The Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) Professional Training
Improve the accessibility of the built environment for people with disabilities as a designated RHFAC professional.
Overview
Whether you are planning, designing, constructing or operating a site, Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) Professional Training will provide you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to apply a meaningful access lens to your projects, and rate a building for its overall accessibility under the RHFAC program.
Enhance your skills and demonstrate your commitment to access and inclusion by taking this 8-week course. The course will take approximately 60 hours to complete, and you must complete and successfully pass this course and exam to qualify for your RHFAC Professional designation. Prerequisites apply.
What you will learn
Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) Professional Training gives built environment professionals an understanding of the needs of people with disabilities and the skills to rate spaces for meaningful accessibility and a human-centered perspective. You will:- Understand the scope and prevalence of disability
- Describe how people with varying types of disabilities experience the social and physical environment
- Learn to apply Universal Design principles and a meaningful access lens to existing sites and pre-construction projects
- Discuss the legal landscape and frameworks affecting people with disabilities; learn about the RHFAC program, its benefits, methodology and the rating and certification process
- Rate existing sites and pre-construction projects for meaningful access using the RHFAC Rating Survey
- Communicate areas of success and improvements for an RHFAC rating
- Understand construction projects and how RHFAC Professionals can be involved
Who is it for?
RHFAC Professional Training supports architects, urban planners, engineers, facility managers and operators, accessibility consultants and more.
Program details
- This intensive 8-week course includes 16 modules on core competencies and 12 mini-modules applying the RHFAC rating system
- Designed for part-time study, the course offers flexibility to professionals juggling career and personal commitments
- The course includes weekly 2-hour live virtual sessions and online discussions facilitated by an RHFAC instructor. Learners are required to attend the live sessions and must inform their instructor if they cannot attend. Sessions will be recorded but attendance of live sessions is required
- Learners will also require the following assessment tools:
- Measuring device (laser or tape)
- Camera or phone (for taking photos)
- Digital level (downloadable apps, such as iHandy, are available)
- Door pressure gauge (supply scale model is acceptable)
- Learners will receive a complimentary membership to the Accessibility Professional Network (APN) upon enrollment to download training materials
- Course readings and course work will require approximately 4 to 6 hours weekly over 8 weeks
- The course will be graded based on quizzes, required course learning activities and final course assignment submission
Professionals: VIRTUAL SESSIONS
Fall: 9 October 2025 – 27 November 2025
Your RHFAC instructors are not just educators—they are seasoned professionals and recognized accessibility experts, bringing real-world experiences to their teaching.
Kristen Habermehl, the principal of Atlantic Accessibility Consulting, leads with passion in accessibility practices. She was the first individual in eastern Canada to obtain her RHFAC designation and has since dedicated herself to extensive training and company development.
Kristen has taught accessibility as the lead instructor at Nova Scotia Community College for the RHFAC courses for the past 7 years, as well as teaching with University of Alberta, Dalhousie University and Carleton University. Kristen has also developed and taught online accessibility programs for multiple post-secondary institutions and enjoys working with teams and organizations to enhance workplace accessibility.
Kristen has also assessed numerous buildings and public spaces for accessibility audits, providing design and consulting services to clients such as Veterans Affairs Canada, Peggy’s Cove Development, Ronald McDonald House Halifax, Parks Canada, Halifax International Airport and many others.
Two-hour weekly sessions run once per week, typically on Thursdays from 1:30 – 3:30 PM (Atlantic Time Zone). There are eight (8) virtual sessions in total. Below are the Fall 2025 session dates and times in various time zones:
|
Date |
Atlantic Time (AT) |
Pacific Time (PT) |
Mountain Time (MT) |
Eastern Time (ET) |
|
09 October, 2025 |
1:30 – 3:30 PM |
9:30 – 11:30 AM |
10:30 – 12:30 PM |
12:30 – 2:30 PM |
|
16 October, 2025 |
1:30 – 3:30 PM |
9:30 – 11:30 AM |
10:30 – 12:30 PM |
12:30 – 2:30 PM |
|
23 October, 2025 |
1:30 – 3:30 PM |
9:30 – 11:30 AM |
10:30 – 12:30 PM |
12:30 – 2:30 PM |
|
30 October, 2025 |
1:30 – 3:30 PM |
9:30 – 11:30 AM |
10:30 – 12:30 PM |
12:30 – 2:30 PM |
|
06 November, 2025 |
1:30 – 3:30 PM |
9:30 – 11:30 AM |
10:30 – 12:30 PM |
12:30 – 2:30 PM |
|
13 November, 2025 |
1:30 – 3:30 PM |
9:30 – 11:30 AM |
10:30 – 12:30 PM |
12:30 – 2:30 PM |
|
20 November, 2025 |
1:30 – 3:30 PM |
9:30 – 11:30 AM |
10:30 – 12:30 PM |
12:30 – 2:30 PM |
|
27 November, 2025 |
1:30 – 3:30 PM |
9:30 – 11:30 AM |
10:30 – 12:30 PM |
12:30 – 2:30 PM |
Qualifications
Before registering, please make sure you meet one of the following criteria. If you are unsure, contact . By enrolling in this course, you attest that you meet the prerequisite requirements.
- Diploma or at least 2 years of completed post-secondary studies in architecture, engineering, urban planning, interior design or a related program
- A Journeyman Certificate of Qualification in a designated trade related to building construction
- Registered (or eligible for registration) as an engineer
- Registered (or eligible for registration) as an architect
- A minimum of five years of construction experience
- An equivalent combination of lived experience and work experience in the built environment
Receiving your certificate
Upon successful completion, you will automatically receive certificate.
Access and system requirements
System requirements:
This course is delivered on the Rick Hansen Foundation Training Portal. For more information about system requirements, go to Browser Support for Canvas to understand the system requirements for optimal performance.
Accessibility:
To learn more about accessibility, please visit Canvas Accessibility. We strive to make our courses as accessible as possible, but if you have any concerns or questions, please contact
Additional course resources:
- RHFAC Professional Handbook (downloadable on the APN in Resource Library)
- RHFAC Rating Survey (downloadable on the APN in the Resource Library)
- CSA B651-23 Accessible Design for the Built Environment (can be accessed for free online in both English and French on the CSA Group website)
- CSA B652-23 Accessible Dwellings (can be accessed for free online in both English and French on the CSA Group website):
Participants will also require the following assessment tools:
- Measuring device (laser or tape)
- Camera or phone (for taking photos)
- Digital level (downloadable apps, such as iHandy, are available
- Door pressure gauge (luggage scale works well)
Cost
$2,500 CAD