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Exam Information
Official specifications published by IAAP
Exam Format
Foundation
Registration
Pearson VUE or online proctoring
English, German (Syllabus available)
Validity
3 years
Earn 45 Continuing Accessibility Education Credits (CAECs); Submit application for certification renewal; Pay certification renewal fee (waived for continuous IAAP members)
CPACC Exam Topics and Domains
CPACC is organized into 3 weighted domains. Expect to work with Compliance verification, Screen readers, User research, A/B testing, and more.
1
Disabilities, Challenges, and Assistive Technologies
40%
Theoretical Models of Disability
Medical ModelSocial ModelBiopsychosocial ModelEconomic ModelFunctional Solutions ModelSocial Identity or Cultural Affiliation ModelCharity Model
- Characterize and differentiate between theoretical models of disability
- Identify strengths and weaknesses of underlying assumptions
- Apply model understanding to real-world scenarios
Categories and Characteristics of Disabilities
Visual DisabilitiesAuditory DisabilitiesDeaf-blindnessSpeech DisabilitiesMobility, Flexibility, and Body Structure DisabilitiesCognitive DisabilitiesSeizure DisabilitiesPsychological/Psychiatric DisabilitiesMultiple/Compound Disabilities
- Demonstrate understanding of disability categories and characteristics
- Identify associated barriers in ICT and physical environments
- Recognize diverse needs within disability categories
Assistive Technologies and Adaptive Strategies
Visual Disabilities ATAuditory Disabilities ATMobility ATCognitive AT
- Identify appropriate assistive technologies for different disabilities
- Understand adaptive strategies for permanent, temporary, and episodic disabilities
- Apply AT knowledge to individual accommodation needs
Disability Demographics and Statistics
- WHO statistics
- Global prevalence
- Aging population
- Economic impact
- 1 billion+ people with disabilities
- 15% of global population
- Demographic trends
- Census data
- WHO reports
- National statistics
- Research studies
- Demonstrate understanding of disability data trends
- Apply statistical knowledge to business cases
- Recognize implications of demographic changes
Disability Etiquette
- Person-first language
- Identity-first language
- Respectful interaction
- Autonomy
- Language choices
- Offering assistance
- Direct communication
- Respecting boundaries
- Training programs
- Guidelines
- Cultural sensitivity
- Communication protocols
- Apply disability etiquette in practice
- Demonstrate respectful communication
- Understand cultural variations in disability etiquette
2
Accessibility and Universal Design
40%
Individualized Accommodations vs Universal Design
AccommodationsUniversal Design
- Distinguish between accommodations and universal design
- Identify when each approach is appropriate
- Apply universal design thinking to solutions
Benefits of Accessibility
- Business case
- Legal compliance
- Market reach
- Innovation driver
- SEO benefits
- Economic benefits
- Brand reputation
- Risk mitigation
- Competitive advantage
- ROI calculations
- Market analysis
- Compliance audits
- User research
- Identify and articulate accessibility benefits
- Build business cases for accessibility
- Demonstrate ROI of accessibility initiatives
Web Accessibility Principles (WCAG 2.1)
PerceivableOperableUnderstandableRobust
- Identify and apply WCAG 2.1 principles
- Understand success criteria levels (A, AA, AAA)
- Apply principles to web accessibility evaluation
Built Environment Accessibility
- ADA Standards
- Ramps and slopes
- Door widths
- Signage
- Wayfinding
- Physical barriers
- Navigation systems
- Emergency egress
- Sensory considerations
- Access audits
- Renovation planning
- Compliance verification
- Universal design consulting
- Identify built environment accessibility principles
- Apply standards to physical spaces
- Recognize common architectural barriers
Principles of Universal Design
Seven Principles
- Identify and apply the seven principles of universal design
- Evaluate designs against UD principles
- Create solutions using UD framework
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
UDL FrameworkUsability and UX
- Define the concept of Universal Design for Learning
- Apply UDL principles to educational contexts
- Integrate usability and UX with accessibility
3
Standards, Laws, and Management Strategies
20%
International Declarations and Conventions
Universal Declaration of Human RightsConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)Marrakesh Treaty
- Identify international disability rights instruments
- Understand treaty obligations and implementations
- Apply international standards to local contexts
Regional Instruments
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European UnionAfrican Charter on Human and People's RightsInter-American Convention
- Identify regional disability rights instruments
- Compare regional approaches to disability rights
- Understand enforcement mechanisms
National and Provincial Instruments
The Equality Act 2010 (UK)Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2001 (AODA)
- Identify major national disability laws
- Understand enforcement and compliance requirements
- Apply legal frameworks to organizational contexts
Domain-Specific and Procurement Laws
Domain-Specific LawsProcurement Laws
- Identify domain-specific accessibility laws
- Understand procurement requirements
- Apply standards to vendor relationships
Applying Accessibility Standards to ICT
- WCAG implementation
- Section 508 Refresh
- EN 301 549
- ISO standards
- Technical standards
- Testing methodologies
- Compliance levels
- Documentation requirements
- Compliance testing
- Gap analysis
- Remediation planning
- Policy development
- Apply technical standards to ICT products
- Understand testing and validation processes
- Create compliance documentation
Integrating ICT Accessibility Across the Organization
Resources and FrameworksManagement ChampionsOrganizational Integration
- Integrate accessibility across organizational functions
- Develop accessibility policies and procedures
- Build organizational accessibility capacity
How do I earn this certification?
Passing CPACC earns the CPACC - Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies certification. It sits in the Accessibility Professional track.
Next Level Options
- WAS - Web Accessibility Specialist
- ADS - Accessible Document Specialist
- CPWA - Certified Professional in Web Accessibility
Alternative Paths
- CPABE - Certified Professional in Accessible Built Environments Focus on architectural and physical space accessibility
- CPACC-E - CPACC for Educators Specialized version for educational professionals
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
Use the official PlanetCert Practice Test alongside the study plan below to prepare efficiently for CPACC.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2025-02-01
Updates
- WCAG 2.1 2.1 Core foundation for Domain II content • Release date: 2018-06-05
- WCAG 3.0 Working Draft Future consideration - not yet in exam • Release date: TBD
- EN 301 549 3.2.1 Covered in Domain III - European standards • Release date: 2021-03-01
Who should take this exam?
This exam is typically taken by Project Managers and Product Managers.
- One (1) year of experience in accessibility or a new/changing role with some responsibility for accessibility
- Candidates with less than one year of experience will be asked to describe their background and goals