aim for better health and fitness, the NASM PBC offers an exhaustive program for those people aspiring to become bodybuilding coaches.

This certification covers setting objectives, coaching methods, designing training regimes, and specialized bodybuilding techniques, including enhancing underdeveloped areas and overall visual appeal.

For those aiming to pursue a career in bodybuilding coaching, this certification offers a significant advantage.

NASM Physique and Bodybuilding Coach Specialization

• Exam cost: $539
• Study material cost: Included with exam
• Prerequisites: None
• Exam passing score: 70%
• Exam pass rate: Not known
• Average completion time: 4-6 weeks

View on NASM Website

NASM credibility and reputation

NASM is one of if not the biggest name in fitness certifications. They have the most certifications and specializations of any fitness provider. NASM consistently ranks number one on Google searches for the best personal training certification and that’s for a good reason: they provide high-quality comprehensive programs.

The NASM Personal Training Certification is NCCA-accredited, which is the highest level of accreditation. NASM also has endless CEU opportunities and several of their certifications come with a job guarantee. 

NASM PBC pros and cons

NASM Bodybuilding study materials and costs

The study materials are less extensive with this specialization than other NASM certifications, but they’re still enough to get the job done. Students get chapter quizzes, and handouts with exercise programs and meal plans. 

The NASM Physique and Bodybuilding Coach Specialist costs $899 normally, but currently it’s on sale for $539. You can pay this all upfront or make payments of $47/month. 

NASM Physique & Bodybuilding Coach content coverage

The NASM Bodybuilding table of contents is divided into 6 sections and 11 chapters. 

Section 1: Introduction to Physique and Bodybuilding Coach

Section 2: Physiology, Anatomy, and Biomechanics of Physique Enhancement

Section 3: Nutrition Principles

Section 4: Body Aesthetics, Fitness, and Nutrition Assessments

Section 5: Exercise Training Principles

Section 6: Programming and Coaching Principles

NASM gives you everything you’ll need to know as a bodybuilding coach, from exercise programming to diet to supplementation. Some of the best content here is the section on contest preparation and the discussion of performance enhancement supplements. This is not a certification that shies away from the heavy topics, although NASM does mention the dangers of using certain “special supplements.” 

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NASM program design is always top-notch and here is no exception. You learn how to design training programs tailored for hypertrophy. Most of the other NASM certifications use the NASM OPT model for workouts, but in the Physique and Bodybuilding Coach, you learn how to design a bodybuilding-specific workout. 

From a nutrition perspective, I’d still recommend looking at a dedicated nutrition certification, like the NASM Certified Nutrition Coach, but you do get some good detail with the NASM-PBC.

Taking the NASM Bodybuilding certification exam

The NASM final consists of 100 multiple-choice questions which you have 90 minutes to answer. You get 3 free chances to pass the test with a score of 70% or higher.

NASM PBC continuing education

The NASM Physique and Bodybuilding coach will give you 1.9 NASM CEUs, which can help you renew your CPT. You’ll need 2 total CEUs to renew, so this almost completely satisfies the requirement. 

Other Bodybuilding Certifications 

Both NASM and ISSA are my two top choices to pick regarding bodybuilding certifications. Below are a few other options you may want to consider. 

IAFS UBB

The International Association of Fitness Science was founded on functional exercise, weight loss, basic nutrition, and understanding basic human body types.

When fine-tuned, these key aspects lead to success in bodybuilding.

The curriculum behind IAFS UBB is endorsed and approved by the IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding), making it a credible program for anyone looking to work with pro-card physique athletes.

The Ultimate Bodybuilding Certification was developed by Lee Haney, one of the best bodybuilders to ever win an Olympia. This gives the IAFS some credibility; however there are some knocks against it.

Firstly, the website is not as up-to-date as ISSA or NASM. This doesn’t mean that the quality of the certification itself is lacking, but bad visuals do mean something.

To add to this, the IAFS website has a way to find local trainers in your area, and as far as I can tell, it only lists 16 trainers in the US who’ve registered with them. Compared to the massive number of ISSA or NASM trainers, this is a really low number. 

For these reasons, I can’t endorse the IAFS, but this doesn’t mean that it is a bad option. 

IFBB Academy

The International Federation of Bodybuilding was founded in 1946, making it the oldest institution on this list.

As you will already know, the IFBB is not a certifying agency but, rather, the governing body of bodybuilding globally.

Because of that, one can assume that whatever program they offer will be geared towards the best possible skills and results in bodybuilding coaching.

We’ll have to see how true that holds. 

Their bodybuilding course is called the Master Bodybuilding and Fitness Degree. 

Again, the IFBB Academy is much less well known compared to NASM or ISSA. Just like the IAFS, the IFBB Academy website is not up to par when you compare it to the big two. There are typos and the prices are only listed in Euros.

ASFA CBTC

The American Sports and Fitness Association hasn’t been in the game for that long.

They focus on providing credentials through their online platform, mainly aimed at seasoned professionals wishing to expand their credentials.

They also have a wide variety of specialist courses; an online bodybuilding trainer program is one of those, helping bodybuilding coaches online gain their credentials.

Accreditation

Accreditation is a certification’s certification.

It’s a seal of approval that tells you whether or not a certification has cleared all the required criteria.

These criteria typically look at how the education is administered and the quality and relevance of the course content.

In fitness credentialing, you’re mainly looking for one of two accreditation seals.

Those are NCCA and DEAC.

There are more, but when it comes to the fitness industry in the US, those are the ones to get your foot in the door.

The NCCA stands for the National Commission on Certifying Agencies.

It is responsible for accrediting the majority of cert agencies in America.

DEAC stands for Distance Education Accrediting Commission.

As the name suggests, they are the leaders in approving remote learning institutions.

It is believed that DEAC will feature more prominently as education takes on a more online, remote approach.

With that said, let’s look at which accreditation each certification comes with.

The table shows that ISSA is the only agency accredited by a traditional accrediting commission.

Both IAFS and IFBB are endorsed and approved by the IFBB, which, while it isn’t a traditional accrediting commission, is very relevant when specifically dealing with bodybuilding.

ASFA is a non-accredited institute, largely because it is a continuing education platform and not a foundational entry into health and fitness.

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Accreditation and reputable approval are important in knowing that your certification meets all the recommendations and allows you to avoid illegitimate cash grabs and scams.

Keep your eyes peeled for accreditation no matter what certification you’re interested in trying out.

Study Materials Rating

In step 4 of my keys to being a successful bodybuilding instructor, I spoke about acing your exam using good study materials.

And how good those materials are is of major importance.

When it comes to studying materials, I generally lookout for the following:

• Course textbook
• study guide

That’s why we will look at each certification’s study materials and rate them out of 10 based on the knowledge and expectations I’ve cultivated through years of engaging with various study materials.

Based on my review of all the materials, and some anecdotal accounts I gathered, I can say ISSA and IAFS have the most comprehensive options.

ISSA is well known for its no-nonsense study suites, which only come in one package option, contrary to the multi-package norm from most other cert agencies.

What ISSA lacks in variety, they make up for in precise, relevant, and essential materials, easy to navigate and learn from.

IAFS also comes with a single package, one which includes a robust offering of study materials

Besides the great materials on offer, I rate ISSA and IAFS so highly because they include career support resources as part of their packages.

It’s one thing to have a good set of resources to help you ace your exam, but after that, getting your foot in the industry is the real trial.

By providing career support, I rate ISSA and IAFS 9/10.

You would think that the IFBB cert would be the winner here, but based on what I experienced, their study materials are rather lackluster, comprising mainly of a collection of unit-relevant PDF files.

Finally, we have ASFA, whose study packages leave something to be desired based on former candidates’ experience.

Bodybuilding Certification Cost

When selecting a certification program, the cost is probably one of the main considerations.

Affordability will come into play for most, not just based on how much you can fork out but also on the program’s value vs. its price.

That’s why I’ll rate the value for money on each cert against the value of its study packages.

First, let’s look at the cost breakdowns for each cert.

IFBB comes in as the most expensive certification at $1000.00.

Given that their study package is rated poorly by my standards, it’s safe to suggest that IFBB loses the price war.

ASFA is the cheapest, but its pricing is a bit of an anomaly.

Firstly, you only pay if you pass, and lastly, there are three pricing options, with the one I included being the most expensive.

The cheapest one, which is $99.00, offers you a valid certification for only one year before you need recertification.

The pricer $299 option guarantees a lifetime certification.

Judging from many reviews, the cert’s low price is a testament to the quality, with some citing irregularities with student portal access.

Despite being the cheapest, I don’t rate ASFA that high.

That leaves us with ISSA and IAFS.

Both are equally regarded in my books regarding the quality of materials, but ISSA manages to edge IAFS out by $50, making it the winner of the price war.

The moral of the story is price according to quality.

Popularity and Recognition Rating

For the last category in this review, I’d like to look at a metric that is a little arbitrary and not as quantitative as the other factors we’ve dealt with, and that’s popularity and recognition.

To set up an idea of popularity and recognition, I will rate each cert out of 10, with ten being the highest and zero being the worst.

Popularity and recognition might seem like they have more to do with vanity than they have to do with practical value.

However, your credentials’ popularity plays a huge role in your career prospects regarding education and qualifications.

Take, for example, Ivy League colleges such as Stanford and Yale.

The prestige and notoriety attached to these institutions are enough to get any graduate to the front of any line.

The same is true for fitness certifications, although, in the case of bodybuilding certs, things are a bit more complicated first; let’s look at the rating figures.

As you can see, IFBB Academy is the most popular and recognized out of this lot.

So what’s complicated?

The complication lies in the fact that, when it comes to certifying agencies, ISSA is by far the most popular, so it would technically win this challenge.

However, because bodybuilding is such a niche, the most popular brand and organization in the sport would be the governing body itself.

That’s why in the world f bodybuilding credentials, IFBB is the most popular name and will grant you more favor within the sport it governs.

I can almost imagine that having an IFBB Academy cert would grant you special favor within the bodybuilding community.

Certification Takeaway

So now it’s time to crown our overall winner based on all the criteria we’ve evaluated.

In the last place, we have ASFA CBTC.

Based on user reviews, this unaccredited certifying agency offers a substandard experience compared to some of the more established certifying agencies.

ASFA does, however, offer the most affordable option if the price is your only real concern.

Next, we have IFBB Academy taking third place.

The structuring and administration of the cert fall below my standards, but the influence and relevance of a cert offered by the sport’s governing body make it an attractive option.

IFBB Academy would have made it higher if it wasn’t for the exorbitant price tag.

And in a tie for first place, ISSA and IAFS present equally compelling reasons why you should take their bodybuilding certs.

ISSA is a fitness industry stalwart and one of the health and fitness credentialling leaders. 

One of the world’s most prominent bodybuilders, Kai Greene, also endorsed their bodybuilding course.

IAFS, while not as well recognized as ISSA, sports a comprehensive curriculum with a robust study package, priced a bit lower than ISSA, along with a full IFBB approval.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

References

1. “American Sport and Fitness Association: Is this a good place to get a certification?” IDEA Fitness Connect, https://www.ideafit.com/answers/american-sport-and-fitness-association-is-this-a-good-place-to-get-a-certification/.
2. “International Association for Fitness Science (IAFS) Certification.” IAFS Certification, https://iafscertification.com/.
3. “Online Course: Master Bodybuilding & Fitness Degree.” IFBB Academy, https://ifbb-academy.com/product/online-course-master-bodybuilding-fitness-degree/.
4. “Competition Bodybuilding Trainer Certification.” American Sport and Fitness Association, https://www.americansportandfitness.com/products/competition-bodybuilding-trainer-certification.
5. “Strength and Conditioning Coach Salary.” Salary.com, https://www.salary.com/research/salary/recruiting/strength-and-conditioning-coach-salary.
6. “Certified Strength Coach.” National Council on Strength & Fitness, https://www.ncsf.org/strength-coach/?irclickid=1koVDbSsJxyLUmNw9bwsZ0byUkBW7eXHJ0y83Q0&irgwc=1.