The Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) is the foundational accessibility certification offered by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) — a global nonprofit founded in 2014 dedicated to advancing the accessibility profession. CPACC is the most widely recognized entry-level accessibility credential worldwide, validating broad understanding of disability types, assistive technologies, accessibility standards, and universal design principles. It is designed for professionals across all disciplines — designers, developers, project managers, content creators, legal/compliance professionals, and anyone who touches digital or physical products. CPACC is a prerequisite for the advanced WAS (Web Accessibility Specialist) certification and the combined CPWA (Certified Professional in Web Accessibility) credential.

Exam Details

Exam format: 100 multiple-choice questions
Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes)
Passing score: 65% (65 out of 100)
Delivery: Online proctored via Pearson VUE — available worldwide
Prerequisites: None — open to all professionals regardless of background
Validity: 3 years — renewed through Continuing Accessibility Education Credits (CAECs) or retaking the exam
Cost: $375 for IAAP members / $475 for non-members
Languages: English, with select translations available
Retake policy: 30-day waiting period between attempts

Exam Content Domains

Domain I — Disabilities, Challenges, and Assistive Technologies (40%): Types of disabilities (visual, auditory, motor/physical, cognitive, neurological, speech), demographics and statistics, disability etiquette, assistive technologies (screen readers, magnifiers, alternative input devices, switch access, voice recognition), and how people with disabilities interact with digital and physical environments
Domain II — Accessibility and Universal Design (40%): Universal design principles, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1/2.2), accessibility standards (Section 508, EN 301 549, ADA), inclusive design methodologies, document accessibility, mobile accessibility, and the business case for accessibility
Domain III — Standards, Laws, and Management Strategies (20%): International accessibility laws and regulations (ADA, Section 508, AODA, European Accessibility Act, Equality Act 2010), organizational accessibility maturity models, procurement standards, and strategies for implementing accessibility programs

What Makes CPACC Unique

Cross-disciplinary: Unlike technical certifications like WAS, CPACC covers the broad landscape of accessibility — making it valuable for designers, PMs, marketers, legal, HR, and executives, not just developers
Human-centered: Heavy emphasis on understanding disability types, lived experiences, and assistive technology usage — not just compliance checklists
Vendor-neutral: Not tied to any specific platform, tool, or technology — the knowledge applies universally across web, mobile, physical, and document accessibility
Global recognition: IAAP has members in 80+ countries and CPACC is recognized internationally as the foundational accessibility credential

Preparation Resources

IAAP CPACC Body of Knowledge (BoK): Free PDF available at accessibilityassociation.org — the definitive study guide outlining all exam topics. This is the single most important resource
Deque University CPACC Preparation Course: Comprehensive online self-paced course ($300-$500) covering all exam domains with practice questions. Widely considered the best preparation course available
W3C Introduction to Web Accessibility (edX): Free online course from the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) — excellent foundation covering WCAG, ARIA, and accessibility principles
"A Web for Everyone" by Sarah Horton and Whitney Quesenbery: Excellent book on universal design for the web (~$30) — covers user personas with disabilities and practical design approaches
WebAIM (webaim.org): Free articles, tutorials, and resources on web accessibility — WebAIM is one of the most trusted accessibility resources worldwide
Accessibility practice sites: WebAIM WAVE tool, axe DevTools, and Accessibility Insights — free tools to practice evaluating accessibility
Study time: 40-80 hours over 4-8 weeks depending on prior accessibility knowledge

Cost Breakdown

IAAP membership: $175/year (individual) — includes exam discount and resources
Exam fee: $375 (member) / $475 (non-member)
Deque preparation course: $300-$500 (optional but highly recommended)
Study materials (books): $30-$60
Total cost (self-study, member): $550-$610
Total cost (with Deque course): $850-$1,150
Renewal: 45 CAECs every 3 years + $175 renewal fee (member) / $275 (non-member)

Salary Impact

UX/UI Designer (no accessibility certification): $75,000-$100,000
CPACC-certified professional: $85,000-$115,000
Accessibility Specialist/Analyst: $90,000-$125,000
Senior Accessibility Consultant: $120,000-$160,000
Accessibility Program Manager/Director: $140,000-$190,000
Chief Accessibility Officer: $170,000-$250,000
Accessibility Consultant (independent): $125-$250/hour
Salary premium: Accessibility-certified professionals earn 15-30% more than non-certified peers, with demand growing rapidly due to increasing legal requirements and corporate DEI initiatives

Why CPACC Matters

Legal compliance is accelerating: The European Accessibility Act (June 2025), strengthened ADA enforcement for digital properties, and expanding state/provincial laws mean every organization needs accessibility expertise
1 billion+ people worldwide have disabilities: The WHO estimates 16% of the global population — accessibility is not a niche concern, it is fundamental to reaching your full audience
Massive talent gap: Demand for accessibility professionals far exceeds supply — IAAP estimates a global shortage of 100,000+ qualified accessibility professionals
Career differentiator: In UX, design, development, content, marketing, and PM roles, accessibility certification sets you apart in a competitive job market
Foundation for advanced certs: CPACC → WAS (Web Accessibility Specialist) → CPWA (Certified Professional in Web Accessibility). The CPACC is the required first step on the IAAP certification path
SEO benefits: Accessible websites perform better in search rankings — Google rewards semantic HTML, proper heading structure, alt text, and other accessibility best practices
Growing field: Accessibility roles have grown 78% on LinkedIn over the past 5 years, and dedicated Chief Accessibility Officer positions are becoming standard at major corporations

Cpacc — certified professional in accessibility core competencies (iaap)

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