Free VPAT® 2.5 Template — Download & Complete Guide
The VPAT/ACR template used by enterprise procurement teams. Download the VPAT 2.5 framework, understand what separates a defensible conformance report from a checkbox exercise, and see what complete documentation looks like.
VPAT 2.5 · WCAG 2.1 · Section 508 · EN 301 549 · No email required
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Fundamentals
What is a VPAT® and when do you need one?
VPAT® — The blank template
A standardized document format created by ITI (Information Technology Industry Council) that describes how a product or service meets accessibility standards. Available in multiple editions: WCAG, Section 508, EN 301 549, and INT.
ACR — The completed document
Accessibility Conformance Report. The filled-out VPAT. It documents how your product meets — or doesn't — each criterion. When procurement asks for a 'VPAT', they mean the completed ACR.
When procurement requires it
U.S. federal contracts (Section 508), EU public sector (EN 301 549 / EAA), and Fortune 500 vendor onboarding almost always require an ACR before approving a purchase.
VPAT 2.5 — Always use the latest
The current version covers WCAG 2.1, Revised Section 508, and EN 301 549 v3.2.1. Using an outdated VPAT version in procurement can disqualify your submission entirely.
Use cases
Do you need a VPAT? These situations require one.
- Selling software or SaaS to U.S. federal agencies (Section 508 required)
- Bidding on EU public sector contracts (EN 301 549 / EAA compliance)
- Enterprise procurement asking for accessibility documentation
- Legal team needs documented conformance evidence
- Onboarding as a vendor for a Fortune 500 company
- Showing accessibility progress to internal stakeholders or board
What's inside
What a complete, defensible ACR contains
Most VPATs submitted in procurement fail basic scrutiny. Here's what separates a defensible ACR from a liability.
| Component | Basic VPAT | Professional ACR |
|---|---|---|
| WCAG 2.1 AA criteria | Listed | Evaluated with evidence |
| Conformance levels | Marked | Justified with testing notes |
| Assistive tech coverage | Absent | NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver documented |
| Known limitations | Rarely | Clearly indicated with roadmap |
| Section 508 mapping | Often incomplete | Complete with EN 301 549 |
| Legal defensibility | Low | High |
Get the VPAT 2.5 Template
- VPAT 2.5 template — official ITI format
- Section-by-section completion guide
- Conformance level definitions with examples
- Common web component patterns for WCAG criteria
PDF · 745 KB · Updated 2025
Need a professionally prepared ACR, not just the template?
Talk to our VPAT expertsFAQ
VPAT Questions
VPAT® is the blank template created by ITI. ACR (Accessibility Conformance Report) is the completed document after evaluating your product. When procurement teams ask for a 'VPAT', they typically mean the completed ACR.
Always use VPAT 2.5, the current version. It covers WCAG 2.1, Revised Section 508, and EN 301 549 v3.2.1. Earlier versions may not satisfy modern procurement requirements, especially for EU contracts under the EAA.
You can use the template we provide to understand the structure. However, VPATs completed without proper accessibility testing often contain inaccurate conformance claims — which creates legal exposure. A professionally prepared ACR is based on actual testing with assistive technologies like NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver.
For a focused web application, we typically deliver a complete ACR in 1–3 weeks, depending on scope and whether an accessibility audit has already been performed.
No. A VPAT documents your current conformance status — including gaps. An honest VPAT that acknowledges partial support with a remediation plan is more defensible legally than one that overclaims full compliance.
WCAG is the technical standard developed by W3C. Section 508 is U.S. law that references WCAG 2.0/2.1 for web content. EN 301 549 is the European standard for ICT accessibility, which also references WCAG. VPAT 2.5 covers all three frameworks in a single document.
Yes. We support VPAT/ACR preparation with defensible evidence based on expert accessibility testing using real assistive technology. See our audits service for more details.
Yes. The template follows the official VPAT 2.5 format published by ITI (Information Technology Industry Council). We've added a practical completion guide alongside it.
Need a complete, defensible ACR — not just the template?
Our team prepares VPAT/ACR documentation based on actual accessibility testing with NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver. Procurement-ready, legally defensible, delivered in weeks.
No credit card required · Results in minutes · Checked against WCAG 2.2 AA