REGISTERING FOR ALTERNATIVE TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CPACE–WRITTEN

Alternative testing arrangements that are reasonable in the context of this credentialing test and supported by documentation may be provided for the following examinees who would not be able to take the test under standard conditions:

• Examinees with physical disabilities (e.g., visual impairments, hearing impairments, motor disabilities, illness, injury)
• Examinees with disabilities other than physical (e.g., learning disabilities)

All timely and complete alternative testing arrangements requests and accompanying documentation are reviewed on a case-by-case basis upon receipt. In some cases, the submitted documentation may not be sufficient to make a determination regarding the requested accommodation(s) or may not support the requested accommodation(s). Additional information or diagnostic test results may be needed.

Please be aware that the Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form and supporting documentation that you submit may be shared with the CTC in order to process your request. The documentation will be kept confidential to the extent required by law.

Some alternative testing arrangements may be accommodated at selected test centers only.

Procedures for Requesting Alternative Testing Arrangements

Initial requests for alternative testing arrangements. In all cases, examinees requesting alternative testing arrangements must (1) complete a test registration and submit correct payment, (2) mail or fax a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form, and (3) mail or fax any required documentation. The Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form is available to download as a PDF document by selecting "Print Bulletin and Forms (PDF)" on the CPACE website. Write your name and telephone number on each piece of correspondence you provide. You should try to request alternative testing arrangements as early as possible. Due to the amount of time required to process a request, you may not be able to schedule a test appointment for your desired test date.

Subsequent requests for alternative testing arrangements. The Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form must be submitted each time you register. The first time that you request alternative testing arrangements, you will need to submit all of the required documentation to support your request for accommodations. Evaluation Systems will keep your documentation on file for one year. If you register for subsequent test dates within that year, you only need to submit your completed registration, correct payment, and a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form, as long as your condition and the requested accommodations have not changed.

Requesting alternative arrangements. Examinees who wish to request alternative testing arrangements should register as early as possible in advance of their desired testing window because of the additional time needed to process the registration and to schedule the test appointment. After registering, you must mail or fax a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form and any required documentation as described below. Most examinees will be contacted regarding the resolution of a request for accommodations within three weeks after the request form and all required documentation have been received.

Notification of resolution. When you submit a request for alternative testing arrangements, you should wait to receive confirmation of resolution before scheduling your test appointment. If you schedule your test appointment before receiving this confirmation, you will be required to cancel and reschedule it in order to ensure that your accommodations will be appropriately applied. This could result in a delay of your desired test date.

When your request for alternative testing arrangements has been resolved, you will be contacted regarding the resolution and given important information about scheduling your test appointment. In order to ensure that your approved accommodations are appropriately applied to your test appointment and available for your testing session, you must schedule your test appointment by phone. Test appointments scheduled through your account on the CPACE website will not reflect any approved alternative testing arrangements.

Scheduling your test appointment. Once you have received confirmation that your alternative testing arrangements request has been resolved, you must call the Pearson VUE phone number provided to you and identify yourself as a candidate who needs to schedule a test appointment for the CPACE–Written with accommodations. If you do not indicate that you have been approved for accommodations at the time that you call to schedule your test appointment, you will be scheduled for a test appointment without your approved accommodations.

When you call to schedule your test appointment, you should be prepared to identify your preferred test date and test center. Please be aware that some accommodations may require up to three weeks prior to the date of your test appointment to make the necessary arrangements for staff, space, and materials. Test appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please schedule your test appointment as soon as possible after your request has been resolved in order to allow time for such arrangements to be made and to avoid a potential delay in your test date.

Requests for additional time. The testing time is designed to allow sufficient time to complete the CPACE–Written. Examinees may find the 3 hours and 45 minutes of testing time to be more than enough to complete the test, even if they have needed extra time on other tests they have taken in the past. If, however, you have a documented disability and you feel you need extra time for testing, you may submit a request for alternative testing arrangements when you register for the CPACE–Written.

If you are requesting additional time, please note that time and a half is the typical time extension allowed. Include in your request the amount of additional time requested. Please note that all requests for additional time require supporting documentation, including a professional’s recommendation for the specific time extension requested. Testing must be completed within one test administration day, and all requests for additional time are subject to approval by the CTC.

Documentation Requirements and Review of Requests

Arrangements not requiring prior approval. All test centers are wheelchair-accessible. In addition, all examinees are permitted to take breaks to use the restroom, take medication outside the testing room, etc., without prior approval. Any time taken for these breaks is considered part of the examinee's available testing time.

Arrangements requiring prior approval. The following alternative testing arrangements may be requested because of a disability (e.g., visual impairment, hearing impairment, motor disability, illness, injury) and can be accommodated at all test centers:

• Allowance of a medical device (e.g., inhaler) in the testing room
• Use of a trackball mouse
• Adjustable table

To request any of the alternative testing arrangements listed above, you must

1. complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and
2. submit a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form indicating the nature of and reason for the request.

If you wish to request arrangements other than those listed above, please review the instructions that follow.

Registering for alternative testing arrangements because of a physical disability. If you require arrangements other than those listed above and the alternative testing arrangements are being requested due to a physical disability (e.g., visual impairment), you must

1. complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and
2. submit a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form identifying the disability and the specific arrangements requested; and
3. submit a signed statement by a licensed professional, written on that person's professional letterhead, whose license or credentials are appropriate to diagnose the disability (e.g., ophthalmologist for visual impairment). The statement must indicate the following:
   
   
   • The disability for which alternative testing arrangements are being requested
   • The recommended test administration modifications that are specifically related to the disability and are reasonable in the context of this credentialing test

Registering for alternative testing arrangements because of a disability other than physical. If you are requesting alternative testing arrangements due to a disability other than physical (e.g., learning disability), you must

1. complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and
2. submit a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form identifying the disability and the specific arrangements requested; and
3. submit a signed statement by a qualified professional, written on that person's professional letterhead, whose license or credentials are appropriate to describe or diagnose the disability. The statement must indicate the following:
   
   
   • The disability for which alternative testing arrangements are being requested, with supporting documentation in the form of one of the following, which must be included as part of the statement or as separate documentation:
     
     
     • A full educational history with complete documentation of special education services, including other disability-related testing modifications, received within the past five years, along with the name, date, and results of the diagnostic test(s) or evaluation(s), designed for purposes other than screening, administered within the past five years, used to document the disability (test results should demonstrate a significant discrepancy in your performance and your expected capability level and demonstrate the current functional impact of your disability)
     
     
     or
     
     • Results of a psychological, neuropsychological, or psychoeducational diagnostic test battery, designed for purposes other than screening, administered within the past five years, interpreted by a qualified professional whose license or credentials are appropriate to diagnose the condition (test results should demonstrate a significant discrepancy in your performance and your expected capability level and demonstrate the current functional impact of your disability)
     
     
     or
     
     • Results of an evaluation interpreted by a licensed professional verifying physical abnormalities as evidenced by a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalogram (EEG), or brain topography mapping test administered within the past five years
     
     
     and
     
   • The recommended test administration modifications that are specifically related to the disability and are reasonable in the context of this credentialing test

Please note: If your test(s) or evaluation(s) were administered prior to the past five years, a full battery of testing may not be required. Instead, you may wish to consult with a qualified professional to determine which diagnostic test(s) related to your disability would indicate the current functional impact of your disability.

Appeal of denial of request for alternative testing arrangements. Evaluation Systems will notify examinees of the determination made with regard to their requests for alternative testing arrangements. You may appeal the denial of some or all of your requests for alternative testing arrangements. Before you submit your appeal, it is suggested that you review "Registering for Alternative Testing Arrangements." This section describes the documentation requirements for different types of alternative testing arrangements requests. If after reviewing the information in this section you still wish to proceed with an appeal of the decision, you may do so by submitting your appeal, in writing, to:

Director of Alternative Testing Arrangements
CPACE Program
Evaluation Systems
Pearson
P.O. Box 340880
Sacramento, CA 95834-0880

Telephone: (866) 496-7314 or (916) 928-4048
Fax: (866) 483-6460 or (916) 928-6110

The appeal should include the following information:

• Your name, address, and Social Security number
• The date of the appeal
• Your desired testing window
• Any documentation, in addition to the documentation that you submitted with your Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form, that supports your alternative testing arrangements requests
• A brief summary of the reasons why your alternative testing arrangements requests should be granted
• Your signature

Your appeal should be submitted as soon as possible. Please be advised that an appeal may take up to 30 calendar days to resolve. If you schedule your test date before the appeal is resolved and the appeal is later granted, you will be scheduled for a test appointment without your approved accommodations.

After your appeal is reviewed, you will be notified as to whether your appeal has been granted or denied. All appeal determinations are subject to the approval of the CTC, and all appeal determinations are final.

Alternative test dates for religious reasons. The CPACE–Written is available during testing windows that include a range of weekdays (see "Test Dates"). For this reason, individuals whose religious practices prohibit Saturday testing may be able to independently schedule a testing appointment that does not conflict with their religious practices without submitting a request for alternative testing arrangements. If you are unable to schedule an appointment that does not conflict with your religious practices, please contact Evaluation Systems to discuss your needed arrangements.

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