Accessible Document Specialist (ADS)
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About The ADS
The IAAP Accessible Document Specialist (ADS) credential is intended for accessibility professionals who have the ability to create accessible electronic documents.
When to apply
- You have 1-2 years' experience in accessible document authoring, remediation, training, policy, and advocacy of accessible document solutions.
- Please ensure that you have experience in most of the ADS Content Outline domains before applying.
- Planning Your Exam – You have reviewed all of this information for your application:
- Exam Dates
- Discounts and Payment Options
- Exam Locations and Options
- Accommodations and Accessibility
- Rescheduling, Cancellation, and Exam Session Transfer Requests
Value
- This certification demonstrates a person has:
- Hands-on experience with creating and evaluating accessible electronic documents (i.e., word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, or desktop publishing programs)
- Hands-on experience remediating inaccessible electronic documents
- Knowledge about the published technical guidelines and best practices.
- Awareness of how to properly guide and consult others for process, workflow, and policy development for accessible documents.
Experience requirements
- This technical-level credential is not intended for beginners or those without regular hands-on experience in authoring or remediating accessible documents across formats.
- Candidates will be asked to provide a resume that clearly illustrates and documents their roles or responsibilities with first-person, ongoing, regular work in document accessibility.
- Knowledge of automated document remediation tools and accessibility checkers alone will not provide the background necessary to successfully achieve the ADS credential.
- Hands-on experience and knowledge of structural elements for accessible documents, PDF/UA, The Matterhorn Protocol, and WCAG 2.1 standards, and contextual implications for end users of electronic documents are all required.
Certification maintenance requirements
- 35 Continuing Accessibility Education Credits
- All directly related to topics in the ADS Content Outline
- To be completed every three years to maintain certification
Exam info
- 75 questions
- Multiple choice
- Two-hours (additional time may be requested as an accommodation)
- Computer-based
- Closed Book
Other certification recommendations
- Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies
- The CPACC Certification supports a career pathway that integrates accessibility into your existing roles that may be a compliment to your work in document accessibility.
Exam Fees
All IAAP certification exam prices are in US Dollars.
- Member: $455.
- Non-Member: $555.
- Candidates from Emerging and Developing Economy countries (E&DE): $225.
Exam retake fees (USD):
- Members: $270.
- Non-Members: $330.
- EDE county candidates: $110.
Check that your country is on the list of Emerging and Developing Countries.
All exam payments are non-refundable.
IAAP Certification Program Steps
Prepare for the ADS Exam
Steps to Prepare
- Read and review the Content Outline.
- ADS Content Outline - The ADS Credential Content Outline provides a summary of the broad areas of content structure that are measured as well as an overview of how the exam sections are weighted and scored.
- Review the Body of Knowledge and learning objectives as they relate to the Content Outline.
- ADS Body of Knowledge, opens as a PDF in a new tab - The IAAP ADS BOK is the set of concepts, terms and activities that make up the ADS professional domain, as defined by the IAAP. The ADS BOK content supports the exam preparation before participants apply to take the exam.
- Understand that technical certifications are not tied to a course or training program but are designed to illustrate your working and functional knowledge of the content and concepts.
- Identify topics and areas where you have strong knowledge and confidence.
- Identify topics and areas where you will spend time reading, researching, and studying.
- Plan to spend 5-10 hours a week for 6-8 weeks to prepare for your exam.
- Map out the topics and how you will study.
- Choose your preparation resources.
- Launch your study plan.
Resources to prepare
- Please note that the purchase and/or use of any exam preparation course or product does not guarantee successful completion of the exam.
- Many of these materials are not created or maintained by IAAP and may have varying levels of accessibility.
IAAP Approved Global Certification Preparation Providers
- Funka Foundation’s Accessible Document Specialist (ADS) Certification Training course, opens a new tab provides an organised knowledge overview on document accessibility. It is focused on the ability to create accessible documents and conduct document assessments and remediation. It also covers mainstreaming document acccessibility in organisations. The course is offered in Swedish and English.
- Funka International’s preparatory course for ADS, opens in a new tab consists of three modules: a foundation of recorded self-paced content that is available on-demand whenever it suits you, followed by live sessions delivered online by Funka's experts at regular intervals throughout the year.
Other online materials
- W3C Writing for Web Accessibility.
- W3C Writing for Web Accessibility, opens in a new tab
Exam Application
- You should submit your application after you know you can comfortably explain both the technical implications and the people-based impact of the learning objectives for the credential.
- You should understand the terms of agreement in an IAAP Exam Application before submitting your application.
- IAAP Certification Applications must be completed by the candidate. Organizations cannot fill out certification applications on behalf of candidates.
- IAAP Certification Applications are applications to qualify to participate in IAAP Certifications. Applications are not registrations and exams are not items for purchase.
- If a candidates certification application is approved, further instructions will be sent regarding scheduling and payment for the certification exam.
Current Applications
Use the Certification Portal (opens in a new tab) to log in to your account or create an account to apply. The application link will take you to the Certification Portal, which will take you away from this IAAP website.
When application links are available above, the following information will help you begin your application process.
- Confirm you meet the Professional Certification requirements
- Open the Certification Portal
- Log in if you hold a current certification or create a new account
- Navigate to Apply for a Certification
- Select the Professional Certification you would like to apply for
- Complete the application
- Wait up to 5 business days to hear from the Certification team
PLEASE NOTE: If you hold a current certification and have not gained access to the Certification Portal, please contact the certification team before creating a second account. Contact Us.
Maintaining ADS Certification
Obtaining an IAAP credential is a significant achievement. As technology, standards and practices change, it is important for all professionals to keep up with those changes. IAAP recognizes this and therefore requires each certificant to maintain their credentials through continuing education.
The ADS Certification is valid for three years and can be renewed by earning 35 Continuing Accessibility Education Credits (CAECs). Any ADS CAEC submissions must be directly related to the ADS Content Outline.
The IAAP will offer CAECs for classes, workshops, webcasts, conference attendance, and other similar IAAP-approved activities. The IAAP will implement a process to allow other organizations or individuals to offer IAAP-approved continuing accessibility education credits for similar career-enhancing educational opportunities.
Types of Activities that may qualify for CAECs
ADS CAECs will only be approved for content related to the ADS Content Outline.
- Attending classes, workshops, webinars, and other educational events.
- Presenting educational materials outside your job function.
- Publishing articles, books, blogs, or other publications.
- Participating in formal Mentoring programs.
- Speaking engagements at IAAP or other approved educational events.
- Volunteer service with IAAP.
View pre-approved ADS CAEC providers. You are responsible for ensuring that the content in your ADS CAECs is directly related to the ADS Content Outline.
Submitting CAECs
You can submit CAECs by logging into the Certification Portal (opens in a new tab) and Navigating to the 'My Certification and CAECs' page.
Things to remember when submitting:
- Organize your CAECs into either Professional Development or Sharing Your Knowledge.
- Organize your CAECs by content provider- Each Content Provider will need its own CAEC form.
- You can submit multiple CAEC events in one form if they are from the same content provider. Example: All IAAP webinars into one form, All Deque webinars in another.
- Auditable supporting documentation is required to process and award CAECs. Review the 'What documents do I need to Submit with my CAEC request? ' section on the CAEC FAQ page.
- Calculate the CAECs you will request for each activity as you will need to provide this on the form. Review the calculation details in the 'How are CAECs Calculated' section on the CAEC FAQ page.
- CAECs will be reviewed monthly.
- Once your CAECs have been processed you will receive an automated email urging you to log into the portal and check the submission status and outcome notes.
- If you would like a guide to review how to submit your CAECs please view the CAECs in the IAAP Certification Portal- Steps and Overview (opens in a new tab) document or attend a CAEC Drop-in Session (opens in a new tab).
Renewing Certification
Every three years, certificants will be required to:
- Complete 35 hours of continuing accessibility education credits, which must be approved by IAAP.
- Submit an application for certification renewal.
- Pay the certification renewal fee at time of renewal.
- For IAAP members, the renewal fee is waived as part of your membership benefits as long as your membership has not lapsed during the three-year period.
- For Non-IAAP Members, or those whose membership has lapsed at any time during the three-year period:
- $200 renewal fee payable at time of renewal.
- For those in Emerging Economies the total fee is $75 every three years.
Join an Information Drop-In Session
Have a question about our certifications or exams, or maintaining your credential? Register for a drop-in session on Zoom (opens new tab). General Certification Drop-In Sessions take place every second Wednesday of the month at 9am ET and every fourth Wednesday at 5pm ET.
CAEC Drop-In Sessions are hosted once a month at 3 pm ET. Register for a CAEC Drop-In Session on Zoom (opens in a new tab).