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IUSCA COURSES & CERTIFICATIONS GUIDE

ABOUT IUSCA EDUCATION

Establishedin2019,theInternationalUniversitiesStrengthandConditioning Association(IUSCA)hasbeenattheforefrontofadvancingStrengthandConditioning (S&C)educationthroughacommitmenttoacademicrigor,evidence-basedpractice, andprofessionaldevelopment.Ourcoursesandcertificationsaredesignedbyleading expertsinfieldtobridgethegapbetweencutting-edgeresearchandpractical application,ensuringthatlearnersacquiretheexpertiseneededtoexcelintheS&C profession.

AllIUSCAcertificationsadheretostringentaccreditationandregulatorystandards, ensuringglobalrecognitionandcredibility.Thesequalificationsarebenchmarked againstinternationalframeworkstoprovidelearnerswithaprofessionaledgeinan increasinglycompetitiveindustry.

Throughtheseprograms,youwillengageincomprehensive,scientificallygrounded educationthatemphasizescriticalthinkingandappliedskills.Ourcurriculumistailored tomeetthedemandsofanever-evolvingfield,equippingyouwiththetoolstomakea measurableimpactonathleticperformance,health,andwell-being.

AsaparticipantinIUSCAcourses,youwillgainaccesstoawealthofresources,including expert-ledinstruction,peer-reviewedcontent,andaglobalnetworkofprofessionals dedicatedtoexcellenceinS&C.Whetheryouareanaspiringpractitioner,an experiencedcoach,orastudentseekingtoenhanceyourqualifications,our certificationsprovidearobustfoundationforachievingyourcareerobjectives.

Welookforwardtosupportingyouonyourjourneytowardexcellenceandinnovationin thisvitalanddynamicfield.

The mission and vision of the IUSCA is fantastic and this will help me promote the organization further.

Dr.PaulComfort,Professorof StrengthandConditioning

Studying with the IUSCA was the best career choice I have made. I gained an outstanding education and placement opportunities, as well as graduating as an Accredited Practitioner (aISCP)

BenThomas,FormerstudentattheUniversityofSouthWales, nowS&CCoachattheUniversityofColorado

THE IUSCA ADVANTAGE

EXPERTDRIVEN CURRICULUM

ourcoursesandcertificationsaredesignedby leadingexpertsinS&C.Eachprogramis meticulouslydevelopedtointegratethelatest research,industryinsights,andevidence-based methodologies.Thisensuresthatlearnersnot onlygainfoundationalknowledgebutalso understandhowtoapplytheseconceptsin real-worldscenarios.Withcontributionsfrom academics,elitecoaches,andindustry practitioners,ourcurriculumequipsyouwith thetoolstoexcelindiverseS&Cenvironments, fromsportsperformancetohealthandfitness.

ACCREDITEDAND GLOBALLYRECOGNISED

AllIUSCAcertificationsmeetstringent internationalaccreditationstandards, ensuringtheyarerespectedandrecognized byemployersandinstitutionsworldwide.Our commitmenttoupholdingthehighest regulatoryandqualitybenchmarks guaranteesthatyourqualificationscarry weightinacompetitiveindustry.Whether you’repursuingyourfirstcertificationor advancingyourcareer,anIUSCAcredential demonstratesyourcommitmentto excellenceandpositionsyouasaleaderin theglobalStrengthandConditioning community.

FLEXIBLELEARNING OPTIONS

Ourflexiblelearningmodelisdesignedto meettheneedsofbusyprofessionalsand students.Withfullyonline,self-paced modules,youcanstudyanytimeand anywhere,balancingyoureducationwith othercommitments.Ourintuitivelearning platformprovidesaccesstovideotutorials, interactiveassessments,anddownloadable resourcestoensureacomprehensiveand engagingexperience.Whetheryou’renew tothefieldoraseasonedpractitioner,our programsoffertheflexibilitytofitintoyour schedulewhiledeliveringanexceptional learningexperience.

THE SCIENTIFIC PRACTITIONER

“Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge”

TheIUSCA’sS&CPractitionerPathwayis purposefullyintendedtodevelopthe'Scientific Practitioner'.

So,whatisaScientificPractitioner?

AScientificPractitionerissomeonewhocanutilize scientificprinciplesandconcepts,applyingthemin specificcontextsthroughscientificthinking.

Asanorganization,weplacehighvalueonobjective scientificfacts—conceptsvalidatedthroughscience, suchasfoundationalprinciplesofphysics, chemistry,andbiology.

InthecontextofStrengthandConditioning(S&C), thisincludesknowledgeaboutmusclefibers, biochemicalreactions,Newtonianforces, anatomicalstructures,andmore.Weexpectthe ScientificPractitionertohaveastrongfoundationin theseprinciples,withdegreeprogramsensuring adequateteachingoftheseconcepts.

However,acriticaldistinctionmustbemade betweenestablishedscientificfactsandthe hypothesescommonlygeneratedwithinS&C. Hypothesesmayencompassexerciseselection, technique,programming,periodization,and coachingmethodologies.

Whiletheseareasarevital,theScientificPractitioner shouldbeabletodiscernthedifferencebetween factandhypothesis.Acrucialelementtothisisthe developmentof'scientificthinking.'Thisinvolves usinglogic,rationality,reason,skepticism,andclear thoughttoanalyzedata,filtervaluableinformation, andstrategizefutureoutcomes.

WethereforebelievetheScientificPractitioner,witha solidscientificfoundation,shouldbeableto synthesizeandevaluateevidence,generatingtheir ownhypothesesandcoachingphilosophies.

Assuch,wedonotprescribespecificexercisesor methodologiesthatstudentsmustincludeintraining programsorpracticalassessments.Instead,we encourageconsiderationofhowandwhycertain methodologiesareused,requiringasolidrationalefor theirapplication.

Forexample,apractitionermaydecidetouse Olympicweightliftingmethodologies,orcertain programmingstructures,butweopposethe dogmaticassertionthattheywillbetheoptimaltool fordevelopingathleticcompetenciesinall individuals.

AfinalcomponentindevelopingtheScientific Practitioneristheabilitytounderstand,interactwith, andimpactpeople.Whiletheoreticalknowledgeis important,webelievethemosteffectivewayto cultivatethisskillsetisthroughpractical engagementinasmanysettingaspossible.Thisis whyweemphasizesignificantpracticalexperience embeddedwithinourcoursesandaccumulatedby thecertifiedpractitioner.

Wehopethisservesasavaluablesummaryofthe philosophyoftheS&CPractitionerPathwayand providesinsightintotherationalebehinddeveloping robustcoursesandcertificationsthatpreparedthe candidateasaneffectiveScientificPractitioner.

CARLSAGAN

The International Qualification Framework (IQF)

TheInternationalQualificationFramework(IQF)servesasagloballyrecognized benchmarkforexcellenceinS&Ceducationandcertification.Itestablishes clear,standardizedcriteriaforknowledge,skills,andpracticalcompetencies, ensuringthatqualificationsmeetthehighestprofessionalstandards.By aligningwiththeIQF,IUSCAcertificationsareinternationallyrecognisedand validated,enhancingthecareerprospectsofpractitionersworldwide.

TheIQFfeaturesastructuredgradingsystemrangingfromLevel1toLevel8, representingprogressivestagesofknowledgeandexpertise.Levels1-3referto foundationalknowledgeandentry-levelcertification,Levels4-6represent professionalandappliedcompetencies,whileLevels7-8encompassadvanced theoreticalknowledgeandleadershipinresearchorhigh-levelpractice.

TheIQF-InternationalRegulatoryCommission(IQF-IRC)overseesthe accreditationprocess,providingindependentverificationofprogramquality andensuringadherencetorigorousregulatorystandards.Thisgovernance ensuresthatallIUSCAcertificationsaretrustedbyemployers,academic institutions,andprofessionalorganizationsacrosstheglobe.ByachievingIQFaccreditedcertifications,practitionersdemonstratetheircommitmentto excellence,professionalism,andcontinuousdevelopmentinthefieldofS&C.

THE IUSCA PRACTITIONER PATHWAY

TheIUSCAS&CPractitionerPathwayoffersastructured,progressiveapproachtoprofessional developmentinS&C.Thispathwayintegratestheoreticalknowledgewithpracticalapplication, guidinglearnersfromfoundationalconceptstoadvancedpractice.Alongtheway,participantsearn internationallyrecognizedcertificationsatvariousIQFLevelsrelatedtothepractitionerexpertise, experience,andcompetencies.

The Level 2 Certified Strength and Conditioning Instructor® focuses on developing foundational coaching skills and the application of basic S&C principles in practical settings.

The Level 4 Certified Strength and Conditioning Practitioner® emphasizes the integration of advanced techniques and strategies to enhance athletic performance and team dynamics.

The Level 6 Accredited International Strength and Conditioning Practitioner (aISCP)® is recognised at the International Standard for S&C professionals in a variety of domains.

The Level 8 Master International Strength and Conditioning Practitioner (mISCP)® represents the pinnacle of S&C expertise, combining leadership, research, and innovation to advance the profession globally.

It is a huge honour to be awarded with this recognition from the IUSCA, as it acknowledges my contributions to research, coaching, and education over the last 20 years.

Key Levels of the IUSCA Practitioner Pathway

I strongly believe in and support the mission and the vision of the IUSCA. It is an honor and a privilege to be part of an amazing community of others holding the IUSCA certifications.

LianeBlyn,DirectorofSportsPerformance atArizonaStateUniversity

PRACTITIONER PATHWAY

TRADEMARKEDCERTIFICATIONS

TheIUSCAPractitionerPathwayistrademarked,ensuringexclusivityand recognitionintheprofessionalS&Ccommunity.Successfulcandidatesearningthe aISCPormISCPcertificationsaregrantedtherighttousetheprestigious postnominalsandaccompanyinglogos,showcasingtheirexpertiseand professionalstanding.Additionally,practitionerscertifiedthroughIUSCAhavethe opportunitytoaccesstailoredpractitionerinsurance,furthersupportingtheir careerbyprovidingthenecessarycoveragetooperateconfidentlyindiverse professionalenvironments.

PREMIUM CONTENT

Training for hypertrophy

Recovery tools in Sports Performance

Constructing a Sport Science Department

The Art of Establishing a Winning Culture

Weightlifting for Strength and Power

INDUSTRY LEADING EDUCATION

IUSCAVideoisapremiumresourceofover50 hoursoflong-formcontentfromleading namesinthefield.Thisisavailablewithinall paidmembershipoptions(aISCP,mISCP, Premium,Platinum).

Asabonus,thisisalsocurrentlyincludedfor FREEwhenyouregisterforoneofour coursesorcertifications.

BRAD SCHOENFELD

RON MCKEEFERY

LORENA TORRES

TIM SUCHOMEL

STEPHANIE MOCK