Testing Accommodations
The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) is committed to providing equitable and accessible services to all candidates. CAPR recognizes and performs its duty to respect the independence and dignity of all individuals who may have additional needs related to any human rights protected grounds by ensuring that the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE) is free of barriers to accessibility.
CAPR may be able to arrange reasonable and appropriate Testing Accommodations for candidates who have evidenced needs, within the limit of undue hardship[1]. Testing Accommodations are intended to enable candidates to demonstrate their competence by altering the exam environment to compensate for documented limitations. Testing Accommodations are not intended to ensure success in the exam for candidates with documented needs; rather, it ensures that all candidates are given a fair and equitable chance to succeed in the PCE.
CAPR does not lower the passing standard or modify the content of the PCE in any way.
[1] In the context of the PCE, this relates to factors such as significant costs, staffing limitations, exam site or platform restrictions, and risks to exam integrity or security, among others.
Testing Accommodations for the Written Component
The following is a list of the types of Testing Accommodations commonly granted by CAPR. This list is not prescriptive or exhaustive.
- Additional testing time – with access to exam content
- This is to be used exclusively to read and answer questions
- Additional flexible break time – no access to exam content
- This is a pause on the exam clock, and may be used to address personal needs
- A private/semi-private exam room
- An exam reader
- An exam answer recorder
- Access to food and drink
- Access to medical devices that are connected to a communication device (such as a phone or tablet)
- Candidate reading questions aloud
Permitted Items List for the Written Component
The following is a list of the types of items that may be taken into the exam without Testing Accommodations.
- Assistive and Orthotic Devices (including mobility aids)
- Medical Devices (must not be connected to a communication device such as a phone or tablet)
- Medications (must be unwrapped and unlabeled and not in a container)
- Sensory and Communication Aids
- Water (must be in a clear or transparent container with a lid or cap, and any labels must be removed)
For further information, see Prometric’s Testing Accommodations Pre-Approved Personal Items list.
Exam Platform Accessibility Options for the Written Component
The following is a list of built-in accessibility features on the Prometric exam platform.
- Colour Inversion (Colour Scheme Manipulation)
- Background colours
- Text colours
- Contrast Slider
Instructions for Requesting Testing Accommodations
Step 1: Read the information on Testing Accommodations and the Testing Accommodations Policies on the CAPR website.
Step 2: Complete all sections of FORM A: Testing Accommodations Request Form. CAPR will return incomplete forms to the candidate.
Step 3: Secure all required supporting documentation (see Supporting Documentation Guidelines below, and Part 4 of FORM A: Testing Accommodations Request Form).
3.a. Ask an appropriate regulated healthcare provider to complete FORM B: Clinical Assessment Summary and Testing Accommodations Recommendations Form. This form should be sent along with your Testing Accommodations request.
3.b. Obtain any additional assessment report(s) that may be required, depending on your stated impairment(s).
Step 4: Submit all required forms and documentation 30 business days before the examination date. You may:
4.a. Send FORM A: Testing Accommodations Request Form with your Exam Application. This must be sent by the relevant exam application deadline. CAPR will not accept exam applications received after the deadline due to Testing Accommodations considerations.
OR
4.b. Send FORM A: Testing Accommodations Request Form directly to csc_exams@alliancept.org, if submitting after the exam application deadline (but before the 30 business day Testing Accommodations deadline).
Step 5: Wait for CAPR to complete the review of your request, and supply any additional documentation as requested through the review process. There are no established turnaround timelines for the review process, as this varies with each request (see the Reviews and Decisions Process below).
Step 6: Review, sign, and return by email the Testing Accommodations Plan sent to you by CAPR upon completion of the review process. Once CAPR receives your signed Testing Accommodations Plan, you will receive a second Registration Notice[1] with information about how to schedule your exam appointment.
[1] Candidates requesting Testing Accommodations will receive an initial Registration Notice once their Exam Application is processed. This Registration Notice will indicate that they are not yet eligible to schedule their exam through Prometric until their request for Testing Accommodations has been processed.
Step 7: You will be contacted directly by Prometric to book your exam seat. If you do not receive a call from their Testing Accommodations department within 5 business days of receiving your second Registration Notice from CAPR, you may reach out to CAPR for assistance.
NOTE: The Testing Accommodations Plan granted by CAPR is only valid for the exam date specified in the request. The offer of Testing Accommodations for the exam does not obligate CAPR to offer the same, or different, Testing Accommodations for any future administration of the exam.
- Rescheduling your exam: There is no need to submit a new Testing Accommodations request. CAPR will review your application to verify that all Testing Accommodations are still applicable, and that all supporting documentation is still valid for the new exam date.
- Retaking the exam: You must submit a new Testing Accommodations request for each exam attempt.
Testing Accommodations and Exam Registration
If you are requesting Testing Accommodations, you will not be able to schedule an exam appointment until you sign and return your Testing Accommodations Plan, as your exam appointment will have unique specifications. The Testing Accommodations Plan may not be possible to implement at all test centres or in both modes of exam delivery (remote proctoring and in-centre). Whenever possible, CAPR grants Testing Accommodations that can be implemented both in-centre and via remote delivery of the Written Component of the PCE.
If you wish to request Testing Accommodations after you have scheduled an exam appointment, your original exam appointment will be cancelled, and a new exam appointment will be scheduled (via the process in Step 7 above) after you have signed and returned your Testing Accommodations Plan.
Reviews and Decisions Process
CAPR reviews all complete Testing Accommodations requests once the associated exam application has been processed. If you do not hear from CAPR within two weeks of receiving the initial Registration Notice email, you may contact CAPR about your request. Each Testing Accommodations request is independently reviewed by at least two CAPR staff members, with input from an external consultant for complex cases. All Testing Accommodations requests and supporting documentation (including FORM A: Testing Accommodations Request Form and FORM B: Clinical Assessment Summary and Testing Accommodations Recommendations Form) must be received no later than 30 business days prior to the exam date to allow adequate time for review and planning with our exam provider, Prometric. If your application is missing any required supporting documents at 30 business days prior to the examination date, CAPR will not proceed with the review of the request, and you will be informed via email.
It is your responsibility to ensure that CAPR receives all the information necessary to determine an appropriate Testing Accommodations Plan. CAPR must receive a clear description of your impairment and the current severity of your limitations, as well as what Testing Accommodations are needed to mitigate the functional impacts of your impairments. Decisions on Testing Accommodations rely heavily on the quality of the documentation provided and the objective evidence submitted by your healthcare provider.
CAPR reserves the right to modify or deny requested Testing Accommodations if the evidence is found insufficient to support the request. In such cases, CAPR may request additional information, and it is your responsibility to supply CAPR with this additional information no later than 15 business days from the examination date.
For situations of injury occurring after the Testing Accommodations request deadline (30 business days prior the examination date), candidates may submit an urgent request that may be considered by CAPR if it is received no later than 15 business days before the exam date. CAPR’s acceptance of the request is dependent on CAPR’s availability to complete the necessary review and Prometric’s ability to implement the Testing Accommodations prior to the examination date. Where time does not permit, the candidate will have the following options:
- Take the exam without the requested Testing Accommodations, despite the injury.
- Reschedule to another exam date where either:
a. The injury will no longer be relevant
b. There is sufficient time for a request for Testing Accommodations to be processed - Withdraw from the exam.
Supporting Documentation Guidelines
CAPR requires valid and relevant supporting documentation to be submitted with each Testing Accommodations request to verify the functional limitations and to plan appropriate Testing Accommodations.
- Supporting documentation must be based on an assessment conducted by a regulated healthcare provider who has the legislative authority to administer the tests or evaluations appropriate to your Testing Accommodations request.
- Supporting documentation must be recent enough to reflect your current impairments and functional limitations. CAPR will not review Testing Accommodations requests based on outdated documentation.
- Supporting documentation must include information on the tests or evaluations that were used to confirm the existence and extent of impairments and functional limitations. Objective measures selected must be reliable, valid, and age-appropriate.
- Supporting documentation of current limitations and needs can include but should not exclusively consist of candidate self-reports.
- Supporting documentation must include an analysis of the impacts of the impairments and functional limitations specific to taking the PCE, and acknowledge that alternative explanations (i.e., differential diagnoses and other motivational factors) were considered and ruled out.
- Supporting documentation must include specific recommendations for Testing Accommodations that are aligned with the established impairments and functional limitations.
- Each impairment and functional limitation must be related to the analysis of one or more subjective or objective evaluation(s), and each recommendation must be related to one or more impairment(s) and functional limitation(s).
- Support for extended testing time that exceeds 50% (2 hours) of the standard testing time must be specifically addressed by the evaluating healthcare provider.
- Candidates with multiple impairments must supply the required documentation to support each impairment.
Required Supporting Documentation
For ADHD/ADD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Learning and Intellectual Disabilities
- Form A: Testing Accommodations Request Form
- Form B: Clinical Assessment Summary and Testing Accommodations Recommendations Form[1]
- A complete psychoeducational or neuropsychological assessment report conducted after the candidate has reached 18 years of age
If the above assessment was conducted more than 5 years from the date of the exam:
- A documentation update/re-assessment[2] that includes tests and scales demonstrating the candidate’s current limitations and needs.
For Brain Injuries
- Form A: Testing Accommodations Request Form
- Form B: Clinical Assessment Summary and Testing Accommodations Recommendations Form based on an assessment that was conducted within 3 months of the date of the exam.
For Physical and Sensory Impairments, Pregnancy and Post-partum Considerations, and Other Medical Conditions
- Form A: Testing Accommodations Request Form
- Form B: Clinical Assessment Summary and Testing Accommodations Recommendations Form based on an assessment that was conducted within 2 months of the date of the exam.
For Psychiatric Disorders
- Form A: Testing Accommodations Request Form
- Form B: Clinical Assessment Summary and Testing Accommodations Recommendations Form3
- A psychological assessment report conducted within 12 months of the date of the exam that includes tests and scales administered that illustrate the candidate’s present limitations and needs. Evidence can include, but should not exclusively consist of, candidate self-reports (the report should include observational data, treatment/management information, etc.).
[1] This requirement may be waived if the assessment report contains all the information required in Form B.
[2] A documentation update is a brief report that may be a shorter version of a full psychoeducational/neuropsychological assessment. It must include a summary of the candidate’s condition history, a retesting of relevant and age-appropriate scales, a discussion on any new factors or progression of the condition in recent years, a statement regarding the current severity of the candidate’s impairments and functional limitations and how these may be mitigated by Testing Accommodations for the PCE.
Testing Accommodations Deadlines
|
Exam Date |
Exam Application Deadline |
Testing Accommodations Deadline |
| November 14, 2022 | September 12, 2022 | October 3, 2022 |
| March 11, 2023 | January 9, 2023 | January 30, 2023 |
| May 8, 2023 | March 6, 2023 | March 27, 2023 |
| July 8, 2023 | May 8, 2023 | May 29, 2023 |
| September 9, 2023 | July 10, 2023 | July 31, 2023 |
| November 13, 2023 | September 11, 2023 | October 2, 2023 |