ISSA Career Connect Named App of the Year Finalist at the 2026 Beyond Activ Americas Awards of Excellence

Recognition follows a year in which the fitness industry's first career platform built into certification tripled to 15,000 members and grew to 317 hiring partners across 60 gym brands

PHOENIX, Nov. 13, 2026 — The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) today announced that ISSA Career Connect, the career platform that connects ISSA-certified fitness professionals directly with hiring employers, was named a finalist for App of the Year in the 2026 Beyond Activ Americas Awards of Excellence. The recognition follows a year in which Career Connect tripled its membership to 15,000 students and graduates and grew its hiring partners from 116 to 317 employers.

The Beyond Activ Americas Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding achievement across the fitness and wellness sector over the past 12 months. Finalists were recognized during Beyond Activ Americas in Dallas on Nov. 12.

ISSA Career Connect named App of the Year finalist after tripling to 15,000 members and 317 hiring partners in one year.

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Closing the gap between certification and a first job

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of fitness trainers and instructors to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 68,000 openings each year. Gyms need qualified trainers to fill those roles, and newly certified trainers need a first job. Career Connect builds that pathway into ISSA certification, connecting members with hiring brands including Life Time, Equinox, VASA Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness.

ISSA launched Career Connect in April 2025 as an opt-in platform. Of the more than one million students who have enrolled with ISSA since 1988, 15,000 have joined so far, and employers can reach them across more than 23,000 global partner locations.

Career Connect results, October 2025 to October 2026

• 3x member growth, from 5,000 to 15,000 opted-in students and graduates
• 2.7x more hiring partners, from 116 to 317 employers
• 2.4x more gym brands, from 25 to 60
• 2.4x more reachable U.S. locations, from 7,500 to 17,000
• 88% more hiring hub pages, from 85 to 160 brand, franchise group and location pages
• 27 employer-led hiring sessions, up from 4, including 13 live brand webinars and 14 branded sessions at the ISSA Global Summit
• About 12 applicants per day, measured through new applicant intent tracking

Employers moving from job postings to hiring commitments

Three major employers now build ISSA certification directly into how they hire:

• Life Time guarantees an interview screening for eligible ISSA Certified Personal Trainers
• VASA Fitness embeds ISSA in its Trainer in Training program
• Equinox embeds ISSA in its Coaching Foundations Program

"Every certification is someone betting on themselves, and our job is to make sure that bet pays off," said Andrew Wyant, CEO of ISSA. "One of our graduates, Joe B., earned his CPT on October 2 and was training clients at a gym in his hometown 17 days later. Stories like his are becoming the norm, not the exception. Being named a finalist tells us the industry is starting to see it, too."

"Life Time is in one of our most active growth periods in our history, looking to open 4 more clubs in the month of December alone, bringing the total to 14 in 2026. Every new club needs certified trainers ready to coach from day one. Career Connect gives us a direct line to ISSA-certified professionals who have already raised their hand for a role in their market," said Efonda Sproles, SVP, Chief Scout, Career Brand Ambassador, at Life Time.

How Career Connect works

ISSA students share their role interest and location once, and partner employers see qualified, opted-in candidates in their markets. Hiring hub pages, live brand webinars and on-demand recordings let members meet hiring teams before they apply. Employer commitments also back ISSA's Job Guarantee, giving graduates a direct path to work.

ISSA students and graduates can learn more and join Career Connect at https://www.issaonline.com/pages/career-connect. 

SOURCE International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)