NPTE Testing Accommodations: How to Request Them

If you have a disability, you can ask for accommodations on the NPTE, such as extra time or a separate room. The process depends on the state you're applying to, and the deadlines are strict. Here's how it works, based on FSBPT's Testing Accommodations page and documentation guidelines.

Can you get accommodations on the NPTE?

FSBPT is clear about the purpose: accommodations give "full access to the test," not a guarantee of "improved performance, a passing score, test completion, or any other specific outcome." They're decided case by case, so no single accommodation, such as extra time, is automatically right for everyone.

Who reviews your request: FSBPT or your state?

It depends on where you're seeking licensure. FSBPT reviews requests for candidates applying through these 30 states:

Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

If your state isn't on that list, contact your state licensing authority to request accommodations. FSBPT says not to send your request or documentation to FSBPT in that case.

How to request NPTE accommodations through FSBPT

1. Register and pay for the NPTE. FSBPT can only formally review a request once you've registered and paid. During registration, indicate that you're testing through one of the states above and that you'll request accommodations.
2. Gather your documentation using FSBPT's Documentation Guidelines, and complete the Accommodations Request Form.
3. Upload everything through FSBPT's secure document upload at fsbpt.org/adadocs.
4. Wait for the decision, in about ten business days, by email. Reviews happen in the order received and can't be expedited. FSBPT may also consult external experts.
5. Schedule your exam. If approved, you'll get an Authorization to Test letter showing your accommodations within two business days of the decision.

What documentation does FSBPT want?

If you've had accommodations before, in school or on another standardized test, add one of these to your request form: documentation from your school or university of the accommodations you received, documentation from another standardized test (FSBPT gives the GRE and SAT as examples), or a personal statement describing the formal or informal accommodations you had.

If you haven't had accommodations before, FSBPT's guidelines ask for:

• Evidence of a disability: functional limitations that require accommodation on the NPTE. FSBPT describes a disability as a substantial limitation in a major life activity, such as reading, thinking, seeing, hearing or walking.
• A rationale for each accommodation you request.
• Accommodations that fit the exam. FSBPT won't approve anything that changes what the test measures, such as waiving portions, altering questions or reducing answer choices.
• Current documentation, meaning it "can reasonably be expected to illustrate how you will be functioning on test day."

Two points often surprise candidates. FSBPT "does not require evidence of a diagnosis," and documentation doesn't have to come from a doctor. It strongly considers statements from people who know your day-to-day functioning, such as employers, counselors or professors, and you can add a personal impact statement.

Separate room vs main testing room

FSBPT's guidelines say separate rooms suit candidates who need a reader or scribe, need to read aloud, or need items such as medical supplies with them. If you need an environment with minimal distractions, the main testing room is considered appropriate, because it's designed to minimize distractions. Everyone gets noise-dampening headphones, and soft earplugs are allowed after inspection.

What if your request is incomplete or denied?

• Incomplete: FSBPT will ask for more information. That's not a denial. Upload the extra documentation; the review generally takes about ten business days from the request. Everything still has to be in by the registration deadline.
• Denied in whole or in part: you can appeal within seven calendar days of the decision, with a detailed rationale and any extra documentation that addresses the gaps in your decision letter. A neutral third-party medical professional reviews it, and FSBPT gives you the outcome within ten business days.
• Temporary conditions, such as a broken arm, or circumstances such as pregnancy, are considered case by case.

Frequently asked questions