Use this list with a full checker such as PAC (free, Windows) or Adobe Acrobat Pro, and a screen reader test for important documents. The Section508.gov PDF testing module walks through the manual steps in Acrobat.
The 14 checks
Text is real, not a scanned imageAutomated
Select text or search inside the file. If nothing is selectable, run OCR before anything else.
The document is taggedAutomated
A tag tree (structure tree) must exist and the document must be marked as tagged.
It has a meaningful titleAutomated
Set a descriptive title in document properties — not a file name like “Microsoft Word - Doc1.docx”.
The window shows the titleAutomated
Set “Show: Document Title” (DisplayDocTitle) so screen readers announce the title, not the file name.
The primary language is setAutomated
For example en-US or es-US. Screen readers use it to pick the right voice and pronunciation.
Headings are taggedAutomated
Use H1–H6 tags that match the visual hierarchy so people can navigate by heading.
Images have alternative textAutomated
Every meaningful Figure needs alt text; decorative images should be artifacts.
Data tables have header cellsAutomated
Use TH for header cells (with scope where needed) so cells are announced with their headers.
Form fields have descriptions and tab order follows structureAutomated
Each field needs a tooltip/label; pages with fields or links should use structure tab order.
Long documents have bookmarksAutomated
Documents over ~20 pages should have bookmarks that mirror the headings.
Reading order is logicalManual
Check with the tag tree or a screen reader: columns, sidebars and footnotes must read in the right order.
Alt text is accurate and usefulManual
Software can confirm alt text exists, not that it describes the image well.
Color contrast is sufficientManual
Text needs 4.5:1 contrast (3:1 for large text); information is not conveyed by color alone.
Links are descriptiveManual
Link text makes sense out of context (“2027 budget (PDF)”, not “click here”).
Why the order matters
Scanned and untagged files are the most expensive to fix — they need OCR and full tagging, usually by a person. A file that only lacks a title and language takes seconds. Triage first so the budget goes where it’s needed: see how to estimate remediation cost.
Frequently asked questions
Can a PDF pass an automated check and still be inaccessible?
Yes. Automated tools confirm structure exists; they cannot judge whether alt text is meaningful or reading order makes sense. The Matterhorn Protocol marks 47 of its 136 PDF/UA failure conditions as usually requiring human judgment.
What is the fastest win?
Title, language and display-title settings. They take seconds per file and PDF Triage Pro can apply them to a whole batch.