What You Need to Know Before Initiating Your Request
✔ You must be registered for an exam administration in order to submit a request for accommodation
✔ You must adhere to the published deadlines for submitting a request with the required documentation
✔ You must submit your request and receive a decision on your request from CFA Institute before you can schedule your exam appointment.
✔ You must provide the required documentation with your request
✔ We encourage you to review the Frequently Asked Questions
✘ We cannot accept nor review requests or documentation submitted via email. All documentation must be submitted through the secure online portal.
Pre-Approved Permissible Items
The items provided in Prometric’s Pre-Approved Personal Items list do not require submission of an accommodation or comfort request. They will be allowed in the testing room upon visual inspection by the Test Center Administrator or Remote Proctored staff. Visual inspection will be done by examining the item without directly touching it and without asking the candidate to remove the item, unless otherwise stated.
Important Deadlines
Candidates who wish to submit a request for disability accommodations should not schedule their exam appointment until a determination has been made on their request.
| Standard Registrant Deadline | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 July | If you have registered for the September 2023 exam, your deadline to submit a Disability Accommodation request is 30 July 2023. |
| Standard Registrant Deadline | |||
|---|---|---|---|
5 February |
If you have registered for the March 2024 exam, your deadline to submit a Disability Accommodation request is 5 February 2024. |
Comfort Requests
Some candidates without documented disabilities may need special arrangements to be able to comfortably take the exam. Items that are on Prometric’s Pre-Approved Personal Items list do not require approval by CFA Institute to bring to your exam appointment. If you require a special arrangement not on the approved personal item list, you must contact [email protected], including arrangements for nursing parents. Comfort requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and are subject to test center and/or appointment availability. As such, we cannot guarantee that your request will be approved. We strongly encourage you to submit your request as soon as possible.
Diabetic Care
Most accommodations for diabetic candidates do not require a formal accommodation request. Medical devices or aids such as a glucose monitor and glucose tablets are pre-approved permissible items.
- Food and non-water beverages are not permitted in the testing room. However, candidates may keep them in the personal belongings area which can be accessed during the optional scheduled break.
Returning & Deferred Candidates
• If you are requesting the same accommodation as you received on a previous CFA proctored exam, no documentation is required.*
• If you would like to change or add to your accommodation, you must submit the Disability Accommodation Request Form along with new documentation** that supports your updated request.
*This requirement still applies if you have deferred to another exam administration window, as any approved requests do not automatically transfer to the next administration. You are responsible for submitting the online request form each time you register for an exam.
**If it has been more than seven years since you last sat for a CFA Institute exam, you will be required to submit new medical and supporting documentation regardless of your previously approved CFA Institute accommodations.
Documentation Requirements
What NOT to Submit:
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Documentation in a language other than English
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Letters from your medical professional in lieu of the evaluation report
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Letter are not considered comprehensive and may not be submitted in lieu of this requirement.
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Multiple copies of the same documentation
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Documentation of requests for accommodation with other institutions or organizations.
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If you have received prior accommodation with another entity, please only submit proof of the accommodation you were granted by that entity.
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Documents via email. All documentation must be submitted through the secure online portal.
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Documents that are protected
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Self-reports
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Research articles
What TO Submit:
✔ All documentation must be submitted in English
✔ The Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation Report should have been conducted within the past three (3) years.*
✔ All of the required documentation must be submitted within ten (10) business days of submitting the Disability Accommodations Request Form, but no later than the applicable deadline.
*Candidates may submit an evaluation report that is more than three years old; however, it may be necessary to obtain a more recent evaluation report to determine appropriate accommodations. If this is deemed necessary, you will be notified accordingly.
A documented diagnosis alone is not enough to assess your request. When you apply for accommodation, you must provide documentation indicating and supporting your current level of impairment within an academic setting or testing environment. Before initiating your request, please use the resources below to help you understand the materials necessary for submission and review.
You must submit the following documentation:
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Medical Professional Questionnaire and Personal Statement (PDF) (PDF) This Medical Professional Questionnaire form must be completed and signed by a qualified medical professional and returned to us. You must complete the personal statement, addressing the impact of your diagnosis and why the accommodations sought are necessary.
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Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation Report You will need to submit your most recent evaluation report, with DSM-V code referenced (if applicable), which should be three years old or less. The evaluation report should be conducted by a qualified professional with expertise in the disability for which the accommodation is sought. Letters from your medical professional are not considered comprehensive and may not be submitted in lieu of this requirement.
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Supporting Documentation If applicable, you will need to submit documentation that demonstrates a history of impairment or limitation, such as proof of prior testing accommodations, including college-entrance or professional exams (e.g., SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT), college/university accommodations, or special education services/plans.
Accommodation Request Process
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Submit Request
Submit the Disability Accommodation Request Form (log-in required) with the required documentation. After you have submitted your request, you can view the status and details of your request online (log-in required).
When submitting your preferred testing location in the online form, you must provide a location from this list of test center locations.
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Receive Decision (4-6 weeks)Please allow four (4) to six (6) weeks for the review and processing of your request. All accommodation requests and supporting medical documentation are carefully reviewed by exam administration personnel, and then forwarded to one or more external medical experts for their review and feedback. You will receive notification regarding the status of your request once it has been evaluated, along with the next steps for scheduling your exam appointment.
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Schedule Exam Appointment
When attempting to schedule an appointment with Prometric, you must select a location from this list of test center locations.
Some testing accommodations are not able to be scheduled through the online ProScheduler. In these cases, you will be instructed to contact Prometric directly. A member of the Prometric team will work to schedule an exam appointment inclusive of your granted accommodation in your preferred testing area. Please note that this process may require additional processing time to arrange the logistical aspects of your granted accommodations request.
If you are not granted accommodation, you will still be permitted to take the exam under standard testing conditions and will be provided instruction on how to proceed with scheduling your exam appointment.
Important Note: The exam appointment general scheduling deadline does not apply to Disability Accommodations candidates. Any emails from CFA Institute in reference to this can be disregarded.
Additional Resources
Candidate Guidebook
A comprehensive guidebook for candidates seeking to request accommodation for proctored exams.
FAQs
Read the Frequently Asked Questions about disability accommodations.
Status of Request
View the status and details of your submitted request (log-in required)
Contact Us
We have a dedicated, but small, team who reviews and processes accommodation requests for all the CFA Institute exam programs. Unfortunately, we are unable to speak with candidates and/or their advocates as we must treat the handling of each case in the same manner. Candidates may use our direct email address examadmin@cfainstitute.org for communication. We strive to respond to all inquiries within 5 US business days.