| NASM | ACE | ACSM | NSCA | ISSA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Name | National Academy of Sports Medicine | American Council on Exercise | American College of Sports Medicine | National Strength and Conditioning Association | The International Sports Sciences Association |
| First Personal Trainer Certification | 1989 | 1991 | 1994 | 1993 | 1988 |
| Best if you are | Graduate of an exercise science or related program and want a scientific-style model for training | Group exercise enthusiast who wants to add general personal training concepts to group classes | Exercise science or related student in a college program also want a certification on top of a degree | Graduates of college programs in exercise science who want to work with athletes | Passionate about fitness and want professional and practical programming to get results |
| Free Professional Website | Only at premium packages | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Included Free |
| Unlimited Lifetime Support | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Included Free |
| Job Guarantee | Only at premium packages | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Included Free |
| Better Business Rating | A | A+ | A+ | A+ | B |
| Number of Reviews | 897 | 586 | 724 | 580 | 8,508 |
| TrustPilot Reviews | 3.2 of 5 | - | - | - | 4.7 of 5 |
| Facebook Reviews | 4 of 5 | 4.6 of 5 | 4.6 of 5 | 4.0 of 5 | 4.7 of 5 |
| Yelp Reviews | 1.5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 2.5 of 5 | - | 3 of 5 |
| Review Link | Yelp | TrustPilot | |||
| NCCA Accredited Exam Offered | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes* |
| Typical Review Description | "Very tough exam - poor customer service" | "Good beginner-level certification" | "Lacking in study materials" | "For the strength and conditioning focused" | "Great support - in-depth and robust materials" |
| Exam Time | 120 mins | 180 mins | 150 mins | 180 mins | Unlimited |
| Exam Passing Score | 70% | 62.50% | 68.75% | 70% | 75% |
| Exam Pass Rate | 64% | 65% | 54% | 58% | 90% |
| Retest | $199 | $199 - $250 after 60 days | $175 | Members: $340 Nonmembers: $475 | Free Retests |
| Recertification | Every two years | Every two years | Every three years | Every three years | Every two years |
| Recertification CEUs | 20 hours | 20 hours | 45 hours | 20 hours | 20 hours |
| Recertification Cost | $99 | $129 | $55 | $90 | Free with ISSA CEUs |
*Last Updated January 31st, 2022
*NCCA accredited exams offered through ISSA's subsidiary, NCCPT