VPAT vs ACR: what is the difference?
A VPAT is the blank template; an ACR is the completed report. What the two terms mean, the four editions of the template, and which one to ask a vendor for.
The two terms are used as if they meant the same thing, and in everyday conversation that does no harm. Strictly, one is a blank form and the other is the form filled in.
The short answer
| Question | VPAT | ACR |
|---|---|---|
| Stands for | Voluntary Product Accessibility Template | Accessibility Conformance Report |
| What it is | A blank template | The template, completed for one product |
| Who makes it | The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) publishes it | The vendor, or a firm the vendor hires, fills it in |
| What you ask a vendor for | People say “your VPAT” | This is what you actually receive |
So when a buyer asks a vendor for “your VPAT”, the vendor sends an ACR. Both sides understand what is meant.
Where the VPAT comes from
The template is published by the Information Technology Industry Council, a trade association of technology companies. It was created so that vendors could report on accessibility to United States government buyers in a consistent format, and it has since become the standard way to do so everywhere.
It is voluntary in the sense that no law forces a vendor to produce one. In practice, public bodies, universities and large companies will not buy without it.
The four editions
The template comes in four editions, depending on which standards the report covers:
| Edition | Covers | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| WCAG | The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines only | Private-sector and general purchasing |
| 508 | WCAG plus the United States Section 508 standards | United States federal government |
| EU | WCAG plus the European standard EN 301 549 | European public sector |
| INT | All of the above | Vendors selling internationally |
The edition appears on the front page of the report. If you need Section 508 and the vendor sends the WCAG edition, the chapters on hardware, software and support documentation are missing.
Version numbers
The template itself has a version number, separate from the WCAG version. Version 2.5 is the current one. Its WCAG and INT editions report on WCAG 2.2, its EU edition on WCAG 2.1, and its 508 edition on WCAG 2.0. A report on a 1.x template uses a different layout and older wording, and is usually many years old.
What a completed report contains
- The product name and version, the report date and a contact.
- The evaluation methods: how the product was tested.
- A table for each WCAG level, with one row per requirement, a conformance level and the vendor’s remarks.
- Further tables for Section 508 or EN 301 549, depending on the edition.
What neither of them is
- Not a certificate. Nobody issues or approves a VPAT. The vendor writes it about its own product.
- Not a test result. Unless the report says an independent firm carried out the evaluation, it is self-reported.
- Not an accessibility statement. A statement describes a vendor’s commitment. A VPAT reports on each requirement.
- Not proof of legal compliance. It is evidence to weigh, not a verdict.
Which should you ask for?
Ask for “your current VPAT or Accessibility Conformance Report”, name the standard you need, such as WCAG 2.1 Level AA, and ask that it be dated within the last twelve months and cover the version you are buying.
Sources
This guide is written in our own words. The facts in it come from these primary sources, which are the place to check anything that matters to you.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Updated .