Accessibility Certification and Accreditation
Demonstrate accessibility competence with AbilityNet. This page explains how you can demonstrate accessibility competence in two ways:
- Accreditation for organisations and their websites and mobile apps -
achieve accreditation for your organisation’s websites and mobile apps to showcase your commitment to accessibility. This not only reassures your customers but also gives you a competitive edge in the industry. - Professional Certification for individuals - professional certification from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) recognises your personal accessibility expertise and is a powerful way to demonstrate your skills and commitment to inclusivity, whatever your role.
AbilityNet can support you in achieving both of these goals.
How to get your website accredited for accessibility
Accessibility accreditation shows customers that you comply with and are committed to digital accessibility. AbilityNet accredited websites and apps are tested by a representative sample of disabled users who can provide an authentic account of the issues that they encounter. As part of the accreditation process, expert accessibility testing and auditing are also used to ensure that good accessibility practices have been followed.
As a result of testing and auditing, you can receive one of two accessibility accreditations:
User Accredited, earn recognition for providing ‘real life accessibility’ by addressing medium and high issues on your website or digital service. - Accredited Plus, achieve our flagship accreditation by ensuring your website or digital service is both ‘real life accessible’ and fully compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Your accessibility certification is valid for a whole year from the date of issue. To ensure your exemplary accessibility compliance is maintained, we recommend a repeat test and audit after 12 months.
Why choose AbilityNet accreditation?
Based in the UK, AbilityNet is a global leader in web and digital accessibility with a large team of expert consultants. Our accreditation is highly valued, adding significant credibility to your accessibility efforts.
Key Benefits
Choosing AbilityNet accreditation showcases your commitment to accessibility, compliance, and user-centric design, boosting trust and confidence in your digital services.
- Commitment to accessibility: demonstrates your dedication to making digital content accessible to everyone, including disabled people.
- Compliance with standards: ensures your digital services meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) through rigorous testing and auditing.
- User-centric testing: involves real-world testing by disabled users to ensure genuine accessibility and user-friendliness.
How to get personal accessibility certification
Accessibility certifications that can be held by an individual which can validate a person’s expertise in creating and maintaining accessible digital content.
Looking to enhance your accessibility expertise? Consider these top certifications from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP):
- Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC)
- Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS)
AbilityNet is proud to be a founding member of the IAAP, a global body with over 6,000 members. AbilityNet leads the UK Chapter. Discover more about IAAP and our role as the UK Chapter.
Ready to advance your accessibility skills? Find out more about the IAAP.
Learn more about IAAP membership
How to maintain accessibility certification
Accessibility training is crucial for maintaining these certifications. Training typically covers:
- Understanding disabilities
- Accessibility standards and laws
- Practical implementation
- Testing and evaluation
We offer specialised training courses, eLearning modules and team training on accessibility and disability inclusion, designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to create inclusive digital products and services.
With our accessibility training you can earn a certification of attendance upon completion, validating and maintaining your expertise in accessibility.
Clients we've helped
We are a UK charity that has been a global leader in web and digital accessibility for over 25 years. Read the case studies below to learn how we help our clients achieve their accessibility goals.
Auditing and accrediting Blind Veterans UK's website
After expert user testing and auditing, the Blind Veterans UK site received our accreditation and praise from the BBC
Accrediting Barclays' Personal Mobile Banking App
The Barclays' App received our accreditation after being redesigned, with accessibility considered at every stage of the project
Frequently asked questions about accessibility certification and accreditation
We have answered some of the commonly asked questions we receive about accessibility certification and accreditation below (please click to expand).
Accessibility accreditation refers to the process of verifying that a product, service, or environment meets established accessibility standards, ensuring it is usable by disabled people and those with specific access needs.
These accreditations are often awarded by recognised organisations and can cover various domains, including web content, built environments and digital documents. AbilityNet’s accessibility accreditation applies to your websites, apps and digital products.
Our accreditation involves direct feedback from disabled users, providing a more comprehensive assessment of accessibility in practice. We offer two levels of accreditation, allowing for recognition of varying degrees of accessibility achievement.
WCAG stands for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which are a set of international standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to make web content more accessible to disabled people.
Being WCAG accredited means that a website or digital content conforms to these standards, ensuring it is accessible to a wide range of users, including those with visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological disabilities.
AbilityNet’s accessibility accreditation recognises a website or digital service as both 'real life accessible' and compliant with the required standard of WCAG. Find out more about WCAG on our website or the World Wide Web Consortium website.
Becoming a certified accessibility professional offers several significant benefits:
- Professional credibility: Certification from recognised bodies like the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) establishes your credibility and commitment to the field. It shows that you have a comprehensive understanding of accessibility standards and best practices.
- Improved skills and knowledge: The certification process involves rigorous training and testing, which helps you deepen your knowledge and improve your skills in accessibility. This can enhance your ability to create inclusive and accessible environments.
- Legal and compliance benefits: Understanding and implementing accessibility standards can help organisations comply with legal requirements, reducing the risk of lawsuits and penalties. As a certified professional, you can guide your organisation in meeting these standards.
Overall, becoming a certified accessibility professional not only enhances your career but also allows you to make a meaningful difference in society.
The internationally recognised standard for accessibility is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), though there are also applicable laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design, and the Section 508 Standards in the United States.
Accreditation not only validates adherence to these standards and laws but also showcases a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, enhancing the user experience for everyone.
AbilityNet’s Accredited Plus website accessibility certification recognises a website or digital service as both 'real life accessible' and compliant with the WCAG standard.
As websites frequently change both incrementally and significantly, accessibility accreditations have an expiration date. Organisations may need periodic re-evaluations to ensure continued compliance with accessibility standards.
AbilityNet accreditation certificates are valid for 12 months from the issue date.
Find out more
If you would like to find out more about our full range of services please consider downloading our Digital Accessibility Services brochure, or alternatively you can get in contact with us.
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