Voluntary Certified Access Specialist Program (CASp)

In 2003, California Senate Bill 262 was signed into law and placed the following requirements on the Division of the State Architect (DSA):

the State Architect shall establish and publicize a program for voluntary certification by the state of any person who meets the specified criteria as a certified access specialist [click here for the Certified Access Specialist Program (CASp) Candidate Handbook and here for the CASp regulations].

Furthermore, the State Architect is to make available to the public a list of certified access specialists who meet the specified criteria.

Purpose

The purpose of the program is to further professionalize the field of disability access rights so that those who engage the services of design professionals, building officials, contractors, and architects may do so with the confidence that they understand accessibility issues.

What is a Certified Access Specialist?

Certified Access Specialists are individuals who have met minimum criteria as determined by the State Architect, which may include testing on knowledge sufficient to review, inspect, or advocate universal design requirements and standards governing access to buildings for persons with disabilities.

Changes to the CASp in 2008

California legislation passed in 2008, Senate Bill 1608, amended Senate Bill 262 to require that every Voluntary Certified Access Specialist (CASp) who conducts an inspection of a place of public accommodation shall, upon completing the inspection of the site, provide the building owner or tenant who requested the inspection with a notice, which the State Architect shall make available as a form on the State Architect's Internet Web site.

In accordance with Civil Code section 55.53(c), DSA has posted the following notice:

Notice to Private Property Owner/Tenant can be found here. (PDF 13 KB)

With the passage of Senate Bill 1608, the DSA has been receiving numerous inquiries regarding this bill and how it relates to the CASp program. Senate Bill 1608 does not change the requirements or operation of the CASp program. The bill does provide certain legal rights to individuals whose facilities have been inspected by a Certified Access Specialist. SB 1608 also requires local agency to employ or retain Certified Access Specialists by specified dates. You can review the text of SB 1608 here.

Inspection Certificates Available

Senate Bill 1608 also authorized the DSA to make available for purchase by any local building department or CASp sequentially numbered Disability Access Inspection Certificates.

These certificates are now available for purchase through DSA. All requests for orders should be directed to CASprogram@dgs.ca.gov. Currently, the DSA can only accept checks or money orders as payment. Payment should be made out to "CASp program" and mailed to DSA, 1102 Q Street, Ste 5100, Sacramento, CA 95811 and attn: CASp. An online payment option will be available shortly.

The certificates are sold in bundles of 50 each at a cost of $500.00. This amount already includes tax, shipping, and handling. Orders for less than 50 are available upon request.

List of Certified Access Specialists Now Available Online!

The voluntary Certified Access Specialist Program has published its first list of Certified Access Specialists as of October 29, 2008!

Contact Information

Any inquiries about the Certified Access Specialist (CASp) Program to CASprogram@dgs.ca.gov