Test Accommodation Policy

Effective March 1, 2025

Candidates can request a test accommodation due to a documented disability, medical diagnosis, or for a religious reason. If the NDEB grants an accommodation, it will do so considering the cost, and health and safety requirements. The accommodation cannot modify the nature and level of the competencies assessed or represent a fundamental alteration of the test.

Requesting a Test Accommodation

A request for a test accommodation will be considered if the request is received through NDEBConnect with the completed form and all required supporting documentation no later than 8 weeks before the examination date. Any requests received with missing information or documentation will not be considered.

All test accommodation requests will be reviewed by the Test Accommodation Coordinator and Senior Staff. Following this review, the proposed accommodation will be sent to you for review and may differ from the accommodation(s) you requested.

When a consultation with your health care provider is required it may take time, we may not be able to coordinate your accommodation within 8 weeks.

In the event of an emergency situation, candidates can submit a late request for a test accommodation. Late requests can be difficult to coordinate even for emergency situations.

If we are unable to make arrangements in time for your scheduled examination, you would have the option to attempt the examination without an accommodation or withdraw from the examination.

All types of accommodations may not be available at every site or on every date. The NDEB reserves the right to determine the date, location and time of the examination session. Any additional travel expenses incurred are the responsibility of the candidate.

All inquiries related to test accommodation requests should be directed to accommodations@ndeb-bned.ca.

Granting a Test Accommodation

The decision to grant an accommodation and the type of accommodation granted is at the sole discretion of the NDEB. The decision, and type of accommodation granted, if any, will depend on the nature and extent of the examinee’s personal situation, the accommodation requested, the supporting documentation provided and the setting, context and requirements of the specific examination.

If the NDEB decides to grant an accommodation to the examinee, then the accommodation will only be valid for one examination session.

All types of accommodations maybe not be available at every site or on every date. The NDEB reserves the right to determine the date, location and time of the examination session.

Guidelines for Accommodations

Learning Disability

Individual learning styles and learning differences do not, by themselves, constitute a learning disability.

The nature of the accommodation depends on the learning disability.  Reasonable accommodations are made to ensure candidates with disabilities have equal opportunity, as that of non-disabled candidates, to demonstrate their knowledge. Accommodations should not provide an unfair advantage over other candidates.

Required documentation

All documentation listed below is in addition to the completed Test Accommodation Request Form.

Relevant supporting documentation issued by a licensed clinical psychologist, licensed neuropsychologist, or licensed psychiatrist that includes:

• current psychological assessment with a specific diagnosis (less than four years old) including clear evidence of the developmental disability or learning disability.
• evidence that the diagnosis does not rely solely on self-reporting in establishing developmental history, current symptoms, and evidence of clinically significant impairment.
• suggested accommodations and reason for the necessity of the accommodation.
• professional’s credentials.

ADD/ADHD

The main symptoms are inappropriate levels of attention, concentration, activity, and distractibility.

Required documentation

All documentation listed below is in addition to the completed Test Accommodation Request Form.

Documentation must be provided by a professional who has been trained in differential diagnosis (i.e. clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist, psychiatrist, etc.). The current evaluation (conducted after 18 years of age and within the past four years) must include:

• summary of procedures and instruments used to make the diagnosis.
• clinical summary of relevant historical information.
  – objective, historical information.
  – developmental history.
  – absence of a medical basis for the symptoms.
  – thorough academic history.
• evidence of ongoing symptoms that have significantly impaired functioning.
• description of current functional limitations.
• If the examinee is currently taking medication, there must be evidence that they are still substantially impaired in performing academic tasks, or that the medication fails to alleviate academic impairments.

Anxiety and other mental health conditions

Many candidates experience anxiety prior and during an examination. This is normal. Exam anxiety does not lead to a test accommodation. Anxiety must be a diagnosed disorder to warrant an accommodation.

Types of anxiety disorders include:

• Panic disorder
• Agoraphobia
• Social anxiety disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder

Other mental health disorders include:

• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Required documentation

All documentation listed below is in addition to the completed Test Accommodation Request Form.

Due to the nature of these disorders, documentation must be less than a year old.

Relevant supporting documentation issued by a licensed clinical psychologist, licensed neuropsychologist, or licensed psychiatrist that includes:

• unequivocal diagnosis of a specific disability.
• functional limitations caused by the disability and its impact on the examinee’s ability to take the examination under standard conditions.
• current psychological assessment with a specific diagnosis including clear evidence (including the name of the psychological test used).
• evidence that the diagnosis does not rely solely on self-report in establishing developmental history, current symptoms, and evidence of clinically significant impairment.
• suggested academic accommodations and reason for the necessity of the accommodation.
• if the examinee is currently taking medication, there must be evidence that they are still substantially impaired in performing academic tasks, or that the medication fails to alleviate academic impairments.
• professional’s credentials.

Other Accommodations

Accommodations for physical disabilities will be made whenever possible.

Required documentation

A Test Accommodation Form, completed by a licensed Health Care Professional.

For accommodations due to injury, a functional capacity evaluation for dentists should be provided. These are done by occupational therapists.

Religious Accommodation

A candidate unable to participate in an examination on the scheduled day due to religious doctrines, may request to participate on a different day.

Required documentation

• Original letter from spiritual leader
• Signed Release of Information form

Medical Equipment

All examination materials, including pencils, earplugs, and all tools for the clinical skills component, are provided by the NDEB. Candidates are not permitted to bring any items into the examination room.

If you require medication or medical equipment (ie. cushion, wrist guard, breast pump) during the examination, you must notify the NDEB in writing, within 15 business days of the examination date.

You are not required to complete a Test Accommodation Form. Any medication or medical equipment must be approved by the NDEB prior to the examination.  You may be asked to provide a photo of the medical equipment you are requesting to bring to
the exam.