The Credential We Issue
Certified Independent ADA Consultant
A documented, renewable credential for independent ADA consultants practicing in the United States. Earned through structured training, an ethics pledge, and ongoing continuing education.
What the CIAC Signals
Six things every active CIAC has done
Structured training
Completed our 6-module core course: ADA foundations, physical accessibility (2010 ADA Standards), digital accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA), Title I employment, and running a practice.
Ethics pledge
Agreement to our published code of ethics — scope boundaries, conflict disclosures, documentation standards, client confidentiality.
Capstone assessment
A practical case study plus a multiple-choice assessment on law, standards, and client scenarios. Scored against a published rubric — not pass-anyway-if-you-paid.
Ongoing CE
Six continuing-education credits per year. DOJ guidance shifts; WCAG versions release; court interpretations move. Annual CE keeps the credential current.
Accountability
Third-party oversight. We maintain a published grievance process; credentials can be suspended or revoked for violations.
Directory visibility
Active CIACs are listed on ADAConsultant.com with a live-verifiable badge.
Honest Limits
What the CIAC is not
Not a government license
The ADA has no licensing regime. The CIAC is a voluntary professional credential, not a regulator's approval.
Not a certification of your business
No credential can certify a building or website as "ADA-compliant." We certify practitioners, not what they deliver.
Not a guarantee of outcome
What a CIAC guarantees is a documented, consistent methodology — which is what courts, insurers, and DOJ look for when evaluating good-faith compliance.
Specialty Recognition
CIAC+ Fellow
Active CIACs with two or more years in good standing can complete a specialty module to earn the CIAC+ Fellow designation in one of five tracks.
Digital
WCAG 2.1/2.2 deep audits, ARIA patterns, remediation reporting, PDF accessibility.
Physical
Complex ADAAG scenarios, multi-story buildings, historical properties, site work.
Employment
Title I reasonable accommodation, interactive process, medical-inquiry rules.
Healthcare
Exam tables, patient portals, medical-equipment accessibility, Section 1557 overlap.
Hospitality
Accessible-room ratios, pool lifts, reservation-system integration.
Credential Landscape
How CIAC compares to other credentials
| Credential | Focus | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| CIAC | Physical + digital + employment ADA; U.S.-only; independent practitioners | Solo & small-firm ADA consultants |
| CPACC (IAAP) | Global accessibility core knowledge | Corporate accessibility leads, a11y program managers |
| WAS (IAAP) | Web accessibility specialist | Web developers, QA specialists |
| CPWA (IAAP) | CPACC + WAS combined | Digital accessibility professionals |
| NACC certification | ADA coordinator (institutional) | Public-entity Title II coordinators |