About the CIAC — Certified Independent ADA Consultant
The CIAC is the credential awarded by Independent ADA Consultant Association (ADAConsultant.org) to practitioners who complete its core training, agree to its code of ethics, and maintain continuing education. Every consultant listed in our directory holds an active CIAC.
What does "CIAC" mean for me as a business owner?
It means the consultant has completed structured ADA training, agreed to a published code of ethics, and is backed by a professional body that can receive and adjudicate complaints. It is not a government license (no such thing exists for ADA consulting) — but it is the closest thing the profession has to a documented, renewable, third-party-verified standard.
What a CIAC has completed
- Core training — a 6-module curriculum covering ADA foundations and legal framework, physical accessibility (2010 ADA Standards), digital accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA), Title I employment accommodations, practice operations, and a capstone assessment.
- Capstone assessment — a practical case study plus multiple-choice assessment on law, standards, and client scenarios. Scored against a published rubric.
- Ethics pledge — agreement to the ADAConsultant.org code of ethics, including scope-of-practice boundaries, conflict-of-interest disclosures, and documentation standards.
- Background attestation — basic professional background verified at enrollment.
- Annual renewal — 6 continuing-education credits per year, membership dues, and active good standing to keep the credential current.
Specialty recognition: CIAC+
After two years in good standing, a CIAC can complete a specialty module to earn CIAC+ recognition in a track such as:
- Digital — deep WCAG 2.1 / 2.2 audits, ARIA patterns, remediation reporting
- Physical — complex ADAAG scenarios, multi-story buildings, historical properties
- Employment — Title I reasonable-accommodation advisory work, interactive-process documentation
- Healthcare — exam tables, medical equipment, patient portal compliance
- Hospitality — accessible room ratios, pool lifts, reservation systems
How to verify a CIAC
Every consultant in the ADAConsultant.com directory has a public profile showing:
- Their current credential status (active, CIAC+, or lapsed)
- Year earned + last renewal date
- Specialty endorsements
- A link to the live ADAConsultant.org verification record on ADAConsultant.org
Click the CIAC badge on any profile page to see the live verification.