What ADA accommodations does CCHI provide for its exams?

Whenever possible, CCHI is committed to providing reasonable accommodation in its examination processes to individuals with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Appropriate accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent that such accommodation does not fundamentally alter the examination, or cause an undue burden to CCHI or the agency administering the examination.

It is the responsibility of individuals with disabilities to notify CCHI in writing of the applicant’s need for an accommodation and submit the pertinent supporting documentation in electronic format at the time of submitting a request for scheduling an exam via our online application system no later than 45 days before the examination date.

There are two ways to notify CCHI of the ADA accommodation request:

• If a special need or disability is present at the time of submitting the application or paying for a CCHI examination and before receiving a Notice to Schedule, the applicant should choose the “Request ADA Accommodation” option before they select the orange “Pay fees” button in the online application system. At this time the applicant will be directed to explain the nature of their request and to upload necessary documentation in an electronic format.
• If a special need or disability occurs after the applicant has already received their Notice to Schedule, they must complete and submit via email to apply@cchicertification.org the CCHI’s ADA Accommodation Request Form (click here to download this form or see it in Appendix C of the Candidate’s Examination Handbook), along with the supporting documentation.

Regardless of how the ADA accommodation request is submitted – via the online application system or via email – an applicant/candidate must state the type of accommodation(s) needed, in addition to providing current and appropriate documentation of the disability. The applicant’s/candidate’s request will not be considered complete and reviewed without the CCHI’s ADA Accommodation Request Form.

The documentation provided in CCHI’s ADA Accommodation Request Form must not be more than three years old from the date of the application. It should include an official statement from a healthcare provider who has first-hand knowledge of the disability, describing the nature of the disability and specific recommendations regarding the type of accommodation required to address the disability. The letter should be on the letterhead stationery of the healthcare provider in question, and include his or her title, address, phone number, and original signature.

The applicant/candidate grants CCHI permission to contact the professionals who submitted documentation in support of a request for accommodation in order to obtain further clarification concerning a request.

Examples of requests for special testing accommodations that may be granted include: modification of seating or other physical arrangements in the examination facility; providing for the examination to be taken in an accessible location; providing a human reader for individuals who are blind or with low vision (available only for test-center delivery); allowing medicine of food; or providing for a reasonable extension of testing time.

Examples of requests for special testing accommodations that may be denied include: modification of the content of an objective multiple-choice examination; providing for unlimited testing time; allowing the candidate to leave the examination room for a break; permitting a reader to paraphrase test material or translate the material into another language.

The following testing accommodations, if granted by CCHI, are available only at test centers (i.e., they are not available for online-proctored delivery of the CoreCHI™ exam): human reader, notetaker, actuator, bathroom break.

All accommodation determinations will be made by CCHI at its discretion. Failure to notify CCHI of needed accommodation(s) in one’s application and/or no later than 45 days before scheduling an exam may result in the accommodations not being available at the time of the examination.

Applicants/candidates shall not hold CCHI accountable for any lack of appropriate accommodation deriving from the applicant’s/candidate’s own failure to notify CCHI of their needs on a timely basis. Once special accommodations have been granted, they may not be altered during the examination.

For more information visit our Policies page and click on the blue bar “ADA Accommodation Procedures.”