Assistive personnel guidelines

Some candidates require additional assistance from another person during their test center visit. These service providers are called assistive personnel and can be approved as an accommodation. Assistive personnel are not permitted to remain in the test center unless there is an approved accommodation on file for the candidate.

Pearson is responsible for providing assistive personnel if the aid is directly related to test taking, such as reading the exam, recording exam answers, and using sign language to communicate. The accommodations team arranges for assistive personnel through Pearson’s vendor, uExamS.
Candidates are responsible for supplying personal care assistants (PCA). PCAs are individuals who assist candidates with personal cares during the exam. PCAs usually remain in the lobby.

Test centers are informed through Admissions Manager when assistive personnel are granted for a candidate. Please also check for an Approved accommodations site notification case containing details about any nonstandard expectations for assistive personnel.

Please note the following guidelines about assistive personnel:

Follow the steps in Checking in assistive personnel to sign in all assistive personnel.
If a candidate is approved to have assistive personnel in the testing room, the candidate must be seated in a separate room or be the only test taker in the testing room. Provide a chair for the assistive person.
When multiple assistive personnel are scheduled to work during a candidate's appointment, each assistive person must work during the specific times indicated in the accommodation case. The candidate may not request changes to the times when assistive personnel are scheduled.
In addition to the standard comfort aids, assistive personnel may bring the following items into the testing room, subject to visual inspection:

Contact lens wetting solution
Fully transparent, plastic, spill-proof bottle with water

Water bottles must meet requirements as described in Water bottles. Confirm that there is no writing on the container and that there are no papers affixed to or hidden inside of the containers. Uncovered containers are not permitted. The assistive person can refill the water bottle during breaks. Inspect the water bottle after each break.

At Pearson VUE Authorized Test Centers (PVTCs), assistive personnel must sign-in and out on the Test Center Log Sheet each time they enter or exit the testing room. The time must be logged on the log sheet.
At Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center Selects (PVTC Selects), you must log each time an assistive person enters or exits the testing room on the Site Visitor Log Sheet.

Readers

Readers read the exam questions and responses out loud to the candidate.

Exams must be read as printed, word for word, with no interpretations. A reader may not help the candidate identify or provide clues to the correct responses and may not answer questions about exam content. Readers must keep facial expressions, voice tone, and inflections neutral.
The candidate can instruct the reader to read the entire exam or parts of the exam as needed.
The reader should not enter responses for the candidate unless they have also been authorized as a recorder for the candidate.
The reader can read the candidate’s score report to the candidate if the candidate requests it. The score report must be read to the candidate in private.

Recorders

Recorders (also known as scribes) enter the candidate’s responses to exam questions on behalf of the candidate.

Responses should be recorded exactly as specified by the candidate. A recorder may not help the candidate identify correct responses and may not answer questions about exam content. Recorders must not provide any clues about the correct answers and must keep facial expressions neutral.
The recorder should not read any part of the exam out loud unless they have also been approved as a reader for the candidate.

Sign language interpreters

Sign language interpreters help hearing-impaired candidates communicate with test center staff. There are two types of interpreter:

Sign Lang Interpreter-Comm only: This type of interpreter provides assistance during the admission process; when the candidate is checked into the testing room; and during the exam tutorial.

After the exam starts, the sign language interpreter must leave the testing room. The interpreter is not permitted to stay in the testing room with the candidate but must wait in the waiting area. The candidate will signal the test administrator when the sign language interpreter is needed, and the test administrator will notify the interpreter. The interpreter must remain within the test center at all times during the exam.

When possible, interpreting should be done in the test center reception area so it does not disturb other candidates. If the candidate has a technical problem that requires your assistance, the interpreter may accompany you into the testing room.

Separate Room & Sign Lang Interp: This type of interpreter performs the communication tasks described above and also signs exam content for the candidate. If the exam sponsor has approved the interpreter to stay with the candidate in the testing room and the candidate has a separate room accommodation, Pearson VUE will notify you with an Approved accommodation site notification case.

Personal care assistants (PCAs)

Some PCAs need to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). For more information, see Checking in assistive personnel.

Personal care assistants (PCAs) help candidates with day-to-day activities. PCAs are supplied by the candidate, not Pearson VUE.

At a test center, PCAs can assist candidates with the following activities:

Navigating the test center
Using the restroom
Taking medication
Using medical equipment
Accessing stored personal items (food, drinks, medication, and medical equipment)

PCAs may not assist the candidate with the exam in any way and must stay in the waiting area at all times while the candidate is testing, unless specifically approved to enter the testing room.
PCAs may bring something to read in the waiting area while the candidate is testing (such as a book, magazine, or newspaper), but they may not use electronic devices at the test center. All electronic devices must be turned off and placed in locked storage.

If there are any exceptions to the above PCA guidelines, Pearson VUE will notify you with an Approved accommodation site notification case. The case will explain what the PCA is permitted to do for the candidate.