Certified Accessibility Tester

In partnership with AccessAbility Officer, NSITE is offering the Certified AccessAbility Tester Program (CAT Program), a fully remote instructor-led job training and skill-based certification program with two options:

1. The 4-month Certification Track; and

2. The 12-month Advanced Employment Track.

In both tracks, successful graduates will earn two technical industry certifications for digital accessibility testing in four months.

Certification Track: The CAT Program’s Certification Track and the first 4 months of the Advanced Employment Track are close in difficulty to a full-time graduate-level college semester. There is a minimum 25-hour weekly commitment across studying the curriculum, attending lectures, workshops, 1-on-1 meetings, mentor sessions, quizzes, homework, and assignments. A college degree is not required for the CAT Program or to enter the field of digital accessibility.

Advanced Employment Track: Participants in the Advanced Employment Track are offered employment and guaranteed part-time work (15 hours per week for 8 months at $20 per hour) as a digital accessibility tester. They must maintain the minimum expectations of employment while undergoing additional technical and professional development training programs.

The two digital accessibility industry certifications successful graduates earn are:

1. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Trusted Tester (TT) - needed for all digital accessibility jobs working directly for the government or the federal and state contractors of the government.
2. Certified AccessAbility Tester (CAT) – a technical certification that specifically certifies the ability to test and report on compliance against WCAG 2.2 AA, as required in the public and private sectors.

NOTE: Every candidate must pass the skills baseline assessment to ensure they have the skills and ability to be successful in the program. If clients pass the skills baseline, they are recommended for the CAT Program. If they do not pass, they are recommended for the Workplace Readiness Accelerator Program to prepare clients with essential knowledge, professional skills, and abilities required for the CAT program and competitive integrated employment.