WCAG 2.2 AA Audit Checklist
A WCAG 2.2 AA audit checklist is the working document an evaluator uses to review a website against every Level A and AA success criterion in WCAG 2.2. It organizes the evaluation into sections covering perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust requirements, and records the status of each criterion across the pages and components in scope. The checklist is the structural backbone of the audit, not the audit itself.
Auditors apply it through screen reader testing, keyboard testing, visual inspection, code inspection, and a scan as a review component.
| Element | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Standard | WCAG 2.2 at conformance Level AA, which includes all Level A and AA criteria from 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2. |
| Structure | Organized under the four POUR principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, robust. |
| Application | Applied per page or screen template, with results recorded for each success criterion. |
| Methods | Screen reader testing, keyboard testing, visual inspection, code inspection, and a scan as a review component. |
| Output | An audit report identifying issues, locations, severity, and remediation guidance. |
What the Checklist Contains
The checklist mirrors the structure of WCAG 2.2 itself. Every Level A and Level AA success criterion appears as a line item with space for the evaluator to record the result, the location of any issue, and notes for remediation.
Auditors typically group items by the four POUR principles. Perceivable items address text alternatives, captions, adaptable content, and distinguishable presentation. Operable items address keyboard access, timing, navigation, input modalities, and the new 2.2 criteria for focus appearance and dragging movements.
Understandable items address readable text, predictable behavior, and input assistance. Robust items address parsing, name/role/value, and status messages.
What Changed in WCAG 2.2
WCAG 2.2 is backwards compatible with 2.1 and 2.0, so a 2.2 AA audit covers everything a 2.1 AA audit covered plus the additions introduced in 2.2. New Level A and AA criteria address focus appearance, focus not being obscured, dragging movements, target size, consistent help, redundant entry, and accessible authentication.
An auditor working from a 2.2 checklist evaluates these new items alongside the established criteria. A site previously audited under 2.1 AA does not automatically conform to 2.2 AA, since the new requirements may identify issues that were not in scope before.
How the Checklist Is Applied
An auditor selects a representative set of pages or screen templates that reflect the site’s distinct layouts and functionality. The checklist is applied to each one. Common templates include the homepage, navigation, search results, product or content detail pages, forms, account flows, and checkout or transaction paths.
For each criterion, the auditor uses the appropriate evaluation method. Keyboard testing covers operable criteria related to focus and input. Screen reader testing covers name, role, value, and content order.
Visual inspection covers presentation criteria. Code inspection covers semantic structure and ARIA usage. A scan flags a portion of issues automatically, but scans only flag approximately 25% of issues, so the remaining 75% requires manual evaluation.
What the Checklist Does Not Replace
A checklist is a structural tool. It is not the same as an audit, and downloading a public checklist does not produce an audit report. The value of an audit comes from a qualified evaluator applying the checklist with the correct methods, interpreting findings against the success criteria, and producing a report that documents specific issues, their locations, severity, and remediation steps.
Most accessibility audits start at 1,000 dollars and range to 3,000 dollars, depending on the number of pages or screens in scope and their complexity. The checklist itself is free; the evaluation is what an organization is paying for.
How the Checklist Connects to ADA Compliance
Under ADA Title II, the Department of Justice rule references WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard for state and local government web content and mobile apps. ADA Title III does not specify a technical standard, though WCAG 2.1 AA is the standard most commonly referenced in settlements and demand letters.
Some organizations choose to evaluate against WCAG 2.2 AA to align with the most current version, since 2.2 includes everything in 2.1 plus additional Level A and AA criteria.
A 2.2 AA audit checklist is the working document behind that evaluation. The output, an audit report, is what informs remediation planning and supports a documented record of the evaluation completed.