Exam Accommodations

Guidelines for Accommodation Requests for NEB Examining Process

The following guidelines are designed to ensure equitable and fair treatment for candidates with documented need for reasonable accommodations in taking the NEB exams.

Reasonable accommodations are made to afford candidates with disabilities an opportunity, equal to that of non-disabled candidates, to demonstrate the required knowledge and skills tested by the BCSE, NAVLE, PSA or CPE. Of primary concern in determining reasonable accommodations is the extent to which the documentation objectively demonstrates the precise functional limitations imposed by the disability. Any proposed reasonable accommodations should minimize or overcome these limitations without compromising the integrity of the examination or providing the disabled candidate with an unfair advantage over nondisabled candidates.

A disability is defined in the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) as any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformity or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and any mental impairment or learning disability or dysfunction. Individuals meeting the above definition may be considered disabled and eligible to receive reasonable accommodations on the BCSE, NAVLE, PSA or CPE.

Candidates requesting accommodations must provide (at their own expense) written documentation of their disability and how their impairment prevents their equal access to the BCSE, NAVLE, PSA or CPE. Candidates must provide a report from a physician or other licensed professional health service provider who has diagnosed the disability (either initially or for a re-evaluation). A brief listing of the evaluator’s qualifications (including degree, licensure, and areas of specialization) should be included either in the evaluation or in a separate written document. The report must state a specific diagnosis (generally providing, if applicable, a DSM-5, DSM-IV, or ICD coding as well); must be current (within the past five years); must describe the specific diagnostic criteria and/or diagnostic tests used, including date(s) of evaluation, test results and a detailed interpretation of the test results; must recommend reasonable testing accommodations; and must provide explanations of how and why the recommended accommodations are justified and necessitated by the functional impairments flowing from the candidate’s diagnosed disability. If no prior accommodations have been provided, the report should include an explanation as to why no accommodations were given in the past and why accommodations are needed now. Reports older than five years should not be submitted.

What Accommodations are Appropriate?

The decision to grant accommodation and the type of accommodation granted are at the NEB’s sole discretion. The accommodation must be appropriate to enhance a person’s access to the exam and must consider the particular setting involved.

Exam accommodations serve a different purpose between educational settings and certification exams. In educational settings, exam accommodations are provided to support academic success. For certification exams, such as NEB’s exams, exam accommodations are provided to give equal and fair access to examinations, allowing candidates with documented functional limitation(s) to demonstrate their competence without giving any advantage over other candidates. Therefore, you should not expect NEB to automatically offer the same exam accommodations you received during your academic studies.

The accommodations you request must also be appropriate for the specific task and purpose of the exam. The purpose of testing accommodations is to provide candidates with bona fide disabilities with access to the exam. For example, if a person with mental health challenges due to past trauma may request extra breaks to practice anxiety-reducing strategies and mentally “regroup” during the test. It is important to note that test anxiety on its own is not considered a disability and most candidates experience some form of test anxiety before and on exam day, experiencing test anxiety is not sufficient to receive exam accommodations.

NEB’s Duty to Accommodate

The NEB recognizes and is committed to meeting its duty to accommodate candidates based on needs or limitations relating to protected grounds1 under applicable human rights legislation, including the grounds of disability and religion. Reasonable exam accommodations, supported by objective evidence demonstrating the need for such accommodations, will be provided up to the point of undue hardship. It is important to recognize that the purpose of exam accommodations is not to guarantee a successful result or to optimize your performance. Rather, exam accommodations are provided to minimize the impact of any needs or limitations connected to a protected ground on your ability to equally participate in a NEB examination alongside other individuals who do not have such needs or limitations.

Assessment of Request for Exam Accommodations

Please note that, after reviewing your request for exam accommodations, the NEB may determine that no exam accommodations are required. Reasons why a request for exam accommodations may be denied include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The request was not linked to a protected ground*
• The supporting documentation provided was not sufficient to support the existence of a protected ground and/or a need for exam accommodations
• The supporting documentation did not demonstrate that failure to provide the requested exam accommodations would impose an unfair burden, obligation, or disadvantage based on a protected ground
• The evidence of a disability is not from a regulated healthcare professional licensed to diagnose the disability
• Your request did not contain complete information or sufficient objective supporting evidence, or such information was provided after the deadline
• Objective evidence received that contradicts the information provided by you

Any appeal of an accommodation request decision will be decided by a sub-committee of three (3) members of the NEB.

*Protected grounds are: age; ancestry, colour, race; citizenship; ethnic origin; place of origin; creed; disability; family status; marital status (including single status); gender identity, gender expression; receipt of public assistance (in housing only); record of offences (in employment only); sex (including pregnancy and breastfeeding); sexual orientation.

Submission Deadlines

Please submit your Accommodation Request Form and all supporting documentation:

• At least 60 business days before you plan to take the BCSE;
• By the NAVLE deadline (February 1 for the April testing window and August 1 for the November-December testing window);
• 60 business days before your scheduled PSA and CPE exam dates.

It’s the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that the request form and all supporting documentation is received by the deadline. Requests received after the established deadline will not be evaluated for that testing window. All submitted documentation will be treated confidentially by the NEB. Accommodations granted are valid for one examination session only. The NEB reserves the right to assign you to a testing centre where the accommodations can be offered. Any additional expenses incurred are the responsibility of the candidate.

Contact the NEB at neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org for guidance if you require assistance with this process.

Emergency Requests After the Submission Deadlines

If you experience a new medical issue, such as an injury or other emergency situation after the exam submission deadlines, you may make an emergency request for medical/assistive/mobility devices or other accommodations by submitting:

• The Accommodation Request Form as early as possible before exam day.
• For medical issues, documentation that verifies the medical issue and the need for a medical/assistive/mobility device or other exam accommodation.
• For other issues, supporting documentation where required.

If approved, the NEB will attempt to make appropriate arrangements with the exam centre. If the NEB is unable to make arrangements before exam day, you may attempt the examination without exam accommodations or withdraw without the expectation of a refund.

Requests such as additional testing time, flexible breaks, a separate room, etc. are difficult to accommodation after the above-mentioned submission deadlines even for new or emergency situations.

To Request Exam Accommodations, Follow These Steps:

1. Read the Guidelines for Accommodation Requests for NEB Examining Process.
2. Complete electronically and completely the Accommodation Request Form, and sign it.
3. Send your completed Accommodation Request Form and supporting documentation to the NEB by email at neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org at least 60 business days before you plan to take the BCSE, on or before the NAVLE application deadline, or 60 business days before your scheduled PSA and CPE exam dates. You must submit a new Accommodation Request Form each time you apply for a NEB examination, and you need to submit new or updated supporting documentation.
4. Instruct your health professional to fully complete the Health Professional Assessment and Recommendations form electronically (i.e. not handwrite), and submit the completed form with any supporting documentation directly to the NEB (not via you) by the exam deadline (stated in bullet #3 above) to neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org.