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Exam Review

Key Facts: ISSA Strength & Conditioning Exam

~75%

Passing Score (per section)

ISSA

100

Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep

Open-book

Online At-Home Final Exam

ISSA

24

Course Chapters

ISSA

Free

Exam Retakes

ISSA

NCCA

Accredited Proctored Option

ISSA

None

Prerequisites (open enrollment)

ISSA

The ISSA Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (ISSA S&C) is a professional fitness credential earned through a graded, open-book online final exam taken at home, requiring approximately 75% to pass per section with free retakes; an NCCA-accredited proctored exam option is also available. The curriculum spans 24 chapters covering anatomy and physiology, bioenergetics, biomechanics, assessments, program design and periodization, exercise technique including Olympic and power lifting, recovery and nutrition, and performance psychology. Enrollment is open with no formal prerequisites, though CPR/AED certification is recommended. This free practice bank includes 100 research-based selected-response questions distributed by the official content outline weights, each with a teaching explanation and a free AI tutor.

Sample ISSA Strength & Conditioning Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the ISSA Strength & Conditioning exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A motor unit is best defined as which of the following?
A.A single alpha motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates
B.A single muscle fiber and all of its myofibrils
C.A bundle of muscle fibers wrapped in perimysium
D.The neuromuscular junction and its associated sarcomere
Explanation: A motor unit consists of one alpha motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates. Recruiting more or larger motor units increases force output, a key concept in strength training.
2Which contractile protein contains the binding sites that myosin heads attach to during a muscle contraction?
A.Myosin
B.Actin
C.Titin
D.Tropomyosin
Explanation: Actin is the thin filament containing the active sites that myosin cross-bridges bind to during the sliding-filament mechanism of contraction. Calcium release moves tropomyosin to expose these sites.
3During the sliding-filament theory of contraction, what directly triggers the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum?
A.Depletion of intramuscular phosphocreatine
B.Accumulation of lactate in the sarcoplasm
C.The arrival of an action potential at the muscle fiber
D.Binding of ATP to the myosin head
Explanation: An action potential traveling down the T-tubules triggers the sarcoplasmic reticulum to release calcium, which binds troponin and exposes actin binding sites. This is excitation-contraction coupling.
4According to Henneman's size principle, motor units are recruited in what order during a gradually increasing force task?
A.Largest, highest-threshold units first, then smaller units
B.Randomly, regardless of size
C.Type IIx units first because they produce the most force
D.Smallest, lowest-threshold units first, then progressively larger units
Explanation: The size principle states smaller, lower-threshold (Type I) motor units are recruited first, with larger, higher-threshold (Type II) units recruited as force demand rises. Heavy or explosive loads are needed to recruit the largest units.
5Which muscle fiber type is most fatigue-resistant and best suited for prolonged, low-intensity endurance activity?
A.Type I (slow oxidative)
B.Type IIa (fast oxidative glycolytic)
C.Type IIx (fast glycolytic)
D.Type IIb intermediate
Explanation: Type I slow-oxidative fibers have high mitochondrial and capillary density and rely on aerobic metabolism, making them fatigue-resistant and ideal for endurance work. They produce lower force than Type II fibers.
6The phosphagen (ATP-PC) energy system is the predominant energy source for an effort lasting approximately how long?
A.30 to 90 seconds at high intensity
B.0 to 10 seconds at maximal intensity
C.2 to 3 minutes at moderate intensity
D.Longer than 10 minutes at low intensity
Explanation: The phosphagen system uses stored ATP and phosphocreatine to fuel very short, maximal efforts of roughly 0-10 seconds, such as a 1RM lift or short sprint. It provides energy rapidly but has limited capacity.
7Which energy system produces the greatest total ATP yield but at the slowest rate?
A.Phosphagen (ATP-PC) system
B.Fast glycolysis
C.Oxidative (aerobic) system
D.Lactic acid system
Explanation: The oxidative system fully metabolizes carbohydrate and fat in the mitochondria, producing the most ATP per substrate but at a comparatively slow rate. It dominates rest and prolonged submaximal exercise.
8Phosphocreatine contributes to rapid ATP resynthesis through which enzyme-driven reaction?
A.Lactate dehydrogenase converting pyruvate to lactate
B.ATP synthase in the electron transport chain
C.Pyruvate dehydrogenase entering the Krebs cycle
D.Creatine kinase transferring a phosphate to ADP
Explanation: Creatine kinase catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate group from phosphocreatine to ADP, rapidly regenerating ATP during short bursts of intense effort. This is why creatine supplementation can support repeated high-intensity efforts.
9Which structure detects changes in muscle length and rate of length change, triggering the stretch (myotatic) reflex?
A.Muscle spindle
B.Golgi tendon organ
C.Pacinian corpuscle
D.Ruffini ending
Explanation: Muscle spindles lie parallel to muscle fibers and sense length and velocity of stretch, eliciting the stretch reflex that protects against overstretch. This reflex underlies the rapid response in plyometric and ballistic movements.
10The Golgi tendon organ (GTO) responds to high muscle tension by doing what?
A.Facilitating greater contraction of the agonist
B.Causing autogenic inhibition (relaxation) of the contracting muscle
C.Increasing muscle spindle sensitivity
D.Stimulating the cardiac sinoatrial node
Explanation: The GTO senses tension at the musculotendinous junction and produces autogenic inhibition, reducing contraction to protect the muscle and tendon from excessive force. This response is leveraged in PNF stretching.

About the ISSA Strength & Conditioning Exam

The ISSA Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach credential is earned via a graded, open-book online final exam taken at home, requiring roughly 75% to pass per section with free retakes (an NCCA-accredited proctored option exists). This free bank provides 100 research-based practice questions across the 24-chapter content outline.

Exam sponsor: International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Open-book online at-home final exam, ~75% to pass per section, free retakes (NCCA-accredited proctored option available); this practice bank is 100 selected-response items

Time Limit

Untimed (open-book online)

Passing Score

~75% (per section)

Exam / Certification Fees

Varies (ISSA package pricing)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

25%

Anatomy & Physiology Foundations

Nervous, muscular, skeletal, and cardiorespiratory systems and bioenergetics — motor units, fiber types, sliding-filament theory, energy systems, proprioception

8%

Biomechanics

Planes of motion, muscle actions, levers, torque, force-velocity relationship, stretch-shortening cycle, strength curves

12%

General & Performance Assessments

Health screening, 1RM and estimated 1RM testing, power and agility tests, body composition, test ordering, reliability and validity

22%

Principles of Program Design & Periodization

SAID, GAS, progressive overload, linear/undulating/block periodization, conjugate and triphasic systems, loading parameters, RFD, tapering

22%

Exercise Technique

Flexibility, plyometrics, core, lower- and upper-body lifts, and Olympic/power lifting technique, cues, progressions, and safety

7%

Recovery, Injury Prevention & Nutrition

Sleep, DOMS, active recovery, load management, hydration, protein and carbohydrate needs, evidence-based supplementation

6%

Performance Psychology & Professional Practice

SMART goals, mental imagery, arousal-performance, communication, scope of practice, referral, risk management

Preparing for the ISSA Strength & Conditioning Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: ~75% (per section)
  • Assessment: Open-book online at-home final exam, ~75% to pass per section, free retakes (NCCA-accredited proctored option available); this practice bank is 100 selected-response items
  • Time limit: Untimed (open-book online)
  • Exam / certification fees: Varies (ISSA package pricing) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ISSA Strength & Conditioning: Suggested Study Strategy

1Prioritize anatomy, physiology, and bioenergetics — at ~25% it is the largest section and underpins program design and technique
2Master loading parameters: maximal strength ≥85% 1RM for 1-5 reps, hypertrophy ~67-85% for 6-12 reps, and 2-5 minute rest for heavy strength and power
3Know the periodization models cold — linear, daily/weekly undulating, block (accumulation/transmutation/realization), conjugate (max-effort vs dynamic-effort), and triphasic (eccentric-isometric-concentric)
4Drill Olympic-lift technique: triple extension at mid-thigh in the second pull, no early arm bend, overhead catch for the snatch versus front-rack for the clean
5Even though the exam is open-book, practice the 100 questions and review every miss with the AI tutor so you can locate and apply answers quickly per section

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ISSA Strength and Conditioning exam open book?

Yes. The official ISSA Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach final exam is a graded, open-book online exam taken at home, requiring roughly 75% to pass per section with free retakes. ISSA also offers an NCCA-accredited proctored exam option. While open-book reduces memorization pressure, the science is detailed, so practicing with realistic questions is the best preparation.

What score do I need to pass the ISSA Strength and Conditioning exam?

You need approximately 75% to pass, applied per section, on the open-book online final exam. Retakes are free per ISSA policy, so candidates who fall short can review and re-attempt without an additional retake fee.

What are the prerequisites for the ISSA Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach?

Enrollment is open with no formal education or prior certification required; you simply purchase the ISSA Strength and Conditioning course. ISSA recommends holding a current CPR/AED certification before working with clients.

How long does it take to study for the ISSA Strength and Conditioning exam?

Most candidates complete the program in about 8 to 12 weeks of self-paced study. Plan roughly 60 hours: about 18 hours on anatomy, physiology and bioenergetics, 14 on biomechanics and assessment, 16 on program design and periodization, and 14 on exercise technique plus practice questions.

What topics does the ISSA Strength and Conditioning exam cover?

The 24-chapter outline covers anatomy and physiology foundations (~25%), biomechanics (~8%), general and performance assessments (~12%), program design and periodization (~22%), exercise technique including Olympic and power lifting (~22%), recovery and nutrition (~7%), and performance psychology and professional practice (~6%).

Is this free ISSA Strength and Conditioning prep as good as paid prep?

Our 100 practice questions are distributed across the same official content outline — anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, assessment, program design, exercise technique, recovery, and psychology. Every question includes a teaching explanation and per-option rationale, plus free AI tutor interactions daily, all free forever and updated for 2026.