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    AODA Training: What Ontario Requires and the Free Official Option

    Who has to be trained, what on, where to get it free, and the truth about AODA certificates.

    Last reviewed . Accessibility rules change, so check the official sources linked below before you rely on a detail.

    Is AODA training mandatory?

    Yes. Every Ontario business and non-profit with one or more employees must train its employees, volunteers and anyone who serves the public on its behalf. Training covers the accessibility standards that fit each person's job and the Ontario Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities. Ontario offers free modules that meet the basics.

    The rule is section 7 of O. Reg. 191/11. It is one of the few AODA duties that applies at every size, so it is a good place to start. It is also one of the cheapest: the official modules cost nothing but an afternoon and a coffee.

    Who needs AODA training?

    • all employees and volunteers: paid or unpaid, full-time, part-time or contract
    • everyone who helps develop your policies, including owners, managers, senior leaders, directors and board members
    • anyone who provides goods, services or facilities on your behalf, such as an outside contact centre or a facilities management company

    You do not have to train employees who work outside Ontario.

    What AODA training has to cover

    Ontario's guidance breaks it into four parts:

    1. Accessible customer service for everyone: the purpose of the AODA, the customer service standard, your own policy, how to interact with people with different disabilities and with people using assistive devices, service animals or support persons, how to use any accessibility equipment you have, and what to do if someone is having trouble accessing your service.
    2. Work-related accessibility that fits each role. Ontario's own example: a human resources manager needs different training than a cashier.
    3. The Ontario Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities.
    4. Changes to your accessibility policies, whenever they change.

    The regulation leaves the method to you. Online modules, an in-person session or a mix all count, as long as the training is appropriate to each person's duties.

    Free official AODA training: AccessForward

    AccessForward (opens in a new tab) is a Government of Ontario website with free training modules built for the section 7 requirement. Its FAQ says the modules are recognized by the Government of Ontario. The Ontario Human Rights Commission's free module covers the Code part.

    Free official AODA training modules and a sensible way to assign them.
    ModuleWho should take it
    Customer service standardEveryone. Ontario tells organizations to start here.
    General requirementsOwners, managers and whoever writes your policies.
    Information and communications standardAnyone who handles your website, documents, marketing or feedback.
    Employment standardAnyone involved in hiring, managing or accommodating staff.
    Design of public spaces standardAnyone planning new or renovated public spaces.
    Transportation standardTransit and transportation providers.
    Working Together: The Code and the AODAEveryone. It covers the Human Rights Code part of the requirement.

    AccessForward also has printable booklets with the requirements specific to small organizations, a guide for whoever runs the training, and template forms for tracking it. If you have a learning management system, the modules can be downloaded into it.

    Do you get an AODA certificate?

    Not from Ontario automatically. AccessForward, the government's own training site, does not issue a certificate at the end of its modules. Its guide to section 7 training includes a sample completion certificate you can use as proof that someone finished the training. We have not found any government "AODA certification" for individuals.

    Private training companies issue their own completion certificates, which is what most "AODA certificate" searches are looking for. They can be useful for your records. They are not a licence, and paying for one does not make the training more legal than the free version.

    When to train, and does AODA training expire?

    The regulation says people must be trained "as soon as practicable" after they join, and that you must train on changes to your accessibility policies on an ongoing basis. It does not set an expiry date or a refresher cycle.

    Rule of thumb: train every new hire in their first weeks, retrain whenever a policy changes, and run a short refresher once a year so the service animal answer is not a surprise when the service animal arrives.

    Do you have to keep AODA training records?

    If you have 50 or more employees in Ontario, yes. Keep a record of the training provided, including the dates and the number of people trained. Under 50 it is optional, but a simple spreadsheet makes your compliance report much easier to certify if you have 20 or more employees.

    Questions about AODA training

    Is AODA training mandatory?

    Yes, for every Ontario business and non-profit with one or more employees. Section 7 of O. Reg. 191/11 requires training on the accessibility standards that apply to each person's duties and on the Ontario Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities.

    Is there free AODA training?

    Yes. AccessForward, a Government of Ontario website, offers free training modules on customer service, the general requirements, information and communications, employment, design of public spaces and transportation. The Ontario Human Rights Commission offers a free module on the Code and the AODA.

    Does AODA training expire?

    The regulation does not set an expiry date. It requires training as soon as practicable after someone joins, and ongoing training whenever your accessibility policies change. Some organizations run refreshers on a schedule, but that is their choice, not a legal deadline.

    Do I get an AODA certificate after training?

    AccessForward does not issue a certificate automatically. Its guide to section 7 training includes a sample completion certificate you can use as proof. Private course providers issue their own completion certificates. None of these is a government licence.

    Who needs AODA training?

    All employees and volunteers, paid or unpaid, full-time, part-time or contract. Also anyone who helps develop your policies, such as owners, managers and board members, and anyone who provides goods, services or facilities on your behalf, like an outside call centre.

    Do I have to keep AODA training records?

    Organizations with 50 or more employees must keep records of the training, including the dates it was provided and the number of people trained. Smaller businesses do not have to, but a simple log makes the compliance report easier.

    Official sources

    Checked on November 5, 2026.

    Staff trained, website still a mystery?

    Training covers people. If you have 50 or more employees, the website has to meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA too. We can check it.

    See AODA website compliance

    Continue the AODA Guide

    AODA Requirements by Business Size

    Pick your employee count and see which AODA duties apply at 1 to 19, 20 to 49 and 50+ employees, with the regulation section for each.

    AODA Compliance Report 2026: Who Files by December 31 and How

    Ontario businesses with 20+ employees file by December 31, 2026. What you need, the portal steps and what your senior officer certifies.

    What Is the AODA? Meaning, the 5 Standards and Who It Covers

    What AODA stands for, what the law is for, the five standards in O. Reg. 191/11, who it applies to and how it works with the Code.