Accommodations for Examinations

Examination Accommodations Request Form

Download the Examination Accommodation Request Form

Initial applicants and repeat candidates who are submitting their first request must submit the request form for accommodation and documentation no later than the following application deadline dates.

Policy

• The ABPath will provide applicants/candidates who have documented disabilities reasonable accommodations in the administration of its examinations, including auxiliary aids and services, where appropriate.

• Such accommodations must not fundamentally alter the measurement of the skills or knowledge the examination is intended to test or result in an undue burden.

Documentation of Disability

• The ADA defines an individual with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits that person in one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such impairment. “Major life activities” include functions such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. A “qualified” individual with a disability is one who meets the requirements to take the examination and with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of a pathologist.

• Applicants/candidates requesting accommodation due to a disability must submit the ABPath Examination Accommodations Request Form and provide documentation of the disability and the appropriateness of the requested accommodation for the documented disability.

• Applicants/candidates who received accommodations for the administration of the USMLE examination must submit the ABPath Examination Accommodation Request Form along with the documentation they received from the USMLE. The same type or similar accommodation will be provided for the ABPath certification examination.

• Applicants/candidates who have not received accommodations on the USMLE examination must submit the completed Examination Accommodation Request Form along with documentation. Such documentation must include a professionally recognized diagnosis of the disability and medical records or other documentation of the diagnosis of the disability by a qualified healthcare professional completed within the past 5 years (see request form for all required documentation).

• The ABPath reserves the right to request additional documentation as necessary.

• Applicants/candidates denied a request for accommodation may appeal the denial in accordance with ABPath’s appeals procedure.

• If an applicant/candidate is given accommodation on an examination given by the ABPath, he/she will automatically receive the same accommodation on any subsequent ABPath examinations.