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APAC certification exam

APA Certification in the Built Environment



An individual who passes the Accessibility Professional Association's Certification Exam--APAC-BEs or APA Certified-Built Environment--will have demonstrated knowledge of the Federal Accessibility Requirements and the Model Codes and Standards and how each applies to the built environment. APAC-BEs will be able to interpret scoping requirements for any given facility.


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APAC-BE

Certificants

The APAC-BE exam demonstrates an accessibility professional's knowledge, skill, and abilities to comply with the American with Disabilities Act. Anyone who designs and consults in the construction and/or renovation of the built environment should become certified as an APAC-BE. Such professionals include architects, interior designers, engineers, building designers, ADA Coordinators, ADA consultants, contractors, and landscape architects, among others. 


APAC-BE Exam

Initial application

The exam is available through Pearson VUE testing centers and OnVUE online proctoring, and in person at various national conferences.

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APAC-BE Exam

Exam retake

You may retake the exam

  • if you were approved less than two years ago and
  • if you have only taken the exam once per year since your application

If it has been more than two years since your initial application, or if you have taken the exam four times since your initial application, you will need to reapply. See the APAC-BE Exam Retake page for details.

 

Submit payment to retake


APAC-BE Exam

Exam description and modes of delivery

The APAC-BE written assessment is comprised of 100 three-option multiple-choice questions, and candidates are allowed up to 2.5 hours (150 minutes) to complete the exam. All items are scored, weighted equally, and distributed across eight sub-sections.  
Some questions will include graphics or images with alternative text. The exam is closed book and is visually accessible.
For the eight exam topics/domains, see the APAC Study Resources page. 

At this time, the exam is administered in one of three ways: (1) in-person paper and pencil, (2) computer-based testing (CBT), and (3) remote-proctored testing (RPT). Regardless of administration method, the order of items within the exam must be randomized across administration periods. For in-person pencil and paper administrations, item order is randomized such that the order is always different for each administration period. For the CBT and RPT administrations, the items are presented in a new randomized order for each individual administration.

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Exam administration

The APAC-BE exam is administered through Pearson VUE testing centers and OnVUE online proctoring, and by paper and pencil at the close of select conferences.

Contact Camille North at APACInfo@accessibilityprofessionals.org for more information.


Eligibility and cost

Cost: The regular application fee is $500 for APA members and $750 for nonmembers plus testing fees. Candidates are eligible to sit for the exam for a two-year period, with two exam sittings per year. See APAC Exam Fees for detailed fees. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request to qualified individuals at no cost.

 

Eligibility: Accessibility professionals who meet the experience criteria outlined below may pursue the APAC. Candidates must submit an application that documents fulfillment of requirements in formal education, professional (work) experience, professional conduct, and professional development as follows:



Professional Education, Experience, and Employment

  • Option 1: Professional degree/license (architecture, engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, or equivalent) and one year of accessibility experience related to building planning, design, review, inspection, consultation, or equivalent
  • Option 2: Four years’ accessibility experience related to building planning, design, review, inspection, consultation, or equivalent
  • Option 3: Accessibility certification (e.g., ICC, state certification, ADAC) and two years’ accessibility experience related to building planning, design, review, inspection, consultation, or equivalent

Professional Conduct

Candidates must agree to adhere to the APAC Code of Professional Conduct.


APAC-BE

Diversity Statement

The APAC Program is committed to diversity and equality in all activities. The APAC Board, in both its values and practices, is committed to providing the accessibility community with credentialing practices that are based on inclusion and diversity.

This means that there shall be no barriers to participation in any activity of the Board on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, or disability.

The Board will seek diversity and inclusiveness in its business practices and it will not condone any form of unlawful discrimination.

 

Accommodations

Candidates may request accommodations in the space supplied on the application or by contacting the APAC Program at APACInfo@AccessibilityProfessionals.org.


Study resources

Visit the Study Resources page for a list of topics the exam will cover and helpful resources.


Renewal and CE requirements

For complete requirements for renewal, please visit our APAC-BE Renewal page.

Certification renewal is required every 3 years, and 24 CEUs must be completed within the 3 years immediately prior to renewal.

All of the following steps must be completed in order to receive successful renewal:

  1. Completion of required CEUs and/or professional development activities

  2. Ongoing adherence to professional conduct requirements

  3. Submission of completed renewal documents

  4. Review and approval by APAC

APAC-BE Renewal Info


Exam statistics

As of December 31, 2024:
70 individuals are APAC-BE certificants
93 exams administered total: 60 pass (64.52%)
69 in-person exams administered: 47 pass (68.12%)
24 computer-based or online proctored exams administered: 13 pass (54.17%)


APAC-BE Job Analysis Summary Report


Additional information for candidates

For additional information on policies related to retesting, disciplinary actions, appeals, and all other processes and policies, see the APAC Standing Rules and Policies.

Approved Providers

The following organizations are Approved Providers:

- Accessibility Professionals Association (APA): #101
- Certified Access Specialist Institute (CASI): #102


FAQs

Visit our FAQs page. If you have a question not covered there, please see the APAC Standing Rules and Policies or contact Camille North at APACInfo@accessibilityprofessionals.org.



APAC Board

The APAC Board is an independent certifying body of APA. The APAC Board awards the APA Certified–Built Environment (APAC-BE) credential and is responsible for setting policy and standards related to the APAC Program. 

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Jack McClellan

Matt Lescher

President

theACCESSpartnership, l.p.

Contact

Kristi Avalos

President-Elect

Accessology

Contact

Carroll Pruitt

Treasurer

Pruitt Consulting, Inc.

Contact

Jack McClellan

Board Member at Large

AE Support Group

Contact

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Walter Qualls
Smiling man in glasses sitting in wheelchair in front of hay bale

Rob Judd

Board Member at Large

Jensen Hughes
Contact

Walter Qualls

Secretary/APA Board Member liaison

Images, Etc.

Contact

Mick Hintz

Public Member

Hintz Consulting



APAC Examination and

Item-Writing Committee

The APAC Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) are an all-star team of experts from across the country,

representing all areas of accessibility in the built environment

John Torkelson

Robin Roberts, Chair

ACI Consulting Architects

Contact

Gene Boecker

Gene Boecker

Code Consultants, Inc.

Contact

Glenn Dea

Glenn Dea

Collaborative Access Studio

Contact

Marsha Mazz

Marsha Mazz

United Spinal Association

Contact

Jim Terry

Jim Terry

Evan Terry Associates

Contact

John Torkelson

John Torkelson

theACCESSpartnership, l.p.

Contact

Appeals Committee

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Robert Ronson, Chair

ADA Assistance

Contact

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Terry Kitay

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell, Attorney at Law

Contact

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Fred Cawyer

Accessibility Resource Specialists

Contact


What is APAC-BE?

APA partners with CPS Human Resource Services (CPS HR) to provide a national certification examination for accessibility professionals in the built environment. The APA Certification in the Built Environment Exam is a legally defensible professional certification exam aligned to established and agreed upon best practice standards for the accessibility industry.

How and where is the exam administered?

The APAC-BE was first administered at the 2023 APA National Conference, on Friday, January 27, 2023. The exam is now administered on demand through Pearson VUE testing centers and OnVUE online proctoring service, and in person by paper and pencil at select conferences.

Participants requiring accommodations should contact Camille North at APACInfo@accessibilityprofessionals.org.

What resources will be used?

A resource list is available here.


Contact

Robin Roberts, APAC Examination and Item-Writing Committee Chair Contact

 

Matt Lescher, APAC Board President Contact

 

Camille North, APAC Executive Director Contact