In 2024, I took a proctored exam with the IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals). After many weeks of reading, studying, and review, I passed with a 750 out of 800. In this blog, we’ll cover my study journey, exam day prep, good test taking strategies, and my advice to those aspiring to ace the CPACC.
Just a fair warning- this blog dives into my full, detailed experience.
TL;DR: If you struggle with memory retention, live with a TBI, have test anxiety, or you’re neurodivergent like me – consider transferring the study material onto notecards by hand. Writing the material on notecards is inexpensive, customizable, and one of the most effective ways to retain the core information you need. This is exactly what I did to pass my exams, and have converted them into a digital version to help you save time and help you pass faster.
Now onto my full experience with the CPACC exam.
What is the CPACC Exam?
CPACC is the acronym for Certified Professionals of Accessibility Core Competencies. The CPACC is an exam for professionals seeking to upskill and gain in depth knowledge about disabilities, accessibility, in the digital and physical space. It is held by the IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals), who is the only certifying body in accessibility in the world, with chapters in over 100 countries. They provide certifications in accessibility for Web, Built Environments, Documents, and more. In order to get any specialized certification from IAAP, you have to get your CPACC first.
The CPACC exam covers information that is likely esoteric to most people. It’s about accessibility, and it’s quite thorough. Accessibility refers to the ease of use for people with disabilities.
If you’ve ever walked places using flat sidewalks or using bright signage, these are examples of accessibility in the real world. If you adjust the brightness or use speech functions on your mobile phone you have leveraged accessibility.
Although, you don’t need a certification to practice accessibility, it does look good on resumes, and some disability and accessibility roles will explicitly state CPACC preferred.
The CPACC exam poses a challenging feat because like many exams, the questions vary in complexity, and some questions (along with their answers) are meant to confuse you to test your comprehension. The questions are also weighted variably, meaning you get more “points” for correctly answering particular questions. There are 100 questions, and it has to be submitted within 2 hours.
My Study Journey
I studied for the CPACC 6 months before I took the exam, only reading through Deque’s Prep Course. Four weeks before the exam, my boss informed me that I will be taking the exam in the next examination window. After receiving the news, I picked back up sifting through Deque’s study material, took a look through the Body Of Knowledge, and did a mock test online.
This long text format served its purpose as it is an adequate introduction to accessibility concepts. However, these PDFs can be daunting due to their length. Was I comprehending and synthesizing this newly learned information?
Well, at the time, I did not feel like I had. There were flashcards of mock questions available online, but I felt that my insecurity stemmed from whether I was truly retaining the source material or not.
I also wasn’t too keen about staring at a screen to study for hours after a long work day that essentially revolves around staring at a computer.
It’d been years since I had taken any exam, and now I started to feel the familiar dread of possibly failing it. This $500 exam, that if I failed, would be another $300 to retake. Working for a smaller firm, the stakes became immense; and like any other demanding yet supportive manager, he made this known (in the most professional way that he could).
These concerns I had were the catalyst for me transferring the study material onto notecards. This way I could study without my laptop, and revisit information in a more practical, digestible way.
Having the cards also meant I could brush up on concepts right before the exam, quickly and efficiently. On the morning of the exam, I did just that, while waiting for the proctored exam to begin.
Exam Day Preparation
I wish there was a bonafide and proven way to combat nervousness about anything. After years of presenting in grade school, public speaking in college, and test-taking all of my life, I am here to report that my search has been in vain.
Although you cannot prevent nerves, the best method to console them is to simply be so prepared that you feel confident on exam day, not insecure. Just nervous. There is a distinction, but I digress.
On the day of, my exam was at 11am. I opted to have a proctored exam because I didn’t want any reviewers to have any reason to deny my submission. I didn’t want to be accused of cheating by staring off into space, or worse- have to retake the exam.
At about 10:15 am, the proctor emails me and drops a prerequisite request. She apologizes for the late email, but it did nothing to help my nerves.
Luckily, I had gone into the office that day for a quiet testing space, and they had a printer available for me to complete this side quest (printing, signing, and sending a picture of a verification document). I did just that, and sent it in. By the time I was complete, I had about 15 minutes till the exam.
I grabbed my CPACC cards and began skimming through the information. I didn’t read through every card- and that wasn’t the goal. Instead, they served as a quick refresher, reigniting memories from the original study material. The repetitive nature of the cards helped imprint key concepts, sparking my recall by quickly associating bits of information.
Test-Taking Strategies
At 10:55, I logged onto the web conference meeting for the exam. The Proctor and I exchanged pleasantries, and then she turned her camera off. I clicked the exam link, shared my screen, and began the exam.
The first few questions really set the tone for the exam. If you take it, you’ll see what I mean. There are some good practice exams online that happen to have a couple questions that I experienced while taking the exam.
I won’t share the exact questions and answers of course, but please note that CPACC does have a few questions and answers meant to confuse you. Recently I have seen more test takers report on failing the exam, and I suspect this maybe the reason.
Each CPACC exam question has four answers. The answers consist of 2 detractors, 1 possibly, and 1 correct answer.
Of course, I do the process of elimination. This served me well to eliminate 2 answers for nearly all the questions. If 2 answers were left and I truly couldn’t identify the answer, I thought about what the 2 answers had in common and what they did not.
For example, there may be a question about the slight difference between Autism and Asperger’s. Reflecting on the similarities and differences (on my CPACC study cards) is what helped me answer the question correctly.
I do believe that while test taking, “if you take too long, you’ll get it wrong” so I try not to get too comfortable with second guessing myself.
During the exam, the proctor let me know that I could skip questions and revisit them later. Thanks! I did just that. Also, skipping forward to answer other questions can sometimes jog your memory, and help you answer the questions that you had skipped before.
This worked for me, and I answered all the questions with 45 minutes to spare. I said a tiny prayer, became comfortable with being uncomfortable, and clicked submit.
My Results and Reflections
About 6 weeks later, I received an email from IAAP with my test scores. I had passed- a 750 out of 800. I was surprised at the higher score, but I did recollect feeling somewhat at ease with my performance after I had left the office on exam day.
I believe that a few things contributed to my success. Studying and reinforcing the information is the best method for memorization.
I’m not a fan of excessive studying, I prefer to familiarize myself by reading the entirety of information (preferably one time), then reinforce it in a more convenient way. The BOK and my study cards were great reinforcements as someone who is also neurodivergent.
For anyone taking the exam, you cannot escape the necessity of reviewing IAAP approved material (I suggest Deque’s CPACC Prep Course) and the BOK.
If you plan to pass CPACC, consider transferring the study material into a format that will be easier for you to retain the info. It is cost-effective to do it yourself, and I can assure you that any additional ways to cement this new information will help you.
The effectiveness of consuming new information in a no-tech, condensed format is a friendly alternative for your eyes and brain, allowing you to reiterate concepts in a way that accommodates diverse learning needs. Also, it prevents you from endlessly rereading the BOK.
My written study cards were crucial to passing the CPACC, so I turned them into digital study cards – plus an audio-only version for blind, neurodivergent, and busy learners. Over time, I’ve refined these cards with feedback from other test-passers, making them sharper and more effective. Today, the CPACC study cards remain a key resource helping countless test-takers succeed.
Print them on blank, standard 3 x 5-inch cards, easily found on Amazon or at office supply stores.
Preparing for the CPACC exam takes time, patience, and the right resources. Give yourself the opportunity to absorb the material by studying the CPACC Prep Course, the BOK, and leveraging supplemental tools.
Remember, it’s not about getting every answer right- it’s about demonstrating a solid understanding of accessibility principles.
Don’t forget to connect with communities like r/accessibility on Reddit for additional support and camaraderie. Join FaceBook groups to get insights about the job market and other resources. By following these recommendations, you’ll be setting yourself up for success and soon showing off your CPACC badge!
Brooke Burke, CPACC
MultiMedia Designer and Disability Advocate