WCAG Level AA
WCAG Level AA is a conformance level within the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
Meeting Level AA means satisfying all applicable Level A and Level AA success criteria for the WCAG version being evaluated.
What It Means in Practice
Level AA addresses many accessibility barriers commonly encountered on websites, including requirements related to colour contrast, keyboard use, visible focus, headings and labels, navigation, input assistance, and other aspects of content and interaction.
It builds on Level A rather than replacing it.
A page cannot conform at Level AA while failing applicable Level A criteria.
How It Is Evaluated
Evaluation is performed against the success criteria defined by a specific WCAG version.
For example, a conformance statement should distinguish between WCAG 2.1 Level AA and WCAG 2.2 Level AA.
Some criteria can be partially checked through automated accessibility testing. Others require manual accessibility testing and human judgement.
Why It Matters
Level AA is a useful shared target because it establishes a meaningful baseline without implying that every possible accessibility improvement has been made.
It also gives teams a clearer definition of scope when planning an accessibility audit, redesign, procurement requirement, or development standard.
Common Problems
Common issues include:
- Saying a site is “AA compliant” without identifying the WCAG version
- Assuming a Lighthouse or automated score proves Level AA conformance
- Testing only one page or template
- Fixing visible issues while ignoring structure and interaction
- Treating conformance as permanent after a single audit
How to Improve
Document the version and conformance target clearly.
Evaluate representative templates, shared components, content patterns, and important user flows rather than relying on a single automated scan.
Accessibility should also be checked as the site changes.