WAS study guide
WAS · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS) credential is a professional certification for people who evaluate, design, build, or govern accessible web content. It is aimed at practitioners who already know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and want independent evidence that they can apply accessibility standards to real interfaces rather than recite definitions. The WAS study guide has 7 sections and about 2,009 words.
01Accessibility Fundamentals and Disability Models
This domain tests how you define disability, compare disability models, and translate those models into accessibility decisions. Expect questions that contrast the medical and social models, distinguish accessibility from usability, and ask you to classify functional needs rather than diagnose conditions.
298 words, about 1 min02WCAG 2.x Principles, Guidelines, and Success Criteria
WCAG 2.x is organized into four principles-Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust-then guidelines (non-testable design objectives) and success criteria (testable requirements). Each SC has a level: A (minimum), AA (standard procurement target), AAA (enhanced).
269 words, about 1 min03Semantic HTML and Accessible Markup
Semantic HTML is the cheapest accessibility feature: native elements come with roles, states, keyboard behavior, and name computation. Use the element that matches meaning before adding ARIA or scripted behavior.
290 words, about 1 min04Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA)
WAI-ARIA supplies roles, states, and properties when native HTML cannot express a widget. The first rule of ARIA is to use native HTML instead; the second is not to change native semantics unnecessarily.
294 words, about 1 min05Assistive Technology Compatibility and Testing
Assistive technology (AT) testing verifies that real user agents can perceive, operate, and understand the interface. Automated tools catch only a subset of issues-often estimated around a third-so combine automated scans, manual checks, and AT testing.
269 words, about 1 min06Accessible Design, CSS, and Responsive Layout
Accessible design and CSS determine whether content survives zoom, reflow, contrast changes, and user styles. WCAG 2.2 AA requires 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) at 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18pt or 14pt bold), 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast at 3:1 for UI components and graphics, and 1.4.4 Resize Text up to 200% without loss.
304 words, about 2 min07Accessibility Program Governance and Remediation
Accessibility governance turns intent into repeatable practice: policy, ownership, standards, procurement, testing, remediation, and monitoring. The exam tests how you prioritize defects, structure remediation, and avoid paper compliance.
285 words, about 1 min