The Web Accessibility Specialist certification tests hands-on technical knowledge: applying WCAG success criteria correctly, understanding ARIA roles, states, and properties, and evaluating real code and interface patterns for conformance. It is aimed at developers, QA testers, and auditors who work directly with the technical implementation of accessibility.
WAS is generally considered the more code-focused counterpart to CPACC’s broader, less technical scope, and many practitioners who hold both are recognized under IAAP’s combined CPWA credential.