Introduction to CPDO^® Examination Accommodations

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), the National Board will assign reasonable test accommodations for all qualified CPDO^® examination candidates. The CPDO^® exam is administered at Pearson VUE test centers in Computer-Based Testing (CBT) format. Complete CPDO^® test accommodation information and application instructions can be found in the CPDO^® Test Accommodation Instructions section, which includes specific dates of interest related to special testing circumstances for the CPDO^® examination.

Candidates seeking ADA-eligible accommodations for the March 2017 CPDO^® Exam can submit their application up until Tuesday, January 24, 2017. However, candidates are advised to submit their application for accommodations far in advance of this date for the following reasons:

(1) Seating at Pearson VUE centers is on a first come, first served basis, even for candidates who are granted accommodations.
(2) For those ADA-eligible candidates seeking a separate room in which to take the test, please note that not all Pearson testing centers have a separate room available.

Though very rarely applied, the maximum possible stages of accommodation assignment collectively require up to 3 months, and may include the following steps:

• Candidate completes and submits Request for Test Accommodation form and asks documentation providers to send disability records to NBEO^®.
• NBEO^® receives the candidate's request form and original supporting documents.
• NBEO^® promptly arranges for expert external review of the original submitted case file and receives back the reviewer's report (10-day approximate turnaround time).
• NBEO^® performs preliminary evaluation of all original submitted materials.
• If approved, approval letter and accommodation agreement are prepared/finalized.
• If needed, NBEO^® requests supplementary information from the candidate.
• Candidate has existing information sent to NBEO^® from the information source or acquires supplementary documentation and arranges to have it sent to the NBEO^®.
• NBEO^® promptly sends entire case file out for follow-up expert external review; follow-up recommendations are received back within approximately 10 days.
• NBEO^® performs final review of entire case, including external reviewer's comments, and approves or denies request for accommodation.
• If approved, approval letter and accommodation agreement are prepared/finalized.
• If denied, denial letter is sent to candidate.
• Candidate may file staff-level appeal with NEW evidence of disability
• NBEO^® promptly sends entire case file out for follow-up expert external review; follow-up recommendations are received back within approximately 10 days.
• NBEO^® staff considers appeal and upholds or denies.
• If upheld, appeal fee is refunded; approval letter and accommodation agreement are prepared/sent.
• If denied, denial letter is sent to candidate.
• Candidate may file judicial-level appeal with NEW evidence of disability.
• NBEO^® promptly sends entire case file out for follow-up expert external review; follow-up recommendations are received back within approximately 10 days.
• NBEO^® staff and Board of Directors Judicial Committee convene to review case.
• If upheld, appeal fee is refunded; approval letter and accommodation agreement are prepared/sent.
• If denied, denial letter is sent to candidate; no test accommodations will be assigned for the given exam administration.

Summary of Sections Contained in the CPDO^® Test Accommodation Instructions:

1. General Information for All Candidates with Disabilities (ADA-Eligible, Non-ADA-Type)
2. Information Specific for Candidates with ADA-Eligible Disabilities
3. Information Specific for Candidates with Non-ADA-Type Disabilities
4. Comparison and Examples of ADA-Eligible and Non-ADA-Type> Disability Processes