By: Jay Wyant, Chief Information Accessibility Officer, Office of Accessibility

Did you know that there are certifications for digital accessibility? The International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) currently offers two certification exams, the Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) and Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS). Folks who have both certificates are deemed to hold the Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA) certificate.

Accessibility as a profession continues to gain visibility as government agencies and the private sector respond to increasing demands to provide accessible digital services and information. Organizations want to know that their employees and contractors can credibly deliver on accessibility promises and the IAAP certificates have become key contributors to that credibility.

Folks preparing for the CPACC gain broad knowledge about different models of “disability” along with a foundational understanding of digital accessibility and how it applies across the spectrum of information and communication technology. WAS takes a deeper dive into more technical aspects of how to make web technology accessible.

To date, at least two State of Minnesota employees hold the CPWA certificate and several others hold the CPACC certificate. The Office of Accessibility obtained online training licenses for State employees who wish to attain IAAP certification in accessibility. There are currently three CPACC cohorts and one WAS cohort. The goal is to get at least 40 State employees certified as accessibility professionals by the end of Summer 2020.

If you are not a state employee and have questions about the certifications, visit the CPACC Frequently Asked Questions page on the IAAP website, which also lists contact information for the organization.