Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) Professional Training

Registration Fee: Member: $2,250 + taxes; Non-Member: $2,500 + taxes
Dates: Courses available in Fall, Winter and Spring
Duration: Approximately 60 hours including 8 live virtual two-hour weekly sessions
Delivered by: The Rick Hansen Foundation

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.  

Note: The RHFAC Professional exam must be booked separately by participants.

RHFAC Professional Training learners 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; and
• understand construction projects and how RHFAC Professionals can be involved.

Who Should Take this Training?

RHFAC Professional Training supports Architects, Urban Planners, Engineers, Facility Managers and Operators, Accessibility Consultants and more.
 

Course Welcome from Rick Hansen

Ready to register?

The RHFAC Professional Training course provides training on the RHFAC rating and certification process for learners to become designated RHFAC Professionals.

During this course, learners will be required to:

• Review and analyze detailed documents and construction drawings.
• Conduct site visits and collect data using equipment and tools such as measuring tape, slope reader, light meter, etc.
• Capture site features of the site using photography or other digital equipment.

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 two-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.

Upcoming Courses:
Two-hour weekly sessions run once per week, typically on Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8:30 PM (Eastern Time Zone). There are eight (8) virtual sessions in total.

• Fall: 6 October 2025 – 28 November 2025

08 October, 2025
15 October, 2025
22 October, 2025
29 October, 2025
05 November, 2025
12 November, 2025
19 November, 2025
26 November, 2025

Instructor: Pat Short

• Fall: 13 October 2025 – 20 November 2025

15 October, 2025
22 October, 2025
29 October, 2025
05 November, 2025
12 November, 2025
19 November, 2025
26 November, 2025
03 December, 2025

Instructor: Gail Martiri

• Winter: 12 January 2026 - 6 March 2026

14 January, 2026
21 January, 2026
28 January, 2026
04 February, 2026
11 February, 2026
18 February, 2026
25 February, 2026
04 March, 2026

Instructor: Jenny Blome

• Winter: 19 January 2026 - 13 March 2026

21 January, 2026
28 January, 2026
04 February, 2026
11 February, 2026
18 February, 2026
25 February, 2026
04 March, 2026
11 March, 2026

Instructor: Gail Martiri

• Spring: 13 April 2026 - 5 June 2026

15 April, 2026
22 April, 2026
29 April, 2026
06 May, 2026
13 May, 2026
20 May, 2026
27 May, 2026
03 June, 2026

Instructor: Julia Pannolino

• Spring: 14 April 2026 - 6 June 2026

15 April, 2026
22 April, 2026
29 April, 2026
06 May, 2026
13 May, 2026
20 May, 2026
27 May, 2026
03 June, 2026

Instructor: Pat Short

RHFAC Professional Training Course Prerequisites:

• a certificate or at least one year of completed post-secondary studies in architecture, building construction, civil engineering, urban planning, interior design or a related program; or
• a Journeyman Certificate of Qualification in a designated trade related to building construction; or
• an engineer (or eligible for registration as an engineer); or
• an architect (or eligible for registration as an architect); or
• an architectural or engineering technologist or technician; or
• a minimum of five years of construction experience; or
• an equivalent combination of lived experience and work experience in the built environment.

Education and credentials awarded outside of Canada will be considered.

By enrolling in this course, you attest that you meet the prerequisite requirements. If you are unsure, contact training@rickhasen.com.

Meet the instructors:
Your RHFAC instructors are not just educators—they are seasoned professionals and recognized accessibility experts, bringing real-world experiences to their teaching.

	Gail Martiri is an accomplished expert in universal design, accessibility consulting, and strategic advising, with over 20 years of experience in government relations, product regulation, and inclusive design. She is a certified Aging in Place Specialist and Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Professional. An experienced educator, Gail has taught accessibility and inclusive design at Toronto Metropolitan University, the University of Alberta, and Carleton University. She has led RHFAC accessibility audits across sectors including education, government, culture, and recreation, with clients such as Carleton University, Tafelmusik, and the Canadian Mental Health Association. In addition to consulting and teaching, Gail applies her expertise to designing accessible, beautiful spaces for both residential and commercial environments. She also volunteers as a ROMWalks guide with the Royal Ontario Museum, leading historical walking tours of Toronto.
	Jenny Blome has over 20+ years of experience in user design, product management, and strategic consulting with innovative companies such as Apple. In 2014, she joined the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) to lead the design of a new technology solution for the accessibility rating of the built environment. This effort was a predecessor of the organization’s Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Program (RHFAC), its core focus today. Jenny was the co-architect of the RHFAC Rating Survey, the basis of the RHFAC certification system. In her role as Director at RHF, Jenny provided accessibility consultation for new construction projects and accessibility assessments of existing facilities in a wide range of industries. A few of the projects include: Hill Children’s Health Centre at BC Children’s Hospital, First Nations Health Authority, UBC School of Biomedical Engineering, UBC Gateway Building, Canadian Museum of Science and Technology, Rideau Hall, Canadian Border Security Agency, Canadian Transportation Agency, CN Tower, New Toronto Courthouse, Canada Post. She also managed educational programs including accessibility training for architects, engineers, designers, planners, and other professionals. Additionally, she developed a new accessibility curriculum, “Accessible Spaces 101,” which she facilitated as SME.  Jenny currently provides accessibility consulting for a wide range of industries, existing sites, and new development including government, commercial, residential, and educational institutions.
	Julia Pannolino is a professional engineer specialized in the transportation industry, with a strong commitment to improving the user experience within the built environment. As a Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certified (RHFAC) Professional, she incorporates Universal Design Principles into all of her work to create efficient, inclusive and accessible infrastructure. Julia is passionate about designing transportation solutions that not only serve communities effectively but also elevate the everyday experience for all users.
	Pat Short is committed to building accessible communities. For over a decade, Pat’s mission has been to make a difference in people’s lives by creating spaces that are welcoming and inclusive for everyone – including those with disabilities.  Pat has an extensive background in teaching and consulting, and has worked in the fields of information technology, business and engineering in a career spanning over 40 years. She has acted as a consultant to the Rick Hansen Foundation since 2015 and was a member of the inaugural Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Program™ (RHFAC) development team as lead designer of the course curriculum. As primary instructor of the RHFAC Training Course, Pat has taught at Vancouver Community College, Nova Scotia Community College, Athabasca University and the University of Alberta.  Pat also provides accessibility consulting services to organizations and design teams. Services include RHFAC ratings, gap analysis reports, architectural plan reviews, and identification and evaluation of accessibility solutions. Pat is a Registered Professional Engineer in British Columbia. She has a degree in engineering from Queen’s University, an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University, a Certificate in Computing Studies from Simon Fraser University and a BC Provincial Instructor Diploma from Vancouver Community College.

Certification:
Upon successful completion, you will automatically receive a certificate. 

Cost and Registration:
Regular price: $2,500 + Applicable Taxes; Non-members register -here-

RAIC Member price: $2,250 + Applicable Taxes; Members can register through a special link in RAIC Connects. Find the link -here-. Contact education@raic.org with any questions.
 

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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.