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Accessibility specialization · 100% online

Digital accessibility course: become a CPWA specialist

A specialization path for QA testers and web developers: accessibility fundamentals, WCAG and ARIA, keyboard and screen reader testing, auditing and remediation. The A4Q Certified Professional Digital Accessibility exam, taken at the end of the course, is included, plus free preparation for the two IAAP exams, CPACC and WAS, which lead to the CPWA credential. Classes are taught in French.

160 h or 399 hevening or full-time, 12 weeks

Evening or daytimevirtual classroom, 100% online

QA or web dev experiencenot for beginners

Your toolbox

axe DevToolsWAVELighthouseNVDAVoiceOverIAAP

What will you be able to do after the digital accessibility course?

From the user to the WCAG criterion, then to the report: skills you will be able to explain, put into practice and defend before a jury. For background on the role, read our article on accessibility testing training.

Frame accessibility

Connect a disability to a user need and an assistive technology, and identify the applicable standard: WCAG, EN 301 549, RGAA, European Accessibility Act.

Implement WCAG and ARIA

Build forms, tables and interactive components that meet WCAG 2.2 AA, using semantic HTML and ARIA only where it helps.

Test like a user

Test with a keyboard and a screen reader (NVDA, VoiceOver) on top of axe, WAVE and Lighthouse, then run a conformance audit.

Report and get certified

Write an actionable audit report, remediate without regressions, add an accessibility check to CI, and sit the IAAP CPACC and WAS exams.

A specialization for testers who are already certified.

It is designed for QA testers, test automation engineers, developers and quality engineers who want to specialize in digital accessibility and earn the CPWA credential. Comfort with browser DevTools and reading front-end code is recommended.

Prerequisite

Professional experience in software testing or web development: the WAS exam assumes real hands-on HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Equipment: a personal computer (Linux, macOS or Windows 10+, 8 GB of RAM), an up-to-date browser, a screen reader you can install (NVDA or VoiceOver) and a stable internet connection.

Two formats, one program.

Evening classes are for individuals, full-time is for companies. Both follow the same progression, the same Capstone and the same preparation for the CPACC and WAS exams; full-time extends it to 399 h.

Evening classes

Individuals

€1,500 incl. VAT · launch price

160 h over 12 weeks

60 two-hour evening sessions

  • Detailed session-by-session program (S01–S60)
  • Two IAAP prep weekends (2 × 16 h) and a Capstone with defense (8 h)
  • To specialize while keeping your job
Book my orientation call

Full-time

Companies

€7,500 incl. VAT

399 h over 12 weeks

During the day

  • Extended program in 6 blocks (B1 to B6)
  • 57 seven-hour days with supervised workshops
  • To train a company’s teams
Contact ADC for your team
Same skills, same certificates and same Capstone
A4Q exam included at the end of the course, with a second attempt if you fail
Prerequisite: experience in software testing or web development

The session-by-session program below is the evening-class format; the full-time architecture (399 h, 6 blocks) is detailed right after it.

What is the digital accessibility course curriculum?

Three modules detailed session by session (S01–S60), three competency gates, a Capstone project and two prep weekends for the IAAP exams. This is the detailed evening-class curriculum; full-time covers it and extends it to 399 h in 6 blocks.

120 hof evening classes (60 two-hour sessions)
+
32 hof IAAP CPACC and WAS exam prep and exams (two weekends)
+
8 hof Capstone and defense

160 hours in total for evening classes (399 h full-time).

Recommended self-study: 4 to 6 h per week (48 to 72 h), on top of the 160 h of evening classes. The IAAP exams are taken outside these hours.

M1Accessibility fundamentals (CPACC foundation)Weeks 1–4 · sessions S01–S2040 h

Understand disabilities and assistive technologies, apply universal design, place standards and laws in context and drive accessibility within an organization. Each session lasts 2 h.

Week 1 — Disabilities, challenges and assistive technologies

  • S01 — Overview of disability: medical, social and biopsychosocial models
  • S02 — Visual, hearing, motor and cognitive disabilities: concrete needs
  • S03 — Assistive technologies: screen readers, magnifiers, alternative input
  • S04 — Hands-on introduction to a screen reader (NVDA / VoiceOver)
  • S05 — User journeys with a disability: role-play scenarios

Week 2 — Accessibility and universal design

  • S06 — Principles of universal design and inclusive design
  • S07 — Accessibility, usability and user experience
  • S08 — Accessibility throughout the design lifecycle
  • S09 — Use case: designing an accessible service from the start
  • S10 — Workshop: assessing how inclusive an existing journey is

Week 3 — Standards, laws and frameworks

  • S11 — WCAG: structure, POUR principles, A/AA/AAA levels
  • S12 — WAI-ARIA, ATAG, UAAG: the standards landscape
  • S13 — Legal framework: European Accessibility Act, EN 301 549, RGAA (France), Section 508, ADA
  • S14 — Obligations and legal risks for organizations
  • S15 — Workshop: identifying the applicable standard for a given project

Week 4 — Accessibility strategy and management

  • S16 — Building accessibility into an organization: maturity and governance
  • S17 — Accessibility policy, roles and responsibilities
  • S18 — Accessible procurement, VPAT, conformance statement
  • S19 — Change management and team awareness
  • S20 — Competency gate P1: graded CPACC case study

Your deliverableAccessibility scoping file for a product: user profiles, applicable standard, obligations, governance plan.

Competency gate P1 (S20, 90 min)CPACC mock exam (70% pass mark) and a graded case study.

ADC certificate“Accessibility fundamentals”.

M2WCAG, ARIA and technical implementation (WAS foundation)Weeks 5–8 · sessions S21–S4040 h

Apply the WCAG criteria one by one, structure pages with semantic HTML, use ARIA wisely and make forms, tables and media accessible. Each session lasts 2 h.

Week 5 — WCAG in depth: Perceivable

  • S21 — Text alternatives, images, non-text content
  • S22 — Time-based media: captions, transcripts, audio description
  • S23 — Adaptable: semantic structure, reading order
  • S24 — Distinguishable: color contrast, resizing, spacing
  • S25 — Workshop: fixing the Perceivable criteria on a page

Week 6 — WCAG: Operable and Understandable

  • S26 — Keyboard accessibility, focus order, no keyboard trap
  • S27 — Timing, motion, flashing content, touch targets
  • S28 — Navigation: headings, landmarks, descriptive links
  • S29 — Readability, predictability, input assistance
  • S30 — Workshop: a full keyboard walkthrough of an application

Week 7 — Semantic HTML and WAI-ARIA

  • S31 — Semantic HTML: the first rule of ARIA is not to use ARIA
  • S32 — ARIA roles, states and properties
  • S33 — ARIA design patterns: menus, tabs, dialogs
  • S34 — ARIA live regions: dynamic content and announcements
  • S35 — Workshop: making a custom interactive component accessible

Week 8 — Forms, tables and multimedia

  • S36 — Accessible forms: labels, groups, error messages
  • S37 — Accessible data tables, headers and associations
  • S38 — Accessible multimedia and synchronized media
  • S39 — Mobile and responsive accessibility
  • S40 — Competency gate P2: building an accessible component in class

Your deliverableAccessible web components (form, interactive widget, table) that meet WCAG 2.2 AA, tested with a keyboard and a screen reader.

Competency gate P2 (S40, 90 min)Make an unfamiliar component accessible, in class, tested with a keyboard and a screen reader.

ADC certificate“WCAG, ARIA and technical implementation”.

M3Testing, evaluation and remediation (WAS foundation)Weeks 9–12 · sessions S41–S6040 h

Combine automated and manual testing, run a WCAG-EM conformance audit, remediate, add a CI check and write the report, then complete the Capstone. Each session lasts 2 h.

Week 9 — Testing methods

  • S41 — Automated testing: axe, WAVE, Lighthouse, pa11y, scope and limits
  • S42 — Manual testing: what automation cannot detect
  • S43 — Keyboard testing: a complete methodology
  • S44 — Screen reader testing: NVDA and VoiceOver in depth
  • S45 — Workshop: a mixed testing campaign on an application

Week 10 — Evaluation and conformance

  • S46 — WCAG conformance evaluation methodology (WCAG-EM)
  • S47 — Page sampling and audit scope
  • S48 — Mapping an issue to its WCAG success criterion
  • S49 — ACT rules: reproducible accessibility tests
  • S50 — Workshop: conformance audit of a defined scope

Week 11 — Remediation and integration

  • S51 — Remediation strategies: fixing without breaking
  • S52 — Prioritizing issues by user impact and severity
  • S53 — Automated accessibility tests in a CI/CD pipeline (axe-core)
  • S54 — Audit report: clarity, evidence, actionable recommendations
  • S55 — Workshop: writing the accessibility audit report

Week 12 — Capstone

  • S56 — Audit scoping: scope, standard, method
  • S57 — Automated and manual testing of the Capstone application
  • S58 — Keyboard and screen reader testing, issue log
  • S59 — Remediating a sample and adding a check to CI
  • S60 — Competency gate P3: audit report review · Defense rehearsal

Your deliverableA complete accessibility audit of the Capstone application: issues mapped to WCAG criteria, evidence, a remediated sample, a CI check and a report.

Competency gate P3 (S60, 90 min)Review of the accessibility audit report against the published rubric.

ADC certificate“Testing, evaluation and remediation”.

WEWeekend 1: IAAP CPACC exam prep and examAfter week 4 · 2 eight-hour days16 h

Two days of intensive preparation for the official exam: structured review of the exam domains, exercises, mock exams with detailed feedback, strategy and time management.

DayContentDuration
D1Domain 1 — Disabilities, challenges and assistive technologies (40%)3 h 30
D1Domain 2 — Accessibility and universal design (40%)3 h 30
D1Domain 3 — Standards, laws and management strategies (20%)1 h
D2Cross-domain review and terminology2 h
D2Mock exam 1 (100 questions, 120 min) with detailed feedback3 h
D2Mock exam 2 and time management3 h

Exam eligibilityA score of at least 85% on the final mock exam.

Official IAAP CPACC exam100 multiple-choice questions, 120 minutes. No prerequisite. Taken online with remote proctoring or at a test center.

WEWeekend 2: IAAP WAS exam prep and examAfter week 12 · 2 eight-hour days16 h

Two days of intensive preparation for the official exam: structured review of the exam domains, exercises, mock exams with detailed feedback, strategy and time management.

DayContentDuration
D1Domain 1 — Creating accessible web content (40%)4 h
D1Domain 2 — Testing and evaluation (30%)3 h
D2Domain 3 — Remediation and best practices (30%)3 h
D2Mock exam 1 (75 questions, 90 min) with detailed feedback2 h 30
D2Mock exam 2 and time management3 h 30

Exam eligibilityA score of at least 85% on the final mock exam.

Official IAAP WAS exam75 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes. Technical knowledge of HTML, CSS and JavaScript required. Taken online with remote proctoring or at a test center. Together with the CPACC, it earns you the CPWA credential, awarded automatically by IAAP: it is not a third exam.

CAPCapstone project and defenseWeek 12 · defense in front of a panel8 h

You receive a realistic web application and deliver a complete accessibility approach: scoping and applicable standard, automated and manual testing campaign, keyboard and screen reader testing, issues mapped to WCAG criteria, a remediated sample, a CI check and an audit report. The defense, before a three-member jury that includes an external accessibility professional, focuses on justifying your choices: why this issue is a priority, how it affects a real user, which remediation and why.

  • Assessment rule: a rigorous evaluation you understand and can defend, confirmed with assistive technology, outweighs an unverified automated report.

Your deliverableExit portfolio: the complete Capstone accessibility audit (issue log, remediated sample, CI check and report) in a personal repository.

ADC Professional Certificate “Digital Accessibility Specialist” (CP-A11Y)Awarded after a successful defense (score ≥ 60/100, no block at 0).

399Full-time format (companies): a 6-block architecture12 weeks · 57 seven-hour days, in a virtual classroom399 h

Full-time follows the same structure as our 399-hour QA Automation & AI Tester path: 357 h of virtual-classroom training, 14 h of one-on-one support and assessments, and 28 h of preparation for the two IAAP exams. Sessions S01 to S60 above are covered in more depth, with supervised workshops every afternoon.

BlockTitle and contentHoursWeeks
B1Disabilities, assistive technologies and universal design
S01–S10 in more depth, screen reader role-play, assessing how inclusive a journey is
49 h1 – 2
B2Standards, laws and accessibility governance
S11–S20: WCAG, EN 301 549, RGAA, European Accessibility Act, ADA, accessibility policy, VPAT
49 h2 – 3
B3WCAG in practice: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable
S21–S30 plus criterion-by-criterion fixing workshops and a full keyboard walkthrough
70 h4 – 5
B4Semantic HTML, WAI-ARIA, forms and components
S31–S40: ARIA patterns, live regions, forms, tables, multimedia, mobile
70 h6 – 7
B5Testing, conformance auditing and remediation
S41–S55: axe, WAVE, NVDA, VoiceOver, WCAG-EM, ACT rules, axe-core in CI, audit report
77 h8 – 10
B6Capstone project and defense
A complete accessibility audit of a web application, remediation, CI check, defense before a jury
42 h11 – 12
—One-on-one support and assessments (spread out)14 h1 – 12
—Preparation for and sitting of the IAAP CPACC (week 3) and WAS (week 12) exams28 h3 and 12
Total399 h12

A seven-hour day

  • 9:00 – 10:30 am — Concepts and demonstration
  • 10:45 am – 12:30 pm — Guided workshop
  • 1:30 – 3:30 pm — Independent workshop with keyboard and screen reader
  • 3:45 – 5:00 pm — Review, correction, wrap-up

Each block ends with a competency gate; same ADC certificates, same Capstone and same IAAP CPACC and WAS exams as the evening classes.

Each module ends with a competency gate (P1 to P3). If you fail, remediation is prescribed before the next module.

How is the course run, and within what framework?

Plenty of practice with real assistive technologies, and assessments at every stage.

  1. 01

    A two-hour session

    20 min of focused teaching, 20 min of guided demonstration, 60 min of hands-on workshop, 20 min of review, correction and wrap-up.

  2. 02

    Test like the user

    Accessibility is proven with a keyboard and a screen reader, not just by eye. The path follows the CPWA logic: first the “why” (CPACC), then the technical “how” (WAS). Hands-on work is done on training applications provided by ADC.

  3. 03

    Support at every step

    A placement interview and a check of your QA or web dev experience before you start, competency gates at the end of each module, the Capstone defense, then a one-on-one review (feedback and portfolio showcase: résumé, LinkedIn profile).

axe DevTools, WAVE, Lighthouse, pa11y, NVDA, VoiceOver
Demo of paid audit suites

Which certifications do you earn in the digital accessibility course?

ADC certificates at each competency gate, a path certificate after the defense, and preparation for the two international IAAP certifications, CPACC and WAS.

ADC program

ADC certificate
CP-A11Y

ADC Professional Certificate “Digital Accessibility Specialist”, awarded after the three competency gates and a defense before a three-member jury that includes an external accessibility professional (score ≥ 60/100, no block at 0).

A private certificate from a training organization: not a degree, not an RNCP-registered title, not the IAAP CPACC or WAS certifications, and not the CPWA credential.

Requirements

Prerequisite: experience in software testing or web development, checked at entry. Attendance: at least 80% of sessions. All three competency gates passed. Capstone: a complete accessibility audit of the application provided by ADC, personal and traceable work. Defense: overall score ≥ 60/100, no block at 0. Integrity: issues confirmed by real testing (keyboard, screen reader), no finding from an automated tool alone. The defense can be retaken once within 30 days.

ADC3 module certificates

One certificate per gate

Accessibility fundamentals (gate P1, S20); WCAG, ARIA and technical implementation (gate P2, S40); Testing, evaluation and remediation (gate P3, S60).

Verifiable online by number and QR code, in Open Badges format, shareable on LinkedIn.

IAAPFree preparation

CPACC + WAS
CPWA credential

Two proctored international certifications, prepared during two intensive 16-hour weekends. Passing both earns you the CPWA credential, awarded by IAAP. Preparation is free; exam fees are not included (book them with IAAP). The A4Q Certified Professional Digital Accessibility exam, taken at the end of the course, is included, with a second attempt if you fail.

Exam eligibility

At least 85% on the final mock exam of each weekend. Official exams: CPACC, 100 questions in 120 minutes; WAS, 75 questions in 90 minutes; online with remote proctoring or at a test center.

Competency framework, assessment and verification

REFCP-A11Y competency framework4 blocks, A1 to A4

Each competency is written as an action verb, linked to a module, an observable indicator and evidence produced by the candidate.

Block A1 — Frame accessibility (CPACC foundation) · module M1, gate P1

  • A1.1 Connect a disability to a need and an assistive technology
  • A1.2 Apply the principles of universal design
  • A1.3 Identify the applicable standard and obligations
  • A1.4 Place accessibility within governance

Block A2 — Implement accessibility (WAS foundation) · module M2, gate P2

  • A2.1 Structure content with semantic HTML
  • A2.2 Use ARIA wisely
  • A2.3 Make forms and tables accessible
  • A2.4 Achieve WCAG 2.2 AA conformance

Block A3 — Test and evaluate (WAS foundation) · module M3, gate P3

  • A3.1 Combine automated and manual testing
  • A3.2 Test with a keyboard and a screen reader
  • A3.3 Run a conformance audit
  • A3.4 Add a check to CI/CD

Block A4 — Remediate, report and communicate · module M3, defense

  • A4.1 Prioritize by user impact
  • A4.2 Propose actionable remediation
  • A4.3 Write a clear audit report
  • A4.4 Justify choices and acknowledge limits
ASSESSAssessment methods and honorsCompetency gates and defense

Competency gates

GateModuleMethodPass mark
P1M1CPACC mock exam + case study70 %
P2M2Building an accessible component, in classComponent conformant and tested
P3M3Accessibility audit report reviewMeets the rubric
  • Each gate can be retaken once after remediation, before the next module starts.

Defense

  • Length: 45 minutes, i.e. 15 min of presentation, 20 min of questions and 10 min of deliberation.
  • Jury: the lead trainer, an accessibility professional external to ADC and a peer from the cohort (advisory vote). The external professional chairs the jury and signs the minutes.
  • Format: a live demo of keyboard and screen reader testing, the issue log and the report.
  • Scored out of 100 using the rubric below; final score = average of the trainer’s and the external member’s scores.
  • A block scored 0 is eliminatory. An issue not confirmed by real testing (keyboard or screen reader) results in a deferral.

Honors

ScoreHonor
60 – 74Pass
75 – 89Merit
90 – 100Distinction
/100Defense rubric out of 100Each criterion is scored from 0 to 4, then weighted

Levels: 0 missing or wrong; 1 present but superficial; 2 correct, partly justified; 3 correct, justified, consistent with the approach; 4 mastered, anticipates limits and proposes better.

BlockCriterionMax points
A1 — Fundamentals (15)Disabilities, needs and assistive technologies8
A1 — Fundamentals (15)Applicable standard and governance7
A2 — Implementation (30)Semantic HTML and use of ARIA12
A2 — Implementation (30)Forms, tables, interactive components10
A2 — Implementation (30)Verified WCAG 2.2 AA conformance8
A3 — Testing and auditing (30)Keyboard and screen reader testing12
A3 — Testing and auditing (30)Auditing, sampling and mapping to WCAG criteria10
A3 — Testing and auditing (30)Adding a check to CI8
A4 — Remediation and defense (25)Impact-based prioritization and remediation10
A4 — Remediation and defense (25)Report quality and justification of choices15
Total100
No.Certificate verification and validityUnique number, QR code, Open Badges
  • Each certificate carries a unique number (CP-A11Y-YYYY-NNNN), the framework version, the honors level, the date and the jury chair’s signature.
  • It can be verified online by number and QR code, and is issued in Open Badges format, which you can add to your LinkedIn profile.
  • Holders appear in a public register, with their consent.
  • The certificate does not expire; it states the framework version, which dates the skills it attests.

How much does the digital accessibility course cost: evening classes or full-time?

The A4Q Certified Professional Digital Accessibility exam, taken at the end of the course, is included in both formats, with a second attempt if you fail; preparation for the IAAP CPACC and WAS exams is free, exam fees not included. The prerequisite is the same: experience in software testing or web development.

Individuals

Evening classes, to specialize while keeping your job.

€1,500 incl. VAT

Launch price.

  • Evening classes: 160 h over 12 weeks
  • 60 two-hour sessions in a virtual classroom, 100% online
  • Two IAAP CPACC and WAS prep weekends (2 × 16 h)
  • Capstone and defense (8 h)
  • A4Q exam included at the end of the course, with a second attempt if you fail
Book my orientation call

Free 30-minute orientation call.

Companies

Full-time, to train your teams.

€7,500 incl. VAT

Funded by the company.

  • Full-time: 399 h over 12 weeks, during the day, for company teams
  • A4Q exam included at the end of the course, with a second attempt if you fail
  • Program extended to 399 h in 6 blocks, with supervised daytime workshops
  • Prerequisite: experience in software testing or web development
  • Terms provided on request
Contact ADC for your team

How do you get started? 2 steps

  1. Free orientation call
    30 minutes to check your QA or web development experience, walk you through the content and logistics, and tell you honestly whether this path fits your plans. Book it on Calendly, or contact us.
  2. Placement interview
    Before you start, we check your QA or web development experience and tailor your path.

Available with self-funding (individuals) or employer funding. A4Q exam included at the end of the course, with a second attempt if you fail; IAAP CPACC and WAS exam fees not included.

Frequently asked questions about the digital accessibility course

An advisor can also help you take stock of your plans.

Let’s talk about your plans
What is the prerequisite for the course?

Professional experience in software testing or web development (QA, dev or equivalent) is required. The CPACC has no prerequisite, but the WAS assumes real hands-on web coding (HTML, CSS, JavaScript): the path is built for technical profiles, not for beginners. The prerequisite is checked during a placement interview before you start.

How much time should I plan for each week?

In the evening format, about 10 h of classes per week (60 two-hour sessions over 12 weeks), plus 4 to 6 h of self-study per week (workshops, review, Capstone), on top of the 160 h of the evening format.

Do I need to know how to code?

Yes, at least enough to read and edit HTML, CSS and JavaScript. The WAS exam covers creating, testing and remediating web code; if you are comfortable with browser DevTools, you will follow modules M2 and M3 without difficulty.

Which tools do we use?

axe DevTools, WAVE, Lighthouse and pa11y (free), the NVDA (Windows) and VoiceOver (macOS) screen readers, and axe-core for the CI check. A demo of paid audit suites shows what the market offers. You need a personal computer (Linux, macOS or Windows 10+, 8 GB of RAM) with a screen reader you can install, an up-to-date browser and a stable internet connection.

What is the difference between the ADC CP-A11Y certificate and the IAAP CPWA credential?

The ADC Professional Certificate is a private certificate from a training organization: not a degree, not an RNCP-registered title, not the IAAP CPACC or WAS certifications, and not the CPWA credential. It is awarded by AutomationDataCamp after the three competency gates and the defense. The CPACC and WAS certifications are awarded by IAAP after you pass its official exams, which the course prepares you for free of charge; the exam fees are not included. Holding both earns you the CPWA credential. The A4Q Certified Professional Digital Accessibility exam, taken at the end of the course, is included, with a second attempt if you fail.

What are the IAAP CPACC and WAS exams like?

The CPACC has 100 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes, the WAS 75 questions in 90 minutes. Both are taken online with remote proctoring or at a test center. To sit each exam, you need a score of at least 85% on the final mock exam of the matching weekend.

What happens if I do not pass a gate or the defense?

If you fail a competency gate, remediation is prescribed before the next module, and the gate can be retaken once. A candidate who fails the defense can retake it once within 30 days. A candidate who has not passed every gate is not admitted to the defense.

What is the difference between the two formats and the two prices?

Two formats, one progression. The evening format (160 h over 12 weeks) is offered to individuals at €1,500 incl. VAT, launch price. The full-time format (399 h over 12 weeks, during the day) is offered to companies at €7,500 incl. VAT. It follows the same progression, extended into 6 blocks (357 h of training, 14 h of support, 28 h of IAAP preparation), with the same Capstone and the same certificates. The A4Q Certified Professional Digital Accessibility exam, taken at the end of the course, is included in both, with a second attempt if you fail; preparation for the IAAP CPACC and WAS exams is free, without the exam fees. The prerequisite is the same.

Free orientation call · 30 minutes

Start with a free orientation call.

30 minutes to check your QA or web development experience, walk you through the content and logistics, and tell you honestly whether this path fits your plans.

Book my call

Or write to us from the contact page.

€1,500Evening classes · 160 h
Free call