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From: Tim Harshbarger
Date: Jun 14, 2016 6:41AM

Joshua,

I do plan on taking the certification test, likely later this year. My reasons are probably atypical and likely not particularly useful for others--but I think I can make a few suggestions why I might encourage others to take the certification.

If you are newer to accessibility, you likely have experienced the frustration of trying to figure out what you should learn. The other aspect that can be frustrating for people newer to the field is validating their level of knowledge. Studying for this certification can provide you with a good foundation for continuing to build your accessibility expertise. Taking and passing the certification can also give you a better sense of validation that you successfully learned the fundamentals.

Certifications also provide a way to demonstrate a certain level of knowledge to others--like employers. The fact is that anyone can say they are an accessibility expert. Even if they are an accessibility expert, that really tells you nothing about the knowledge and skills they possess. A certification represents that you are familiar with some type of core knowledge or skills--and that may help if you are trying to make a case why someone should hire you as an accessibility expert.

Those are some of the reasons I might offer to someone who is thinking about pursuing the certification. I am sure there are others and likely which ones work best for you, if any, will depend on your current circumstances.