CompTIA CertMaster Accessibility Overview
At CompTIA, accessibility is a core priority. We strive to meet the WCAG 2.1 AA standard across our CertMaster platform and are continually investing to improve access for all learners, including those using assistive technologies.
Accessibility is not only the right thing to do for learners, it is increasingly a formal compliance requirement. In the US, the DOJ’s new ADA Title II rule requires state and local governments’ websites and mobile apps to meet WCAG 2.1 AA, with compliance deadlines of April 24, 2026 for entities serving populations of 50,000 or more, and April 26, 2027 for smaller entities and special districts. Our focus on WCAG 2.1 AA is intended to help our customers align with these requirements while providing an inclusive learning experience.
Because CertMaster includes multiple types of learning experiences, we look at accessibility in three main areas:
- The CertMaster platform and core content
- Interactive simulations
- Virtual machines (VMs) and lab environments
Each area has its own VPAT so customers can clearly see current status and future direction.
- CertMaster Platform and Core Content
Current status
The core CertMaster platform and its primary learning content are fully WCAG 2.1 AA compliant based on third party audits. We work with an independent accessibility auditor who tests using:
- JAWS screen reader
- NVDA screen reader
The following areas are currently accessible and covered by our primary VPAT:
- Video content with closed captioning
- Text lessons
- Assessments (quizzes and exams)
- Demonstrations and guided walkthroughs
- Interactive activities designed with keyboard and screen reader support
- Performance based questions (PBQs)
- Navigation throughout the platform (including menus, course structure, and activity flow)
Ongoing auditing and maintenance
Accessibility is not a one time project. We maintain compliance through:
- A third party audit for every large feature release
- Periodic audits roughly every six months, or sooner if a major change is introduced
- Remediation work based on audit findings and user feedback
Our commitment is to keep CertMaster accessible as the platform evolves, not just to pass a one time review.
- Simulations
CertMaster includes rich, hands on simulations that model real IT environments and tools. Historically, these types of simulations have been challenging to make accessible because of:
- Complex, highly visual interfaces
- Rapid changes in underlying technologies
- Technical limitations in some legacy simulation frameworks
Despite those challenges, we have made significant progress in recent years and continue to invest here.
What is accessible today
Recent work has focused on designing new tools and experiences with accessibility in mind from the start, including:
- Hardware components
- Key hardware simulation components are now accessible, allowing users to navigate with keyboard and screen readers.
- Network Modeler
- Our Network Modeler tool was designed for accessibility from the ground up and supports keyboard navigation and screen readers.
- OS boot restriction in some simulations
- In certain simulations, we prevent launching full operating systems while still allowing users to complete all other accessible lab components. This helps us maintain accessible workflows without exposing learners to parts of the UI we cannot yet fully make accessible.
- Command line access
- We are opening up command line interfaces (for example, PowerShell and similar tools) within labs so learners can complete tasks through text based commands instead of graphical UI interactions. This enables a fully accessible path for many lab activities.
These improvements are being rolled out on a product by product basis as we release new titles and update existing ones. Not every existing course will immediately have the latest simulation accessibility features, but all new simulation design is guided by these standards.
- Virtual Machines (VMs) and Lab Environments
Our VM based labs are hosted with a third party vendor. Today, these environments present the most significant accessibility challenges, primarily because they simulate full, complex operating systems and software stacks.
Current status
- VM accessibility is not yet at the same level as our core platform and content.
- We are actively working with our VM provider to push for improved accessibility support.
- Because some aspects of full OS and VM based interactions are not technically feasible to make fully accessible at this time, we are investing in accessible alternatives to ensure learners can still meet the same learning objectives.
Accessible Alternatives to Labs
Where a simulation or VM experience cannot be made fully accessible, we are building alternative lab experiences that cover the same concepts and skills.
These accessible alternatives will:
- Be launched from within the same course flow
- Target the same learning objectives as the original simulation or VM lab
- Provide a comparable learning and assessment experience
We are planning to use several formats for these alternatives, including:
- Question based activities
- Multiple choice, multiple select, and true/false items aligned to the same skills as the original lab.
- Interactive, scenario based activities
- Scenario style interactions where the learner makes decisions, answers targeted questions, or walks through a troubleshooting process using accessible UI components.
- AI supported scenario tools
- In some cases, learners will interact with an AI driven scenario (for example, a simulated user or system) via an accessible text interface.
- Responses will be evaluated against a defined rubric to ensure grading is accurate and aligned with the objectives of the original lab.
- Local Microsoft Office based alternatives
- For labs that simulate Microsoft Office products and are not fully accessible, we are building alternatives that launch learners into a local lab environment using the actual Microsoft Office applications.
- Learners will complete comparable tasks in the live Office application instead of a simulated interface, while still meeting the same learning objectives.
These accessible alternatives are designed to be equivalent in what the learner can demonstrate, even if the interaction pattern differs from the original simulation or VM.
Roadmap and Future Plans
Looking ahead, our accessibility work will continue along three parallel tracks:
- Maintain and improve accessibility of the CertMaster platform and core content
- Ongoing audits using JAWS and NVDA
- Regular remediation and UX improvements
- Accessibility requirements built into our development process for new features
- Expand accessible simulation experiences
- Continue designing new tools (like Network Modeler and hardware explorers) with accessibility as a primary requirement
- Increase use of keyboard friendly and screen reader friendly interaction patterns
- Extend command line based and text based workflows where possible
- Deploy accessible alternatives for non accessible labs
- Roll out accessible alternatives to labs and VM experiences on a product by product basis through 2026
- Ensure alternatives are aligned to the same objectives and assessment rigor as the original labs
We view accessibility as continuous improvement. Even where we are currently compliant, we expect to keep refining and expanding what “good” looks like as tools, standards, and learner needs evolve, and to support customers who need to meet regulations such as the ADA Title II WCAG 2.1 AA requirements and similar global standards.
VPATs and Additional Details
We maintain three separate VPATs to give customers clear, focused documentation:
- CertMaster platform and core content VPAT
- Simulations VPAT
- Virtual machines and lab environments VPAT
If you would like copies of the most current VPATs, or have questions about a specific course or product, see the attached version.
We also welcome feedback and requests for additional accommodations so we can continue to improve our accessibility support over time.
Here is CertMaster's VPAT for our CertMaster platform and simulations.