I didn’t so much decide not to renew my IAAP Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS) certification as just let it quietly expire.
In order to retain an IAAP credential, you have to earn a certain number of Continuing Accessibility Education Credits (CAEC) over a 3-year period. You can earn these from taking courses, attending conferences, or sharing your knowledge with others.
That’s fair enough, but the process of tracking and claiming these CAECs—checking validity, calculating the points, emailing spreadsheets and screenshots—is an unnecessarily tedious administrative marathon. It’s a bad system that hasn’t seen any investment in making it user-friendly, much like IAAP’s website, which remains frustratingly difficult to navigate.
I’m less skeptical about certifications than some other people. I think there is value in having a demonstable baseline of competency. As a learner, I like having a clear curriculum to follow and an exam to test my own understanding. I appreciate having a badge to show that I've made the effort. I even welcome the self-discipline needed to grow and share that knowledge in order to maintain the credential. But that process needs to be convenient and rewarding if I am going to make space for it in my day-to-day work. As it stands, I have better things to do with my time.