Comfort aids

Comfort aids are not considered to be accommodations and do not need to be pre-approved by Pearson VUE or the exam sponsor. Thus, candidates are allowed to bring certain comfort aid items into the testing room without receiving prior approval. See the Pearson VUE website for a current list of permitted comfort aids:

https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/test-takers/accommodations/comfort-aid-list.html

Face masks are considered a comfort aid, and candidates do not need prior approval to wear a face mask in the testing room. For more information, see Handling candidates with face masks.

Candidates must provide their own comfort aids except for the following items:

Earplugs
Noise-reducing headphones
Tissues/Kleenex

PVTCs: Though not required, Pearson VUE recommends that earplugs, noise-reducing headphones, and tissues or Kleenex be available to candidates. If your site does not have these items or the candidate wants the test center to provide another comfort aid, an accommodation is required.

PVTC Selects:

You are required to have earplugs available at your test center in case candidates request them.
Though not required, Pearson VUE recommends that noise-reducing headphones and tissues or Kleenex be available to candidates. If your site does not have these items or the candidate wants the test center to provide another comfort aid, an accommodation is required.

If you give the candidate earplugs, make sure to remove the earplugs from the package. Earplug packages are not permitted in the testing room.

Some items are not allowed in the testing room unless the candidate has an accommodation for the item in advance. The following items are not considered comfort aids:

Water bottles
Diabetic testing supplies, such as handheld monitors, lancets, syringes, and other related items

Note: If an insulin pump or continuous glucose monitor is attached to the candidate's body and inaudible, it is considered a comfort aid.

Other medical devices (unless attached to the candidate's body and inaudible)

An accommodation is required for these items because candidates who use them might disturb other candidates. These items might also damage the computer equipment.

Inspecting comfort aids

Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids are considered a comfort aid unless they require an external device (such as a mobile phone) to operate. If the hearing aids cannot function without a mobile phone, then the candidate must request an accommodation in advance.

Visually inspect all comfort aids before you allow the candidate to bring them into the testing room. Do not directly touch the item or the candidate, and do not ask the candidate to remove the item. The only exception to this process is eyeglasses, which candidates are asked to remove and show (but not hand over) to the test administrator. For more information, see Checking eyeglasses.

In general, you do not need to create a case when candidates use a comfort aid unless the aid is unusual or suspicious. Check the exam sponsor's client reference for any nonstandard case requirements. If you do notice something unusual, create a case, selecting these options:

Admissions/Check-in

Personal item inspected

In the case Description field, explain what is unusual about the item.

If you are unsure whether to allow a specific comfort aid in the testing room, inform the candidate that you need to get approval and immediately call the test center support line to contact the accommodations team.