Accelerated Pathway for the Assistive Technology Professional® Certification 

Jumpstart Your Assistive Technology Career

Upon reviewing the Initial Certification Eligibility Requirements, applicants who feel they are still in the process of earning the required education and work experience to be eligible for Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) certification, may be eligible for the accelerated candidate program.

Eligible candidates for the accelerated pathway are able to take the ATP exam prior to completing the experience and the education requirements for ATP certification.

When completing the Accelerated Pathway Application, candidates must outline their steps to completing the remaining education and experience requirements post-exam. RESNA will review your application in 1-2 weeks upon receipt. There is no cost for application review.

Accepted applicants for the Accelerated Pathway will receive emailed instructions for creating a RESNA online account and paying the $500 USD exam fee. Confirmation of exam purchase will be sent to accepted applicants via email and will include a unique link/identifier and instructions to be used to schedule the ATP exam. Applicants have 90 days to take the ATP exam following approval.  Applicants may request a one-time extension of the testing window for another 90 days. 

It is recommended that you be ready to take the ATP exam when you apply through the Accelerated Pathway. 

Upon successful completion of the ATP exam, applicants on the accelerated pathway are NOT an ATP certificant. Accelerated Pathway applicants who successfully pass the ATP exam may refer to themselves as a Candidate for the ATP.

Candidates for the ATP have up to six years upon successful completion of the exam to complete the certification process. Candidates for the ATP are required to complete a renewal process to demonstrate professional development through AT-related education every two years to maintain their candidate status:

• 20 hours of AT-related training (in-person and/or online courses, seminars, and workshops), to include 1.0 IACET CEU (10 hours) minimum AND 10 CECs / contact hours or additional CEUs
• Outline their steps to completing the remaining education and experience requirements
• Pay a $175 USD renewal fee

Candidates for the ATP are encouraged to regularly review the Initial Certification Eligibility Requirements. Candidates who feel that they have met the application requirements, may pay the application fee ($100 for Non-members and FREE for RESNA members) and gain access to the ATP application. Upon application submission, RESNA Certification staff will initiate the applicant review process. If any additional information or documentation is needed, you will be contacted via email and phone with instructions on how to proceed. Please allow up to 3 weeks for the review process. Upon application acceptance, Candidates for the ATP are ATP certified.

Accelerated Pathway Application

ATP Accelerated Pathway Renewal 

Per the guidelines of the ATP Accelerated Pathway Program, you have up to six years upon successful completion of the exam to complete the certification process.

Candidates for the ATP are required to complete an Accelerated Pathway renewal process every two years to demonstrate continued professional development via AT-related education in order to maintain their Candidate for the ATP status. The renewal process includes the following:

• 20 hour of AT-related training (in-person and/or online courses, seminars, and workshops) to include 1.0 IACET CEU (10 hours) minimum AND 10 CECs/contact hours or additional CEUs
• Completed Accelerated Pathway Renewal Form
• Paying a $175 USD renewal fee

If you feel that you have met the application requirements, you may pay the application fee ($100 for non-RESNA members, free for RESNA members) and gain access to the ATP application. Upon application submission, RESNA Certification staff will initiate the applicant review process.

Accelerated Pathway Renewal Application