Candidates with ADA-Eligible Disabilities

The National Board recognizes its responsibilities according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodations may be made for candidates with disabilities, in accordance with the following guidelines:

It is important for candidates applying for accommodations to keep in mind that a diagnosis of impairment by itself is not sufficient to warrant testing accommodations. There must also be substantial evidence that there is a disability that is covered under ADA. That is, a candidate must demonstrate that there is a substantial limitation in a major life activity when compared with the average person in the general population.

Candidates must be registered for an NBEO examination in the upcoming administration BEFORE submitting a request for accommodations. Candidates requesting accommodations must use the Request for Test Accommodation Form. The ADA Accommodation Request form must be accompanied by current, written documentation from an appropriate health care professional supporting the accommodations requested. This documentation must contain certain items which are listed in the Documentation Guidelines. Only completed applications received in accordance with the ADA Application Deadline and Documentation Guidelines will be reviewed.

• The National Board must receive the form and all supporting documentation by the ADA Application Deadline, which is two weeks prior to the registration deadline for that test administration, except for the ACMO test, for which the test accommodation form must be received 30 days prior to the examination. The ACMO deadlines are set differently from other tests since the administration is computer-based. Separate applications must be submitted before each test and each administration.
• The National Board will review and evaluate each request on its own merits. The National Board reserves the right to obtain a second professional opinion, at its own expense.
• When the National Board determines that an accommodation is appropriate, the candidate will receive a Test Accommodation Agreement signed by a representative of the National Board.
• If your application for accommodations is denied, you will be notified in writing with an explanation. You have the right to appeal the denial provided you can supply additional evidence to support your application appeal. All appeals must be submitted using the form available on the National Board Web site: http://www.optometry.org/appeals.cfm.
• Please note that it will take at least three to four weeks to review any additional evidence you submit. Please be reminded that the original ADA Application Deadline is still in effect, and no appeals or documentation submitted after the ADA Application Deadline will be accepted.

Candidates with conditions not covered under the ADA may request alternate accommodations. The request must be sent to nbeo@optometyr.org at least six weeks prior to the test administration. In addition to supporting documentation, these requests must also include the following:

• Name
• SSN (last 4-digits only)
• Examination and Test Site for which you are registered