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The BOC, in adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), provides reasonable and appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities who supply appropriate documentation. The BOC follows the guidelines set forth in the Principles of Fairness developed by the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) and Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE).
An applicant may request a change in certification procedures or process due to disability, handicap or other reason. Candidates must complete the Request for Special Exam Accommodations Form and submit it to the BOC office. Medical documentation of specific needs or evidence of receiving reasonable accommodations at the university level must accompany the request. The request must be specific as to the nature of the problem. Accommodation requests must be received by the BOC no later than 5:00pm CT on the application deadline date of the requested exam. The applicant is responsible for demonstrating that the request should be granted. The BOC will review the request and notify the candidate in writing of its determination within 24-48 hours of receipt.
Reasonable accommodations provide a candidate with a disability a fair and equal opportunity to demonstrate his/her knowledge and skill in the essential functions being measured by the exam. Reasonable accommodations are decided upon based on the individual's specific request, disability and documentation submitted as well as the appropriateness of the request. The most frequent requests involve providing the candidate with extended time, a reader, a writer and/or a separate room. Reasonable accommodations do not include steps that fundamentally alter the purpose or nature of the exam. No additional cost or burden is placed on the candidate to discourage access to the exam.
A "qualified individual with a disability" is one who has a disability and satisfies the requisite skill, experience, education and other requirements of the service, program or activity of which he or she is being measured and, with or without accommodations, can perform the essential functions of the service, program or activity. An essential function is one that individuals are required to perform, and removing that function would fundamentally change the service, program or activity. A person must be a "qualified individual with a disability" to be protected under the ADA.
The candidate must submit documentation provided by an appropriate licensed professional or certified specialist who diagnosed the disability and is recommending reasonable accommodations. The documentation must be submitted on the professional's letterhead. The documentation must provide a diagnosis of the disability and the test(s) used to determine the disability. The candidate may also provide evidence of receiving reasonable accommodations at the university level on the university's letterhead. This may include an individualized education plan (IEP). The confidentiality of all documentation submitted by the candidate is protected.
The BOC reviews all requests for reasonable accommodations. Candidates requesting reasonable accommodations are notified in writing within 24-48 hours of receipt regarding their approval of accommodations or reason for denial of accommodations. The candidate may either make an appeal to the BOC by providing additional documentation or sit for the exam under standard conditions.
The BOC does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of religion, gender, ethnic background or physical disability.
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