Best Weight Loss Trainer Certifications

It seems like every time I turn around I meet someone else who is using a weight loss drug, and they all seem to have similar problems with side effects and weight management. Sure, they might be shedding pounds like layers of clothing on a hot day, but then they invariably get that sort of droopy, extra skin problem and not enough muscle mass to make up for the weight loss. 

That’s when I started looking into the best weight loss trainer certifications, owing to the fact that these medications might expedite weight loss, but weight loss is only part of overall fitness. Now more than ever our weight loss trainers and coaches are in demand.

So I looked at several comparable factors, including:

1. Partnerships and reputations
2. Cost
3. Learning style
4. Learning materials
5. Program accessibility
6. Career support

I looked at these top tier certifications to find the best weight loss trainer certifications in the market today: 

• NASM: Weight Loss Specialist
• ISSA: Weight Management Specialist
• ACE: Weight Management Specialist
• AFPA: Weight Management Consultant Certification

My winner: ISSA, hands down simply because they have the most robust learning materials, a flexible program, and by and large the best career support on the market so you aren’t just getting a weight loss certification and then left on your own; you are getting a weight loss certification and then guided to your next job.

But the right program for you will depend on your needs. Here’s how they all compare head-to-head:

Partnerships/Reputation: Winner-NASM 

Not all certifications are equal; some have been around longer, while others are more internationally recognized. So I think it is important to consider the reputation of each, and the partnerships they have. 

NASM

NASM is one of the most highly respected organizations across the United States. Their certifications are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. 

ISSA

ISSA is, as their name suggests, an international organization. They hold accreditation from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. They partner with gyms and other fitness institutions around the world, making them a well-known brand name no matter where you are. 

ASFA

ASFA has a history of expertise and reliability in the fitness industry, but they don’t offer the same partnerships as ISSA or NASM. They are an ideal certification program for people who already have knowledge of subject matter and simply want to take a test to confirm their credentials. 

ACE

ACE is a global name, well-respected around the world. They also offer certifications accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. 

Cost: Winner-ASFA

Finding the best weight loss trainer certifications means you are investing in yourself and that investment will come at a cost just the same as any type of additional education or certification.

However, each provider that I’ve listed has different packages and payment plans available to you to make that cost more affordable.

ISSA

ISSA has payment plans and several discount options if you decide to bundle multiple certifications at once. If you already have a certification with ISSA and you want to add this to your repertoire, they will likely send you internal discount codes you can apply as well.

That said, it is just over $300 for this particular certification. 

NASM

The Weight Loss Specialization costs around $600 and the Understanding Weight Loss Medications continuing education unit costs $149 normally, but there are discounts available at various times. 

ASFA

ASFA costs are a little tricky to understand. You can pay up front or with a payment plan, but the cost is based on:

• Certificate Only (1 Year) for $349 
• Certificate & Pocket Card (1 Year) for $379 
• Certificate & Pocket Card (Lifetime) for $999

If I’m going by cost alone, this is the best weight loss trainer certification because you can pay $1,000 for the lifetime certificate that doesn’t expire, which means you don’t have to renew every year for a small fee nor do you have to invest in additional continuing education units. 

There is another fun feature where you only pay if you pass the test. This of course has a lot to do with the program design. I’ll talk more about that in a minute.

ACE

ACE is oddly structured to offer payment plans or upfront payment as low as $25 per month if you qualify, but they also have different discounts and plans for the digital course only. And sometimes you get discounts that include other certs but you can’t exclude them as part of the cost.

Learning Style: Winner-ASFA

The options for learning style can be a significant decision factor for many people, especially if you are international or trying to get a certification while also going to college or working part-time. That’s why I’ve looked at top certifications that offer different packages for learning styles and needs, particularly online options.

NASM

NASM offers two things:

1. Weight Loss Specialization 
2. Understanding Weight Loss Medications

The Weight Loss Specialization cert gives you one year from the time you sign up to complete it. Hooray. It is administered entirely online and 5 key units broken down to include digital reading material and video content. 

The second weight loss cert is technically a continuing education course. It’s called “Understanding Weight Loss Medications” for a reason; it’s there to help already certified personal trainers understand the impact that weight loss medications have and how to train with those in mind. It’s designed with 5 discussion-based videos, 3 chapters, and then a final exam. So, pretty short. 

Once you sign up, you have 5 years to finish the course, which is pretty amazing. I feel like I would forget about it if there wasn’t more of a time crunch though. That said, the course is entirely online and administered through their portal. 

ISSA

ISSA’s certification is just that: a coaching cert. It can be designed as a standalone certification meaning you don’t need to be a CPT to use it, although most institutions like CPT as a foundation qualification.

It expires after 2 years during which time you have to pursue continuing education units in the form of other certifications or specialties, classes, or courses. 

ASFA

The weight loss coach certification is an actual certification, not a continuing education offering. It doesn’t come with any study materials as part of the cost but rather direct access to an online exam and if you pass, you get your certification. 

You can choose the lifetime certification option which does not require yearly retesting and only requires one continuing education class, course, or seminar annually to stay active. If you purchase the one year certification, you have to retest on the same material every year.

I actually really like the idea of retesting over continuing education units. 

The cost of CE and the cost of renewal from programs like ISSA and NASM can be expensive especially when you have to do them every two years. It can also be difficult to find units that qualify on a regular basis. Half your time is spent searching for the right education. 

With ASFA, the one-year certification might only last half as long as ISSA or NASM but I really like that you have to retest on that specific curriculum to make sure that you are still knowledgeable about your field. 

ACE

The program here is designed as a continuing education unit so it’s part of their specialist designations.

Technically they don’t expire but the organization reserves the right to discontinue any support of the course. 

One weird thing about the curriculum with ACE is that you only have access to ebooks and for some reason they absolutely cannot be printed with the discounted class. 

I don’t just mean that I tried to print it and it wasn’t working. 

I mean there is an asterisk on their website that indicates it cannot be printed. Ever. 

That, to me, seems odd especially if you are someone who likes to incorporate tactile engagement and manuals that you can store for reference later. 

So that’s a huge bummer to me. 

Learning Materials: Winner-ISSA

Depending on your expertise you may or may not need a more robust curriculum. Some programs include a variety of learning materials so that you can choose the material that works best for your learning style, while others offer physical textbooks that you can purchase for a fee versus online books.

NASM

NASM’s weight management cert includes:

• PDFs
• Infographics
• Videos
• Printable Handouts

ISSA

ISSA’s weight management cert includes:

• PDFs
• Live weekly webinars where you can ask questions with real trainers
• Recorded videos
• Audio content
• Access to a learning dashboard with related study material
• Office hours
• Chapter quizzes

ASFA

They don’t really include any study materials but they do have recommended books and PDFs that you can purchase or download. 

ACE

ACE’s weight management cert includes 

• PDFs
• Podcasts
• Recorded Video
• Online Quizzes

If you buy the online only option you won’t be able to print the ebook or other course materials.

Program: Winner-ISSA

There can be slightly different practical focuses and models used by each, so if you have a preference, this can play a big role in your decision making.

NASM

One of the things you’ll read about a lot in the “complaints department” of the internet is that NASM uses the OPT model. Called the optimum Performance training model, this is a system that was designed by NASM and offers a proprietary progression of phases to training, with specific guidelines for how you would train clients as a weight loss trainer. 

There’s nothing wrong with it per se, it is scientifically based, but the periodization system behind it means that everything is highly structured and you have to follow that methodology. 

ISSA

ISSA has a program designed to be entirely accessible online. It’s also a self-paced program that uses a combination of different learning methods like video content, audio content, live webinars every week, and of course reading material to help you find a method for content absorption that works best.

As a self-paced program that is entirely online, you don’t have to worry about finding things like Pearson testing centers to take your final exam and you can follow the curriculum as it is laid out in a very accessible weekly plan. 

ASFA

ASFA doesn’t have a course like other programs. 

What it offers is an opportunity to simply take the certification test and pay whatever amount you choose for the duration of that certification only if you pass the test.

In theory, you could simply take the test over and over until you pass and you wouldn’t pay until the end.

That said, this really only works if you already have in-depth knowledge of all the material on that test. Otherwise you have to access the study materials that they recommend for an additional fee. Then you don’t really have a self-paced structure with guided curriculum the way ISSA does, you have a list of materials that you should review before you take the exam.

ACE

This is structured in a similar online way, with no prerequisites. The open book online test is administered at the end after you complete all the other course materials and you have to pass with at least 70%.

ACE is well known for its ACE IFT model and Mover Model, both of which are proprietary models for helping with client behavioral change and resistance training. Both can be useful additions to a weight management program, especially for coaches who want to help encourage good behavioral changes to get their clients to healthy weights. 

This, like NASM’s second offering, is considered a specialist program, which means it’s part of the continuing education plan and not one of the primary certifications they have. 

Career Support: Winner-ISSA

Finding the best weight loss trainer certifications is obviously a step toward something greater like a career change. If you are pivoting from one career to another or starting a new career, I think it’s important to find a certifying organization that gives you support along the way.

NASM: NASM One 

NASM offers:

• Assessment forms
• An exercise library
• Program forms

They also have tools like body fat calculators, free mini courses and free webinars to help you support your ongoing education.

Additionally, they have the NASM One subscription service where you pay extra money on a monthly basis for resources that support your career growth, like a business education Hub or program advisors. There is also access to what is called the Gymternship which is an 80-hour program that helps you build a portfolio to better apply for jobs, but this comes at an all inclusive package cost, not just the cost for the weight management cert.

So, they obviously have a lot to offer, but all of it comes at an extra fee.

ISSA: Career Connect

Called “Career Connect,” this ISSA feature is one of a kind. There are literally no competing organizations that have something just like this. 

Plus, it’s included and you get access to it right away. 

With Career Connect, you gain access as soon as you enroll in your weight loss course. You don’t have to wait until you finish the course to see what jobs are available. When you use the platform you can search for jobs by location. 

Then you can directly contact the hiring managers from each of those companies. Remember how partnerships and reputation were important?

They both contribute to the career support you get with ISSA; ISSA is partnered with thousands of organizations around the world and those organizations will turn to ISSA liaisons directly when they have a need for things like trainers. Many local gyms, for example, will even set up a job interview with you before you have finished your weight loss trainer certification as long as you are currently enrolled and have a date for completion in mind. 

Plus, you get:

• Client forms you can download
• Business cards you can personalize
• Discounts on website building or professional insurance
• Discounts on gear and other business-related items

So all in this is pretty much the best deal you’re going to find. 

ASFA: Nothing

You get nothing here.

Well, that’s not entirely true.

What you get is a blog called “Career Roadmap” which basically just talks a lot about what to expect if you decide to become a personal trainer and upsells you on the other certifications they have. 

ACE: Career Support

ACE has career support at no extra cost, but isn’t anything compared to ISSA’s Career Connect.

It includes things like:

• An ACE Pro compass with resources to help you set up a business
• Access to a job board
• Digital credentials
• Liability insurance access
• And website building access

Having used their job board, it’s not very well done in terms of code, and you don’t really have a lot of support other than posting your resume and searching for jobs like part-time accountability coaches, group trainers, or recreation instructors.

Likely because they don’t have as robust a partnership or network as NASM or ISSA, ACE doesn’t really have as many available jobs on that job board nor do they have the job guarantee that NASM and ISSA offer. 

So, still pretty “meh.”

Summing Up

There are a lot of key areas to look at but ISSA is my top rated option because of the learning materials they offer, their partnerships, the style of their program and how accessible it is, and of course, the career connect.