A qualified VPAT service provider is a vendor or independent practitioner who can accurately complete a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template and produce a credible Accessibility Conformance Report. Qualification rests on three things: the provider conducts a manual accessibility evaluation against the correct standard, the auditor has documented experience with WCAG success criteria and assistive technology, … Read more
An in-house accessibility audit uses internal staff to evaluate a digital asset against WCAG criteria. An outsourced audit hires an external accessibility company to conduct the evaluation and deliver a report. Most organizations outsource because qualified auditors are rare to staff full-time, and a third-party report carries more weight with procurement teams, legal counsel, and … Read more
A website accessibility audit includes a scoped review of representative pages, a fully manual evaluation against WCAG 2.1 AA or 2.2 AA criteria, and a written report that lists every issue identified with location, description, severity, and recommended fix. The auditor uses keyboard navigation, screen readers, and developer tools to evaluate real user experiences. The … Read more
A portfolio for an accessibility auditor is a curated set of work samples, credentials, and case write-ups that proves you can identify WCAG issues and document them clearly. The strongest portfolios include redacted audit report samples, a written methodology, evidence of training or certification, and short case studies that show before-and-after remediation outcomes. You do … Read more
The IAAP CPACC certification covers three core areas: disabilities and the people who have them, accessibility and universal design, and accessibility-related standards, laws, and management strategies. It is a foundational, cross-disciplinary credential offered by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. The exam tests breadth of knowledge rather than deep technical skill in any single area, … Read more
The DHS Trusted Tester certification is a free credential issued by the Department of Homeland Security that confirms you can apply the Trusted Tester Process to evaluate web content against Section 508 requirements. To earn it, you complete the self-paced training in the DHS Trusted Tester Training Course, pass the certification exam with a qualifying … Read more
The right IAAP certification depends on the work you do. CPACC is the entry credential covering accessibility concepts, disability awareness, standards, and universal design at a broad level. WAS is the technical credential for people who evaluate and remediate web content against WCAG. CPWA combines both and signals senior web accessibility expertise. ADS is the … Read more
Before you hire a VPAT service provider, the methodology behind their work matters more than the price tag on the engagement. A credible provider conducts a fully manual accessibility audit against the WCAG version and level you need, then maps those findings into the ACR. The right questions reveal whether the provider actually evaluates your … Read more
A provider that actually reviews scan output will explain which flagged items are real issues, which are noise, and what a human evaluator would catch that the scan missed. A provider that does not review their own output will hand you a PDF that looks like it came straight from a tool, with no annotations, … Read more
Setting expectations with an accessibility consultant starts with a written scope, a defined standard, a deliverables list, and an agreed timeline. Both sides need clarity on what is being evaluated, which WCAG version applies, what the final report looks like, and how follow-up work is priced. A short kickoff conversation answers most of these questions. … Read more