UPCOMING ISAK TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:
June 2026 TBC – REGISTER INTEREST HERE
November 2026 TBC – REGISTER INTEREST HERE
ABOUT:
Sheffield Hallam University is the ideal place to complete your ISAK Level 1 course under the guidance of Dr Alice Bullas, a leading authority in anthropometry and advanced body composition methods. Though being ISAK level 3 accredited, Dr Bullas’ expertise extends beyond traditional measurement; she is internationally recognised for her pioneering research in 3D body scanning and digital body measurement, bringing a novel, modern, evidence-based perspective. Training at SHU means you’ll gain not only ISAK accreditation but also insight into how digital technologies are shaping the future of performance, health, and clinical practice. With cutting-edge facilities at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, you’ll receive rigorous, hands-on training enriched by innovative approaches that set you apart in the field.
If you are interested in ISAK training but we don’t have any suitable upcoming dates please register you general interest here, or if you wish to hold a course at your institution please get in contact.
ABOUT ISAK:
ISAK, the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry, is a global organization that sets standards for the measurement of the human body in relation to movement, health, and performance. Kinanthropometry focuses on body composition, size, shape, and proportionality, and ISAK plays a key role by providing a standardized framework for how these measurements are taken and interpreted. Through internationally recognized accreditation courses, ISAK ensures that practitioners—such as sport scientists, physiotherapists, and nutritionists—collect accurate, reliable, and consistent anthropometric data.
The importance of ISAK lies in its ability to unify and professionalize measurement practices worldwide. Accurate anthropometric assessment is essential for evaluating athletic potential, monitoring training adaptations, tailoring nutrition programs, and identifying health risks linked to obesity or undernutrition. By maintaining strict methodological standards, ISAK enhances comparability across studies and applications, ensuring data is scientifically valid. This supports evidence-based decision-making in sports performance, talent identification, physical education, and clinical health. Ultimately, ISAK provides the foundation for trustworthy anthropometric research and practice, advancing both science and applied health fields globally.
ISAK LEVEL 1
This ISAK level 1 course is designed for those required to collate a restricted profile of anthropometric measurements and skinfolds: 4 base measures, 8 skinfolds, 6 girths and 3 bone breadths.
This course will teach an understanding of the theory of anthropometric applications through asynchronous online content (received 2 weeks ahead of practical sessions) and in person practical sessions over consecutive days. During the final day you will undergo a practical examination in which your inter and intra anthropometrist error will be assessed.
ISAK LEVEL 2
This ISAK level 2 course is designed for those required to collate a restricted profile of anthropometric measurements and skinfolds: 4 base measurements, 8 skinfolds, 13 girths, 9 lengths and heights, and 9 breadths and depths.
This course will teach an understanding of the theory of anthropometric applications through asynchronous online content (received 2 weeks ahead of practical sessions) and in person practical sessions over consecutive days. During the final day you will undergo a practical examination in which your inter and intra anthropometrist error will be assessed.
Please note, to attend the ISAK level 2:
• Attendees must have been ISAK Level 1 accredited for at least 6 months prior to starting this course. This information can be found within the member’s profile, corresponding to the field “Accreditation start date”) or other qualifications that may be deemed appropriate by the ISAK Accreditation Working Group. Candidates whose Level 1 accreditation has expired less than two years ago must re-pass a Level 1 practical- examination in the same conditions that the level 1 course before being admitted to a Level 2 course.
• You will need to provide your name and email address registered with ISAK and the date of when your accreditation is expiring. If your accreditation has already expired, then approval must be sought from ISAK for you to complete the course. Please contact Dr Alice Bullas (a.bullas@shu.ac.uk) if you require assistance with this.
RE-ACCREDITATION
This course is the re-accreditation (one day examination) for the ISAK level 1 and 2 course. During this day you will undergo a practical examination in which your inter and intra anthropometrist error will be assessed.
EXAMINATION – ALL COURSES
All courses consist of a three-subject practical exam in which Inter-tester TEM targets must be met.
|
Course / Role |
Intra-tester (within course) | Inter-tester (within course) |
Intra-tester (post course profiles) |
|
|
ISAK Level 1 |
Skinfolds |
10% | 12.5% |
7.5% |
| Other measures | 2% | 2.5% |
1.5% |
|
|
ISAK Level 2 |
Skinfolds | 7.5% | 10.0% |
5.0% |
| Other measures | 1.5% | 2.0% |
1.0% |
|
After the course you are required to collect 20 anthropometric profiles, achieving appropriate intra anthropometrist error, to achieve ISAK accreditation. Once accredited, the ISAK certificate is valid for 4 years, after which point you can undertake re-accreditation at the same level or complete a full course at a higher level.
COST
The cost of this course includes the training course, ISAK membership registration, digital ISAK manual royalty fee, a physical ISAK manual, lunch and refreshments each day.
| Course / Role | External | Student* | SHU staff* / alumni* | SHU student* |
| ISAK Level 1 | £450 | £300 | £250 | £225 |
| ISAK Level 2 | £550 | £400 | £350 | £325 |
| Reaccreditation | £155 | £130 | £130 | £110 |
*Proof of Student ID/Staff ID/Graduation Certificate Required.
100% Refunds available up to 30 days before the course start date.
75% Refunds available up to 14 days before the course start date.
50% Refunds available up to 7 days before the course start date.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
Candidates whose previous accreditation has expired for more than two years are ineligible for re-accreditation, unless there is a medically-certified reason for their not having been able to re-accredit within that entire period. In the absence of that, these candidates must redo the complete Level 1 course if they wish to regain their accreditation.
No candidate can be admitted to a re-accreditation workshop if any unresolved disciplinary or administrative issue exists between them and ISAK. Therefore, it is compulsory for the candidate to contact the ISAK Secretariat to confirm approval for reaccreditation ahead of booking onto this course. This email confirmation should then be forwarded to the course leader – Dr Alice Bullas (a.bullas@shu.ac.uk).
Certification will only be issued after: Successful participation in an anthropometry course (at Level 1) containing theory and practical components as specified in the Level 1 curriculum. Successful demonstration of landmarking, equipment manipulation and measurement of the Restricted Profile in front of a Level 3 or Level 4 Anthropometrist. Successful completion of a practical examination (80% minimum) in the presence of a Level 3 (Instructor) or Level 4 (Criterion) Anthropometrist.
The examination will consist of the measurement of a sample set of 10 variables from the Restricted Profile on 3 subjects. The 10 variables of the exam must include: 1 base measure, 5 skinfolds, 3 girths and 1 bone breaths. To score points for a variable, the intra-tester % TEM in the practical exam must be no more than 10% for skinfolds and no more than 2% for the other measures. To score points for a variable, the inter-tester %TEM between the criterion and the technician, using the same equipment, must be no more than 12.5% for skinfold measures and no more than 2.5% for the other measures (Table 1). Successful post-course completion of repeat measures of the Restricted Profile on 20 subjects, where a subject is landmarked once and then duplicate or triplicate measures are taken, as required. All variables of the Restricted Profile are to be measured on each of the 20 subjects. [This must be done by measuring the entire proforma once, then the entire proforma a second time, then taking third measures where needed.]
Within-course Post-course profiles 15 tester %TEMs for the duplicates must not exceed 7.5% for any skinfold nor 1.5% for any of the other measures. The authenticity of the measurement session(s) and original data sheets must be certified by the candidate. The authenticity and adequacy of those measurements are matters for the Examiner to determine. Note: Level 1s have 4 months and Level 2s have 6 months from the date of their practical examination to submit their 20 proformas through ISAK Metry software. All procedures are conducted in accordance with the latest version of the ISAK Handbook.
Certification expires four years and four months from the date of the practical
examination.
If you are interested in attending, or have any questions please get in contact with Dr Alice Bullas
PREVIOUS ISAK TRAINING:
2024 (30/07 – 02/08) – Level 1, Level 2 & reaccreditation.
2024 (14 – 16/01) – Level 1 & reaccreditation.
2025 (26-28/11/25) – Level 1 & reaccreditation.