ADA Employer Coverage Checker
Determine whether your organization is a covered employer under Title I of the ADA.
Reviewed by theComplianceToolsLibrary Editorial Team · Last updated
Key facts
- Coverage threshold
- 15 or more employees
- Time test
- For each working day in 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or prior year
- Who counts
- Full- and part-time employees on the payroll (not independent contractors)
- Enforced by
- The EEOC
Which employers are covered by the ADA?
Title I of the ADA applies to employers that have 15 or more employees for each working day in 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. Covered employers must provide reasonable accommodations and may not discriminate based on disability.
The count includes full- and part-time employees on the payroll, but not independent contractors. Employers just under the federal threshold are often still covered by state disability laws, many of which apply to much smaller employers — so a "not covered" result federally does not mean no obligations at all.
How to use this tool
- 1
Enter your employee count
Enter the number of employees on the payroll.
- 2
Confirm the weeks test
Indicate whether you have that count for 20+ weeks this year or last.
- 3
Review coverage
See whether you're a covered employer under ADA Title I.
- 4
Check state law
If under 15, check your state law, which often covers smaller employers.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Counting independent contractors toward the 15-employee threshold.
- Ignoring the 20-calendar-week requirement.
- Assuming being under 15 employees means no disability obligations at all.
- Forgetting that the prior calendar year also counts toward coverage.
What to do next
- If covered, build an ADA interactive-process workflow.
- If not covered federally, check your state disability law's threshold.
- Train managers to recognize accommodation requests.
- Use the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Tracker for live requests.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How many employees triggers ADA coverage?
15 or more employees for each working day in 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or prior year.
Do part-time employees count toward the ADA threshold?
Yes, part-time employees on the payroll count; independent contractors do not.
Is my small business covered by disability law if I have under 15 employees?
Maybe — federal Title I won't apply, but many state disability laws cover much smaller employers.
Who enforces the ADA's employment rules?
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Related tools
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