International Sports Authentication (ISA): Complete Guide

Quick facts

Fact	Details
Official name + official website	Brand: ISA Grading / International Sports Authentication (About, Home).
Founded (year) + founders (if known)	ISA states “In 2010…” and includes a 2010 “Launch” timeline entry; founder name: Unknown (not named on cited official pages) (About).
Headquarters + operating countries	ISA publishes a Brighton, Michigan mailing/location address; country focus is primarily United States (no official list of international offices found) (Contact, FAQ shipping address).
Ownership / parent company (if any)	Unknown (no ownership/parent disclosure found on cited official pages; ISA references “our founder” without naming a parent entity) (About).
What they grade (sports, TCG, non-sports, memorabilia)	ISA markets “sports cards & collectibles” and publishes card-size/thickness rules; the ISA Cert Validator app describes “sports and trading cards”; ISA’s blog explicitly states they grade Disney Lorcana TCG cards (Submit, Submission rules, ISA Cert Validator, Lorcana blog post).
Grading scale + top grade label	ISA publishes a 1–10 scale with labels like GEM-MT 10, MINT 9, NM-MT 8, and centering tolerances per grade (Grading scale).
Subgrades (Y/N) + how many categories	No subgrades found on ISA’s published grading-scale page (overall grade descriptions only); treat as no public subgrades unless ISA confirms otherwise (Grading scale).
Pop report (Y/N) + link	No public population report page found. The ISA Cert Validator app claims it shows “a population total for that particular grade” when you look up a cert/scan QR (this is not the same as a full searchable pop report) (ISA Cert Validator).
Registry (Y/N) + link	No registry found on ISA’s official site navigation used for this research (Home, About).
Certification verification / lookup (Y/N) + link	Yes: ISA’s “Certificate Verification” page lets you enter a certificate number to “provide any associated data on record” (Certificate Verification).
Notable differentiator (1 sentence)	ISA’s strongest differentiation is fast turnaround tiers with volume discounts plus a certificate verification workflow (web + QR/serial app) (Submit, Certificate Verification, ISA Cert Validator).

Where International Sports Authentication fits in the grading market

ISA is a US-based “Tier 4” style grader in most buyer pools: it’s widely discussed as cheaper/faster than PSA/BGS/SGC, but it typically does not carry the same default trust or resale liquidity. That “discount vs PSA” expectation shows up repeatedly in community discussions where collectors describe ISA slabs as closer to raw pricing, or recommend PSA when resale is the goal (r/SportCardValue: “ISA v PSA?”, r/footballcards: “where does this card grading company (isa) ranks…”, Blowout: “Anyone heard of ISA grading?”).

Practical positioning:

If you want maximum buyer recognition and easiest comps, PSA/BGS/SGC are usually the pricing anchors.
If you want fast, low-cost encapsulation for personal collection or lower-value cards, ISA’s 2/5/10 business day tiers can be compelling (Submit).

Services offered

From ISA’s submission page and submission rules:

Card grading tiers: published as 2 business days, 5 business days, 10 business days, with different per-card prices and volume pricing (10-card minimum) (Submit).
Bulk submissions: pricing tiers change at 10–49, 50–99, 100+ cards across service levels (Submit).
International submissions: ISA states “For all international orders, the 2-day service option is required” (Submit).
Crossover/reholder/regrade: ISA’s submission rules reference “review, or reholdering” in the agreement language, but a customer-facing “reholder/crossover pricing” page was not found; treat availability as Unknown unless confirmed by ISA (Submission rules).
Authentication-only: not clearly separated as a standalone public service tier on the submission page; treat as Unknown (Submit, FAQ).
Add-ons:
- Return shipping speed: Next-Day / 2-Day / Ground return shipping price table by card count (Submit).
- Return shipping insurance: “$1.00 per $100 of declared value up to $15,000” (contact ISA for higher) (Submit).

Grading scale and standards (deep dive)

ISA publishes a grade definition ladder, with explicit centering tolerances in several grades, plus qualitative condition descriptors (print dots, gloss, staining, focus, corners) (Grading scale).

The scale and grade definitions

ISA’s published scale is centered on:

10 (GEM-MT 10): “nearly flawless”; front centering “between 50/50 and 55/45”; back centering “no worse than 75/25” (Grading scale).
9 (MINT 9): “excellent condition”; front centering “at least 60/40”; back “80/20” (Grading scale).
8 (NM-MT 8): front “at least 70/30”; back “90/10” (Grading scale).

ISA’s scale page is unusually useful versus many small graders because it publishes concrete centering ratios for multiple grades (Grading scale).

Centering/corners/edges/surface: what is actually published

ISA’s published scale is primarily written as “grade narratives” (what flaws are typical at each grade) rather than a point-by-point rubric. Centering tolerances are explicit, while corners/edges/surface are described via examples like “weak corners”, “surface worn”, “detectable scratch”, “absence of original gloss”, “wax stains”, and “print dots” (Grading scale).

Human vs hybrid vs tech-first process (what they claim)

ISA describes grading as subjective professional judgment in its submission rules and does not publish a tech-first/hybrid scoring system comparable to TAG-style reports (Submission rules).

How to interpret the label (example)

ISA’s published terminology implies labels such as GEM-MT 10, MINT 9, etc. As a concrete interpretation example, an “ISA GEM-MT 10” means ISA is asserting the card meets their 10-level criteria including the published centering ranges (Grading scale).

Slab, label, and security features

What can be verified from primary sources in scope:

ISA supports certificate verification (web) and a QR-code scan + serial search workflow via the ISA Cert Validator app, which is an important buyer-side anti-fraud step when buying second-hand (Certificate Verification, ISA Cert Validator).

What is Unknown (not clearly documented on cited official pages):

Holder materials (polycarbonate vs other), weld method, holograms, NFC, and documented anti-counterfeit features.
Label versioning/history with dated change logs.

If slab security engineering matters for your purchase (high-end cards), treat these as due-diligence questions and require clear slab photos + cert verification before you pay (Certificate Verification).

Verification and data tools

Certificate verification workflow (step-by-step)

Go to ISA’s official verification page: Certificate Verification.
Enter the certificate number.
ISA states it will “provide any associated data on record” (Certificate Verification).

App-based verification workflow (QR/serial)

The ISA Cert Validator app states it lets owners “quickly look up your card by searching your serial number or scanning the QR code that is on the label” to verify legitimacy and see details like year/set/parallel/player/grade and “a population total for that particular grade” (ISA Cert Validator).

Pop report limitations (important)

ISA does not present a public “pop report” page like PSA/CGC/SGC. The only population-like feature found is the app’s “population total for that particular grade” claim, which appears to be per-cert lookup and not a full market-wide population database you can browse/search without a cert number (ISA Cert Validator).

Registry mechanics

No official registry was found on ISA’s main site during this research (Home).

Pricing and turnaround (how it works, not just numbers)

Pricing model (core)

ISA’s submission page publishes three turnaround tiers with per-card pricing and higher per-card pricing for smaller submissions. ISA also publishes a 10 card minimum submission notice (Submit).

Current prices and stated turnaround (as published on 2025-12-25)

Tier	Stated TAT	Headline price	Volume pricing examples (as listed)
2 business days	2 business days	$22 per card	10–49: $50/card · 50–99: $40/card · 100+: $30/card
5 business days	5 business days	$18 per card	10–49: $30/card · 50–99: $25/card · 100+: $18/card
10 business days	10 business days	$12 per card	10–49: $20/card · 50–99: $18/card · 100+: $17/card

(Submit)

Declared value, insurance, and return shipping

Declared value: ISA asks submitters to assign declared value and states it is used for insurance cost and claim caps; ISA states claims use “actual market value not to exceed the insured value the customer assigned” (Submission rules, FAQ declared value).
Return shipping rates: ISA publishes a return shipping table by card count (1–20 through 100+) and method (Next-Day, 2-Day, Ground) (Submit).
Return shipping insurance: ISA lists insurance as “$1.00 per $100 of declared value up to $15,000” and asks you to contact them for higher declared values (Submit).

Turnaround time claims vs user-reported reality

ISA publishes explicit business-day tiers. Community posts often discuss ISA as “fast” or “quick turnaround”, but resale-focused buyers frequently treat ISA slabs as discounted regardless of speed (Submit, r/baseballcards: “super fast turnaround… $20 a card”, r/SportCardValue: “ISA v PSA?”).

Submission experience

Step-by-step submission overview (official)

Use ISA’s online submission option or PDF submission forms (Submit, FAQ submission forms).
Follow packaging rules (semi-rigid holders + penny sleeves; no screwdowns/snap-cases) (FAQ packaging, Submission rules).
Ship to ISA’s published address in Brighton, MI (FAQ shipping address, Contact).
Select return shipping speed and insurance based on declared value (Submit).

Packaging rules and common pitfalls

High-signal requirements to avoid a rejected/returned submission:

Use semi-rigid holders (Card Saver I style) + penny sleeves; ISA explicitly warns it is not responsible for damage from hard acrylic holders and says screw-down or snap-case submissions “will be returned without being graded” (FAQ packaging, Submit, Submission rules).
Size and thickness rules: ISA says it accepts licensed cards up to 3.5" x 2.5"; only “pack pulled” licensed autographed/personalized cards; and it cannot grade patch/jersey cards greater than 40-point thickness (Submission rules).
Turnaround is an estimate: ISA’s terms state TAT frames are estimates and business days exclude holidays/closures (Submission rules).

Resale liquidity: what happens on the secondary market

In practice, ISA slabs often face two recurring buyer objections:

“I don’t know this grader / I don’t trust the grade.”
“If I ever need to resell, comps are weaker than PSA/BGS/SGC.”

This is reflected in multiple community threads where collectors explicitly say they value ISA close to raw or recommend PSA for resale value (r/footballcards, r/SportCardValue, Blowout: “Anyone heard of ISA grading?”).

What tends to help liquidity when you do sell:

Provide clean slab photos plus the certificate number and encourage buyers to verify using ISA’s official tool (Certificate Verification).
Price with the assumption that many buyers treat ISA as a non-anchor slab (discount vs PSA comps) and you may need to sell to collectors who specifically accept ISA (r/SportCardValue, r/basketballcards: “Anyone familiar with ISA?”).

Public opinion: Reddit, X, and hobby communities

Important access limitation (transparency)

Reddit: direct page access is blocked in this environment (HTTP 403). Links are provided and themes are summarized conservatively using Brave Search snippets plus non-Reddit forums that are accessible.
X (Twitter): direct reading of posts is limited due to JavaScript/login gating, but a small number of post URLs and snippets are discoverable via search results.

Recurring positive themes (5–10)

Fast turnaround narratives: users frequently mention short turnaround times (especially compared with major graders during backlog periods) (r/basketballcards: “turnaround was 1 week”, Submit).
Low cost vs majors: per-card pricing and volume discounts are a consistent draw (Submit).
Verification workflow exists: ability to verify via cert number and via QR/serial app is seen as a trust-positive compared to “no lookup” small graders (Certificate Verification, ISA Cert Validator).

Recurring negative themes (5–10)

Weak resale liquidity / “discount vs PSA”: recurring view that ISA slabs are valued closer to raw or require a discount to sell (r/SportCardValue, r/footballcards, Blowout: “Anyone heard of ISA grading?”).
Grading consistency skepticism: some posts compare ISA outcomes unfavorably to PSA outcomes, implying the market may not treat ISA grades as interchangeable with PSA grades (r/baseballcards: PSA vs ISA example).
Lower brand recognition: repeated “who is ISA?” style questions (r/basketballcards: “Anyone familiar with ISA?”, Blowout: “ISA Grading???”).

Most common misconceptions

“ISA has no verification.” ISA does provide certificate verification and an app-based QR/serial lookup (Certificate Verification, ISA Cert Validator).
“ISA only grades sports.” ISA’s app describes sports and trading cards, and ISA’s blog explicitly states it grades Disney Lorcana TCG cards (ISA Cert Validator, Lorcana blog post).

Controversies, trust signals, and red flags

Trust signals (verified)

Published grading scale with centering tolerances (Grading scale).
Public certificate verification workflow (Certificate Verification).
Explicit submission rules including what they will not grade and how declared value/insurance works (Submission rules).

Red flags / risk items to understand (verified)

Grades are subjective and non-refundable once grading begins; ISA states it makes no warranty for grade assignment and “Amount paid to ISA is NON-REFUNDABLE once the item begins the authentication and/or grading process” (Submission rules).
Turnaround times are estimates, and ISA disclaims liability for timing failures (Submission rules).
Liability is capped in the submission rules (fees paid or insurance proceeds, depending on the situation) (Submission rules).

Controversies scan

Searched terms and places (within what was accessible): “ISA grading” threads on Blowout Forums, Reddit thread listings found via search snippets, and ISA’s own site/blog. No specific “major scandal” reporting was found in these sources; treat this as not exhaustive because direct Reddit reading and broader news search were limited in this environment (Blowout: “Anyone heard of ISA grading?”, Blog index).

Who should use International Sports Authentication (and who shouldn’t)

Use ISA if…

You are grading lower-to-mid value cards where fast turnaround and low per-card cost matter more than maximizing resale premium (Submit).
You want a verify-first workflow when buying/selling (cert lookup + QR/serial app) (Certificate Verification, ISA Cert Validator).

Avoid (or be selective) if…

Your primary goal is resale liquidity in mainstream channels, where many buyers anchor to PSA/BGS/SGC and discount ISA slabs (r/SportCardValue, r/footballcards).
You need subgrades, grader notes, a full pop report, or a registry (none were found as public tools on ISA’s site) (Home, Grading scale).

Alternatives depending on your goal:

PSA: for resale liquidity and buyer recognition (typical market anchor).
BGS: for subgrades and premium outcomes (segment-dependent).
SGC: for vintage sports mindshare and strong resale in many sports categories.

Comparison snapshot

Company	Market trust	Resale liquidity	Pricing posture	Turnaround posture	Transparency	Slab security	Best for
ISA	Low–medium	Low	Budget with volume discounts	Published 2/5/10 business-day tiers	Medium (published scale + submission rules + cert lookup)	Partly verified (verification workflows; holder engineering unknown)	Fast, low-cost grading for PC or lower-value resale
PSA	Very high	Very high	Often premium	Tier-dependent	Medium (standards + lookup + pop + registry)	High	Maximum buyer recognition and easiest comps
BGS	High	High	Premium	Variable	Medium	High	Subgrades + condition-sensitive modern
SGC	High (sports-leaning)	High (sports-leaning)	Competitive	Often positioned as faster	Medium	High	Vintage + sports resale liquidity
CGC Cards	Medium–high (TCG-leaning)	Medium–high (TCG-leaning)	Competitive	Tier-dependent	High (scale + tools)	High	TCG grading with pop + registry

Rationale for ISA row: ISA publishes pricing/tier TATs, a grading scale, and verification tooling, but community discussions repeatedly frame ISA as discounted vs PSA in resale markets (Submit, Grading scale, Certificate Verification, r/SportCardValue, Blowout thread).

FAQs

Is ISA a legit grading company?

ISA operates a public certificate verification page and publishes submission rules and a grading scale; however, “legit” in resale markets is also about buyer recognition, which community sources often rate lower than PSA/BGS/SGC (Certificate Verification, Grading scale, r/SportCardValue).

How do I verify an ISA slab?

Use ISA’s official cert lookup by entering the certificate number, or use the ISA Cert Validator app to scan the QR code / search serial number (Certificate Verification, ISA Cert Validator).

Does ISA have a population report?

No public pop-report page was found. The ISA Cert Validator app claims it can show a “population total for that particular grade” when you verify a card (ISA Cert Validator).

Does ISA have a registry?

No registry feature was found on ISA’s official site in the pages used for this write-up (Home).

Does ISA offer subgrades?

No subgrades were found on the published grading-scale page; it describes overall grades only (Grading scale).

What is ISA’s top grade?

ISA’s scale lists GEM-MT 10 as the top grade and describes centering tolerances and condition expectations for that grade (Grading scale).

How much does ISA grading cost?

ISA publishes per-card pricing for 2/5/10 business day tiers and different per-card prices based on quantity, with a 10-card minimum submission notice (Submit).

What is ISA’s turnaround time?

ISA publishes 2/5/10 business-day tiers on its submission page and also states in its submission rules that turnaround time frames are estimates and refer to business days (excluding holidays/closures) (Submit, Submission rules).

Where do I ship my cards?

ISA publishes this shipping address:

ISA Grading 9864 EAST GRAND RIVER STE 110-149 BRIGHTON, MI 48116

(FAQ shipping address, Contact)

Unknown / not found in accessible sources for ownership or major policy-change reporting (see “Controversies scan” limitations) (Blog index).

Community sentiment (Reddit/X/forums)

Directories/reference lists

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/isa-cert-validator/id1663513607