Evaluation of Requests

After the candidate makes a request for a testing accommodation and submits the necessary supporting documentation, ABIM conducts an evaluation of the request.

Review of the Requested Accommodation

ABIM will conduct a review of the impairment and testing accommodation requested. This review is conducted at no expense to the candidate.  

After reviewing the supporting documentation, ABIM may need to request additional information to verify the existence of a disability and the need for a testing accommodation. 

ABIM cannot delay administration of an examination pending submission of any missing documentation. In addition, in some cases, ABIM may require an independent review. Therefore, if, in ABIM’s judgment, it is not clear whether a candidate is disabled or whether a requested accommodation is needed, ABIM may engage an outside expert at its own expense to review all submitted documentation and to render an opinion.

ABIM's review will entail an assessment of the following issues:

• Does the candidate have a disability? In other words, does the candidate have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities as compared to most people in the general population?
• Will the candidate’s disability prevent the results of the applied-for examination from accurately reflecting the candidate’s medical knowledge or clinical judgment or other factor the examination measures?
• Would provision of the requested accommodation enable the results of the applied-for examination to accurately reflect the candidate’s medical knowledge or clinical judgment or other factor the examination measures?
• Would the requested accommodation fundamentally alter the measurement of the skills or knowledge the examination is intended to test, or would it impose an undue burden on ABIM?
• If ABIM cannot provide the requested accommodation of a candidate with a disability, are there alternative accommodations that can be made available to the candidate?

The determination of each of these issues will be made in accordance with applicable provisions of the ADA and any applicable state or local laws and regulations.

Notification of Approval or Refusal

Upon completing its review of a candidate’s request for an accommodation and all supporting documentation, ABIM will notify the candidate in writing of its determination regarding the requested accommodation and the basis for that determination. 

Whether a given testing modification is appropriate will be evaluated based on the candidate's impairment and the individual circumstances of the candidate's case, taking into account the candidate's specific limitations and needs.

If it is determined that a requested modification would fall into either of these categories, ABIM will contact the candidate to determine whether some other form of modification will satisfy their needs.

Will my current accommodation be granted for future exams?

Once granted, a testing accommodation will be offered for any future examination administration. To request the same accommodation you should reapply for an ABIM-approved accommodation.

Why was my accommodation declined?

ABIM is unable to accommodate individuals who are not disabled. Further, as a matter of fairness to all candidates and consistent with ADA principles, ABIM is unable to grant requests that would:

• Fundamentally alter the measurement of the skills or knowledge that a particular examination is intended to test.
• Result in an undue burden on ABIM.

If your request for accommodation is declined, ABIM will explain the reason for its denial in writing.