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IAAP Accessibility Tester Overview

A self-paced course designed to raise and recognize accessibility skills in professionals that will implement or embed accessibility testing in their process.

About This Course

Accessibility testing is more than a checklist—it’s about making digital spaces work for everyone. This course gives testers the practical knowledge, tools, and strategies to identify, report, and help fix accessibility issues across websites, apps, and digital platforms. Whether you're new to accessibility or sharpening your QA skills, you'll learn how to advocate for inclusion through testing that goes beyond the surface.

This course introduces the core concepts, types, and techniques of accessibility testing. You’ll learn how to:

  • Use automated tools and manual checks effectively
  • Test with assistive technologies like screen readers and voice input
  • Respond to user system preferences (like text scaling or motion reduction)
  • Write actionable accessibility bug reports and collaborate with teams to fix them

Course Topics

Module 1: Accessibility for Testers (Web): A Comprehensive Overview

  • Lesson 1: Accessibility Testing Fundamentals
  • Lesson 2: Manual Accessibility Testing Techniques
  • Lesson 3: Screen Reader Testing
  • Lesson 4: Speech Navigation and Voice Recognition Testing
  • Lesson 5: Automated Accessibility Testing Tools
  • Lesson 6: Testing with Operating System Accessibility Settings
  • Lesson 7: Reporting and Remediating Accessibility Issues
  • Lesson 8: Creating a Test Plan

Module 2: Accessibility for Testers (Native Mobile): A Comprehensive Overview

  • Lesson 1: Introduction to Mobile Accessibility Testing
  • Lesson 2: Manual Accessibility Testing on iOS
  • Lesson 3: Manual Accessibility Testing on Android
  • Lesson 4: Testing with Mobile Screen Readers (VoiceOver & TalkBack)
  • Lesson 5: Accessibility Testing of Touch Targets and Navigation
  • Lesson 6: Testing Color Contrast, Zoom, and Operating System Accessibility Settings
  • Lesson 7: Reporting, Communicating, and Test Planning for Accessibility Issues

Requirements

Before jumping in, we recommend completing the Fundamentals of Accessibility module. That foundational course introduces key concepts like:

  • What accessibility is and why it matters
  • Types of disabilities and their impact on technology use
  • How assistive technologies work
  • Why accessibility benefits all users
  • Legal and ethical frameworks for inclusive design
  • Core standards and guidelines: WCAG, ATAG, UAAG, and COGA
  • The POUR principles of accessibility: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust

With this foundation, your work in this course will be more impactful, grounded in empathy, and aligned with global best practices.

Additionally, to get the most out of this course, you should be comfortable with:

  • Basic HTML and CSS
  • JavaScript fundamentals
  • The idea of progressive enhancement

No accessibility experience is required—we’ll guide you through each concept clearly.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for:

  • QA engineers and testers
  • Developers performing QA or validation
  • Designers looking to understand how testing affects UI
  • Accessibility specialists and advocates
  • Anyone responsible for product quality, compliance, or user experience

Course Contributors

Headshot of Susana Pallero

Susana Pallero

Susana, CPWA, is a recognized digital accessibility professional with over a decade of experience, combining a technical and human-centered approach to building more accessible and inclusive digital environments. She has worked as a consultant for more than 20 Fortune 500 companies, contributing to the development of accessible solutions, inclusive product design, and training specialized accessibility teams.

Headshot of Jaunita Flessas

Jaunita Flessas

Jaunita, CPWA, ADS is an internationally-recognized digital accessibility leader with over 7 years of specialized expertise and 12 years of program management experience. As the Head of Technical Accessibility at Navy Federal Credit Union, she leads a team of 12 employees and oversees an Accessibility Task Force of 55+ volunteers while championing enterprise-wide accessibility initiatives.

Reviewer Acknowledgment

This training was reviewed by the following individuals, whose expertise and feedback were invaluable:

  • Dr. Monica Duhem - Director of the Global Advisory Center at G3ict
  • Beatriz González - Head of Accessibility & Digital Inclusion Central Europe, Atos
  • Nicolas Sandoval - Editor

Frequently Asked Questions

Do IAAP Members need to pay for the course? 

No, the course is free for active IAAP Members. Please contact iaapsupport@accessibilityassociation.org to be enrolled. Each IAAP member is eligible to take the course once. The course can not be reset, but learners are welcome to review the material as many times as they like while enrolled.

How long will the course take to complete? 

The course is self-paced, providing you with the flexibility to learn at your own pace, on your own schedule. The course will take about 5 hours to complete start to finish. Once enrolled, you will have one year to complete the course and receive your Certification of Completion.

Is this course eligible for IAAP Continuing Accessibility Education Credits (CAECs)?

Yes, if you currently hold the CPACC IAAP Certification this course could be used to earn up to 6 CAECs. If you complete this course prior to sitting for your exam, CAECs will not be awarded.

Will I receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of the course?

To receive a Digital Knowledge Badge, you are invited to take the Accessible Tester Overview knowledge base test at the “Test Your Knowledge Website.” You must pass with an overall grade of 85% to be eligible for a Digital Knowledge Badge. The test costs US$ 25 for IAAP members and US$ 50 for professionals referred to us by our training partners.

I am having an issue accessing or navigating the course, who can I contact?

Please send a detailed e-mail to iaapsupport@accessibilityassociation.org outlining the issue you have found in the course. Our team will work as quickly as possible to have it resolved. The course discussion boards are not regularly monitored, so adding issues there will not prompt a quick response.

What web browser should I use?

The Open edX platform works best with current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari.

See our list of supported browsers for the most up-to-date information.

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