Requesting Alternative Testing Arrangements

Alternative testing arrangements that are appropriate in the context of the certification exam and supported by documentation may be provided for the following candidates who would not be able to take the exam under standard conditions:

• Candidates with disabilities
• Candidates with health-related needs
• Candidates who are nursing mothers

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 alternative testing arrangement(s) or may not support the requested alternative testing arrangement(s). Additional information or diagnostic test results may be needed.

Accommodations available without pre-approval. Please note that all sites are wheelchair accessible and all candidates will have access to visual enhancement features including color contrast and enlarged font. Additionally, test centers allow a variety of comfort aids; see the complete list at Pearson VUE's Comfort Aids page . These aids are allowed without prior approval. Note that in some cases, use of earplugs or noise-reducing headphones may require pre-approval at certain test centers; please contact customer support if you have questions about the use of these aids.

In addition, all candidates are permitted to take breaks to use the restroom, take medication, use an inhaler, etc., without prior approval. Any time taken for these breaks is considered part of the candidate's available testing time.

Accommodations requiring pre-approval. Please be aware that the Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form and supporting documentation that you submit may be shared with the TEA 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.

In some cases, you may be contacted directly to discuss suitable testing arrangements.

+− Requesting Additional Time

To request alternative arrangements, you must follow the Procedures for Requesting Alternative Testing Arrangements below.

Overview

1. Review "Required Documentation" below and collect any necessary documents.
2. Register and pay for the exam. Be sure to declare your intent to request alternative testing arrangements during registration. Do NOT schedule your exam appointment until you receive notification of resolution.
3. Submit your completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form and supporting documentation.
4. Check your email for your notification of resolution (approximately 3 weeks after your completed request is received).
5. Follow the instructions provided in your resolution email to schedule your appointment with any approved alternative testing arrangements.

Timeline for requests. Candidates who wish to request alternative testing arrangements should register as early as possible in advance of their desired exam date because of the additional time needed to process the registration and to schedule the exam administration date. After registering, you must submit a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form and any required documentation. Most candidates will be contacted regarding the resolution of a request for alternative testing arrangements within three weeks after the request form and all required documentation have been received.

Some alternative testing arrangements (e.g., Braille exams) have specialized production requirements associated with them, and more time for production may be required. Your exam appointment will be scheduled based on the time needed for production of materials.

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

When your request for alternative testing arrangements has been resolved, you will be contacted via email regarding the resolution and given important information about scheduling your exam appointment.

Scheduling your exam appointment. Once you have received confirmation that your alternative testing arrangements request has been resolved, you will be directed to sign in to your account for instructions on how to schedule your appointment with any approved accommodations. You may be instructed to schedule your appointment online or by telephone, as some accommodations require special arrangements for staff, space, and materials.

If you are instructed to schedule by telephone, you must identify yourself as a candidate who needs to schedule an exam appointment with alternative testing arrangements. If you do not indicate that you have been approved for alternative testing arrangements at the time that you call to schedule your exam appointment, you will be scheduled for an exam appointment without your approved alternative testing arrangements.

When you call to schedule an exam appointment, you should be prepared to identify your preferred exam date and test center. Exam appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please schedule your exam 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 exam date.

Alternative Exam Dates

Computer-administered testing is available during a range of weekdays. For this reason, individuals whose religious practices prohibit Saturday testing are able to independently schedule an exam appointment that does not conflict with their religious practices without submitting a request for alternative testing arrangements.

Institutional Verification of Documentation

Candidates who are requesting any of the following alternative testing arrangements may use the Institutional Verification of Documentation  as an alternative to providing documentation directly to Pearson for review.

• 50% extra time (time and one half)
• Sign language interpreter (for communication with test center staff)
• Screen magnification software (allowing for magnification GREATER than 200%)
• Braille exam format

For all other alternative testing arrangements requests, supporting documentation must be submitted directly to Pearson for review.

Verification requirements. In order to be accepted for review in support of a request for alternative testing arrangements for the alternative testing arrangements listed above:

• The Institutional Verification of Documentation must be printed on official institution letterhead.
• The Institutional Verification of Documentation must be completed and signed by an authorized professional representing one of the following:
  • Office of Disability Services at the candidate's college or university
  • Human Resources office at the candidate's place of employment
  • Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) office in the candidate's state of residence
• The institutional representative must be able to verify that the candidate has received the requested alternative testing arrangement(s) at the institution and that the institution has on file the candidate's documentation supporting the requested alternative testing arrangement, a copy of which must be supplied to Pearson upon request.
• The institutional representative must be able to provide specific information contained in the documentation and certify that the documentation meets Texas Educator Certification Examination Program requirements, including certifying that the documentation is complete and current according to Texas Educator Certification Examination Program requirements (see Required Documentation and Documentation Currency Policy).

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 required documentation to support your request for alternative testing arrangements.

To request alternative testing arrangements for subsequent registrations, you only need to complete a registration and submit a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form, as long as your condition and the requested alternative testing arrangements have not changed. If your requested alternative testing arrangements have changed, you must submit documentation to support any new requests.

All documentation must meet all of the following requirements:

• It must include 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.
• It must include a diagnosis of the disability or disabilities.
• It must include recommended alternative testing arrangements that are specifically related to the disability and that are reasonable within the context of the exam, or verification that the candidate has received the requested alternative testing arrangement(s) at the high school or college/university level.
• It must be current, according to the Documentation Currency Policy.
• Additionally, if you are requesting alternative testing arrangements because of a learning or cognitive disability, your documentation must include:
  • 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 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 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*

Documentation, in itself, does not automatically support the granting of alternative testing arrangements.

*See Documentation Currency Policy for exceptions.

Before you submit your form:

• Review the instructions on this page carefully.
• Create an account.
• Register for your exam.
  Be sure to indicate your intent to request alternative arrangements when prompted by the system.
• Submit your payment.

Once you have completed these steps, submit your:

• Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form

If you also plan to submit an Institutional Verification of Documentation, please follow all instructions on the form carefully.

• Institutional Verification of Documentation 

Pearson will notify candidates 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 "Required Documentation." 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 the Director of Alternative Testing Arrangements (see Contact Us).

The appeal should include the following information:

• Your name, address, and TEA ID number
• The date of the appeal
• The date of the exam administration upon which the appeal is based
• 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 must be submitted within 30 days after receipt of the notification of denial. Please be advised that an appeal may take up to 30 calendar days to resolve. If you schedule your exam date before the appeal is resolved and the appeal is later granted, you will be scheduled for an exam appointment without your approved alternative testing arrangements.

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 TEA. In addition, all appeal determinations are final.