Updated October 17, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
iPEC vs ISSA
iPEC
ISSA
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | iPECReviewVisitVisit | ISSAReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Certification type | Coaching | Fitness |
| Price from | $9,995 | $868Lower |
| Teaching practicum | YesHas it | No |
| Typical completion time (weeks) | 28 to 40 | 12 |
| Course hours | 160 hours | Not confirmed |
| Exam fee included | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Recertification period | Not confirmed | 2 years |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 7 days |
Same on both: Tutor support (Yes), Job support (Yes).
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Key differences
- ISSA scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Price from is lower at ISSA: $868 vs $9,995.
- Teaching practicum: only iPEC.
- Support channels: only ISSA offers Community.
- Accreditation: only iPEC offers Icf.
- Accreditation: only ISSA offers Ncca.
- Delivery: only iPEC offers In person.
Our verdict on each
iPEC
iPEC suits managers, consultants and founders who want a recognised coaching credential and can absorb a $9,995 entry fee. The program pairs a 160 hour syllabus with icf accreditation, tutor support and a practicum, though the price sits high in this category.
ISSA
ISSA suits adults who want a fitness certification they can finish at their own pace, with accreditation from ncca plus tutor support and job support in the fee. The Certified Personal Trainer plan starts at $868, and that entry price is what to weigh before you enrol.
Score breakdown
| Area | iPEC | ISSA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.0Entry tuition of $9,995 covers 160 hours, placing iPEC 85 of 87 on entry price. | 8.5HigherEntry at $868 ranks 69 of 87 by price from, with $89 monthly terms available. |
| Offer | 9.4HigherA 160 hour coaching certificate with a practicum, assessments, tutor support, job support and both completion and professional certificates. | 9.1For a fitness certificate, tutor support, job support, assessments and the exam fee are included, though the practicum is not. |
| Trust | 9.0Accredited by icf, run by iPEC Perfect Creation, LLC d/b/a iPEC Coaching in the US, with support across email, phone and help centre. | 9.4HigherAccreditation from ncca, founded 1988 in US, with a 7 days money-back period. |
Availability and regulation
| Country | iPEC | ISSA |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
What we checked
iPEC
- ipeccoaching.com: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
ISSA
- issaonline.com: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | iPEC | ISSA |
|---|---|---|
| Online professional certificates | 22 of 95 | 21 of 95 |
| Fitness, IT and coaching certifications | 11 of 54 | 10 of 54 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | iPEC | ISSA |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation | Icf | Ncca |
| Delivery | Online, In personCovers more | Online |
| Legal entity | iPEC Perfect Creation, LLC d/b/a iPEC Coaching | ISSA, LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1988 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Online courses
| Fact | iPEC | ISSA |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | Not confirmed | $89 |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Platform type | Curated | Curated |
| Subjects | Business | Business |
| Certificate types | Completion, Professional | Completion, Professional |
| Number of courses | Not confirmed | 25 |
| Course languages | Not confirmed | English, Spanish |
| Access period | 7 to 10 monthsHigher | 6 to 8 months |
| Graded assessments | Yes | Yes |
| Team plan | Yes | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | iPEC | ISSA | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $9,995highest quarter | $868highest quarter | $79 |
| Course hours | 160 hourshighest quarter | Not confirmed | 60 hours |
| Typical completion time (weeks) | 28 to 40highest quarter | 12above the median | 6 |
| Recertification period | Not confirmed | 2 yearsat the median | 2 years |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 7 daysbelow the median | 14 days |
Median across 52 listed providers.
Pros and cons
iPEC
Pros
- Accreditation is held with icf, which carries weight with employers and professional bodies.
- The syllabus runs to 160 hours, above the 78-hour median course length on this site.
- Practicum work is required, so graduates finish with client hours rather than theory alone.
Cons
- Entry tuition of $9,995 ranks 85 of 87 brands tracked on price, deep in the costly tail.
- There is no free tier, so nothing can be sampled before paying for the program.
- Course hours of 160 hours sit under the 300 hours on offer from Marisa Peer.
ISSA
Pros
- The Certified Personal Trainer plan folds tutor support, job support and the exam fee into one payment, so the headline price covers the test and the help around it.
- Assessments are part of the program and the certificate comes as completion and professional, so a completion route and a professional route sit side by side.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so help is available by phone and email as well as through the help centre and the community.
Cons
- There is no free tier, so the only way to see the material is to pay $868 for the Certified Personal Trainer plan up front.
- The practicum is not part of the program, so anyone needing supervised placement hours has to source that elsewhere.
- The entry fee ranks 69 of 87 brands by price from, and the money-back period of 7 days is shorter than the 14-day median across the site.
Who each suits
iPEC
Who it suits
- Coaching clients who want a credential recognised outside their own workplace.
- Managers and team leads who will pay a premium for icf accreditation.
- Learners who prefer to finish in person but need the option to study online.
Who should look elsewhere
- Budget-first learners, since $9,995 sits at the expensive end of this field.
- People wanting a short credential, as the course runs 160 hours.
- Test-prep candidates looking for IT exam practice instead of a coaching certificate.
ISSA
Who it suits
- Adults fitting study around work, since delivery is online and access to the material runs 6 to 8 months.
- Learners who want the test cost handled up front, because the exam fee is included in the Certified Personal Trainer plan.
- Spanish speaking candidates, since course material runs in English and Spanish and the company is ISSA, LLC in the United States.
Who should look elsewhere
- IT candidates: CrackCerts and Testprep Training cover it and it certifications, while ISSA is fitness.
- Coaching candidates: Marisa Peer awards coaching qualifications, a different track from the ISSA Certified Personal Trainer plan.
- Learners who need supervised placement hours, because the practicum is not part of the ISSA program.
Questions about each
iPEC
How much does iPEC coaching certification cost?+
Tuition starts at $9,995 for the whole program, a single entry figure rather than a monthly instalment. That price ranks 85 of 87 brands on this site, so it sits in the costly tail of the field. There is no free tier, so the fee is the only way in.
What accreditation does the program hold?+
The certificate is accredited by icf. That body is the one employers and professional networks look for when hiring a coach, and holding it means the 160 hours of study count toward a recognised credential. The provider issues both completion and professional certificates during the program.
ISSA
How much does the ISSA Certified Personal Trainer plan cost to start?+
Entry is $868 for the Certified Personal Trainer plan, which places it at 69 of 87 brands by starting price, so this is a premium tier fee rather than a budget one. The monthly option is $89, and access to the material runs 6 to 8 months.
Do I have to pay again later to keep the certificate?+
The exam fee is included in the Certified Personal Trainer plan, so the assessment stage carries no separate charge. The credential itself is renewed every 2 years, which is the point to plan for later in a career. Buying the plan does not lock in a lifelong certificate.