What the certificate confirms
- A defined scope was tested: listed URLs, user journeys and, for web apps, a specific version.
- The standard was WCAG 2.2 Level AA, and testing happened on a stated date.
- A person decided all 55 success criteria, none failed, and a screen-reader walkthrough was completed.
No criterion is ever marked as passed by a machine alone. Our test method is published in full.
What it does not mean
- Not legal compliance. Whether a law such as the European Accessibility Act applies to you, and whether you meet all of its duties, is a legal question. The certificate is not legal advice and not a decision by any authority.
- Not a promise about the future. New pages, a redesign or a new plugin can introduce new barriers. Without monitoring, anything changed after the test date is not covered.
- Nothing outside the scope. Pages that are not listed were not tested.
Why public verification matters
Anyone can copy a badge image. That is why our badge always links to a public verification page under /verify/ with the certificate number. It shows the current status, not just the status on the day it was issued.
If a certificate expires or is revoked, the verification page says so straight away. Customers, partners and procurement teams do not have to trust a picture.
How to read our certificate
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Scope | The tested URLs, user journeys and app version, if any. The statement covers only these. |
| Standard | WCAG 2.2 Level AA. The European standard EN 301 549 refers to WCAG 2.1 AA for web content; WCAG 2.2 AA includes all of those criteria plus six more. |
| Test date | The day the tested state was recorded. |
| Expiry | How long the certificate is valid. Twelve months from the test date. The certificate is a snapshot of the tested version; monitoring does not extend it, it flags regressions between two tests. |
| Status | Valid, expired or revoked. We revoke, for example, when monitoring finds a serious regression that is not fixed. |
Affiliated-company marking
The company behind this service also builds websites. When we test a site we built ourselves, the certificate and its verification page clearly say “tested by an affiliated company”. Anyone can see who did the testing and judge for themselves.
How to judge any certificate
Whoever issued it, ask these questions:
- Does it state the tested scope?
- Which standard, which version, which level?
- Is there a test date and an expiry date?
- Is the method published, and did a person test it?
- Can it be verified publicly, and can it be revoked?
If any answer is missing, the badge carries little weight.
Frequently asked questions
Does the certificate mean my site meets the European Accessibility Act?
We cannot promise that. We confirm the technical state against WCAG 2.2 AA for the tested scope. Whether and how the law applies to you is a question for legal counsel.
What if I change my site after the test?
Changes after the test date are not covered by the certificate: it is a snapshot of the tested version. Monitoring re-scans on a schedule and flags regressions, so you can fix them before the next test.
How do I check someone else’s certificate?
Click the badge. If it does not lead to a page that shows scope, standard, dates and status, ask the issuer.
Sources
How does your website do?
The free check tests your home page in two minutes. The audit decides all 55 criteria, by a person.