Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA)

1. Understand the CPWA structure: The CPWA is not a single exam — it requires passing both the CPACC (Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies) and WAS (Web Accessibility Specialist) exams. Decide whether to pursue them sequentially or simultaneously.

1. Assess your prerequisites: Review the IAAP's recommended knowledge base for each exam. The CPACC focuses on conceptual accessibility knowledge; the WAS requires hands-on technical web accessibility skills including WCAG 2.x, ARIA, and assistive technology testing.

1. Study for the CPACC exam first: Most candidates begin with CPACC. Use IAAP's published Body of Knowledge document, supplemented by resources like the W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) tutorials and Deque University courses.

1. Register and pass the CPACC exam: Create an account on the IAAP website, pay the exam fee, and schedule your proctored exam online or at a testing center. The exam is 75 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours.

1. Study for the WAS exam: Dive into technical content — WCAG 2.x success criteria, ARIA authoring practices, browser developer tools, and assistive technology testing (screen readers like NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver). Practice auditing real web pages.

1. Register and pass the WAS exam: Schedule and complete the WAS exam through the same IAAP portal. Like the CPACC, it is 75 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours with a ~68% passing threshold.

1. Receive your CPWA designation: Once both exams are passed, IAAP automatically awards the CPWA credential. You will receive a digital badge (via Credly) and be listed in the IAAP online registry.

1. Maintain your credential: Earn 45 CEUs over the 3-year renewal cycle through conferences, training, publishing, or volunteering. Submit your credits and pay the renewal fee before your credential expires.

The CPWA assesses competency across two distinct exams, each with its own body of knowledge.

CPACC Exam — Accessibility Core Competencies: This exam evaluates conceptual and theoretical knowledge of accessibility across three broad domains. *Disabilities, Challenges, and Assistive Technologies* (approximately 40%) covers types of disabilities (visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, speech, seizure), the barriers people face, and the assistive technologies used to overcome them. *Accessibility and Universal Design* (approximately 40%) covers the principles of universal design, accessibility standards and guidelines (WCAG, ATAG, UAAG), and the legal/policy landscape including ADA, Section 508, EN 301 549, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. *Accessibility Program Management, Strategy, and Innovation* (approximately 20%) covers organizational accessibility strategy, procurement, and program management.

WAS Exam — Web Accessibility Specialist: This exam tests technical implementation skills across four domains. *Create Accessible Web Content* (approximately 40%) covers applying WCAG 2.x success criteria at levels A and AA, semantic HTML, ARIA roles and attributes, keyboard accessibility, focus management, and accessible forms, images, tables, and multimedia. *Identify Accessibility Issues* (approximately 35%) covers manual and automated testing methodologies, use of assistive technologies (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, TalkBack), browser developer tools, and accessibility auditing workflows. *Remediate Accessibility Issues* (approximately 15%) covers prioritizing and fixing identified barriers. *Understand Accessibility Standards and Compliance* (approximately 10%) covers the regulatory environment and how WCAG maps to legal requirements.

Together, the two exams ensure that CPWA holders can both understand the "why" of accessibility and execute the "how" at a technical level — making the combined credential more comprehensive than either standalone certification.

The CPWA occupies a unique position in the digital accessibility credentialing landscape as the only combined credential that requires demonstrated competency in both conceptual accessibility knowledge and technical web implementation. Issued by IAAP — the primary professional membership body for accessibility practitioners globally — it carries the strongest brand recognition in the field. While the total number of CPWA holders remains relatively modest (estimated around 1,000–2,000 globally), this reflects the credential's high bar rather than low demand. The standalone CPACC and WAS credentials each have significantly larger holder populations, and many professionals hold one without the other.

Demand for accessibility credentials has accelerated sharply since the mid-2010s, driven by litigation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the European Accessibility Act (EAA) coming into force in 2025, and growing corporate ESG commitments to digital inclusion. Government agencies — particularly U.S. federal contractors subject to Section 508 — frequently list IAAP credentials as preferred or required qualifications. Large technology companies including Microsoft, Google, and IBM have invested in accessibility teams and recognize IAAP credentials in hiring. The DHS Trusted Tester program is a notable alternative in the federal space, but it is narrower in scope and not internationally recognized.

The broader market for accessibility services is growing rapidly, with some estimates projecting the global web accessibility testing market to reach several billion dollars by the late 2020s. The CPWA is well-positioned to benefit from this trend, though it faces competition from employer-specific training programs and free resources from the W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative. The credential's relevance is strongest in North America and Europe, where legal mandates are most stringent, but IAAP's global membership base means it is increasingly recognized in Asia-Pacific and Latin America as well.

The International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) was founded in 2014 as a nonprofit membership organization to formalize the emerging profession of accessibility. Prior to IAAP's formation, there was no widely recognized credentialing body for accessibility practitioners — professionals came from diverse backgrounds (web development, disability services, policy, UX design) with no common framework for demonstrating expertise. IAAP was established to address this gap by creating a community of practice and a credentialing pathway.

The CPACC credential launched in 2015 as IAAP's first certification, establishing a baseline for accessibility knowledge across disciplines. The Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS) credential followed, targeting professionals with technical web implementation skills. The CPWA was introduced as a combined "master" designation for professionals who had earned both credentials, recognizing that the most effective accessibility practitioners need both conceptual grounding and technical ability. IAAP has continued to evolve its credentialing portfolio, adding the Accessible Document Specialist (ADS) credential and exploring additional specializations. The organization merged with the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict) in its early years to strengthen its international reach and policy connections, and it maintains relationships with standards bodies including the W3C.