Accommodations overview

Most accommodations require advance preparation, and candidates must have approval from Pearson VUE or the exam sponsor to be granted an accommodation. After being approved, candidates should follow the scheduling instructions in their determination letter. Accommodations cannot be added to already scheduled exams.

Each exam sponsor sets its own accommodation policies. While many use Pearson VUE's standard accommodations, always check the exam sponsor’s client reference to determine their specific policies. Do not make any accommodations arrangements yourself.

When a candidate is approved to test with an accommodation, your test center is notified in the following ways:

The test center schedule in Admissions Manager indicates that the candidate's appointment includes an accommodation.

Most accommodations are listed only in the test center schedule, so regularly check the schedule to prepare for any upcoming accommodations. For more information, see Checking the schedule in Admissions Manager.

Pearson VUE assigns an Approved accommodation site notification case to your test center.

Pearson VUE typically creates a case for your test center only if you need to follow additional or nonstandard steps to administer the accommodation appointment.

The Approved accommodation site notification case automatically closes 48 hours after the scheduled appointment. If there is an issue with the accommodation, create a new case to report the issue. Select these options when creating the case:

Accommodation

Problem or complaint with approved testing accommodations

Accommodation categories

Note the following general categories of accommodations. For more information about specific accommodations, refer to About disabilities and accommodations.

Time extensions

Time extensions are usually added to the exam time automatically. You should not manually extend the time in Delivery Manager.
Some exam sponsors grant time extensions for ESL (English as a Second Language) candidates. These extensions are automatically added to the exam time when candidates register and will show up in Admissions Manager. For more information, see General guidelines for ESL accommodations.
Additional break time may be granted in two ways:

Scheduled breaks are already built into the overall exam time. Generally, they must be taken at specific times during the exam.
Unscheduled breaks display in the schedule as Unscheduled Breaks or Frequent/Extended Breaks and may be taken at any time during the exam. The clock does not stop during unscheduled breaks.

Assistive personnel

If the candidate was granted the use of assistive personnel, such as an exam reader, you must admit both the candidate and the assistive person. For more information, see Checking in assistive personnel.

Special equipment

Candidates may be approved to use a specific keyboard, mouse, or other tool to help them access the exam. The accommodations team or exam sponsor will ship the equipment directly to your test center. An Approved accommodations fulfillment case will be created to alert you to the shipment.

Verify the equipment has arrived and is working as expected before exam day and update the case. If the equipment has not arrived or is not working, immediately call the test center support line to contact the accommodations team.

Nonstandard accommodations

Nonstandard accommodations do not have a specific accommodation code in the system and will display as Other. Often these accommodations include bringing specific items that are not comfort aids into the testing room. If a nonstandard accommodation is approved, an Approved accommodation site notification case will be created. You may receive an email or call from the accommodations team before the appointment to explain the accommodation and help you make any necessary preparations.

Candidates are allowed to take certain items into the testing room without having them approved as an accommodation (for more information, see Comfort aids). Individual exam sponsor policies on comfort aids may vary.