Overview

If you may require testing accommodations and need help understanding how to apply for accommodations, please contact exam@nacor.ca for assistance.

NACOR may be able to arrange reasonable and appropriate testing accommodations for candidates who have documented needs, within the limit of undue hardship. If a candidate believes that there are circumstances that could reasonably be expected to negatively affect their examination result or place them at a disadvantage relative to other candidates with respect to their ability to demonstrate competence they may apply for accommodations. 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, they ensure that all candidates are given a fair and equitable chance to succeed. NACOR will not lower the passing standard or modify content of the examinations in any way for any candidate.

Any testing accommodations plan granted by NACOR is only valid for the exam date specified in the request. The offer of testing accommodations for the exam does not obligate NACOR to offer the same, or different, testing accommodations for any future administration of the exam.

Rescheduling an exam: There is no need to submit a new testing accommodations request. NACOR will review candidate 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 after failure: Candidates must submit a new testing accommodations request for each exam attempt.

Submitting an Accommodation Request

If a candidate requires any accommodations during an examination, a written letter outlining the requested accommodations and supporting documentation confirming the nature of impairment must be included on their application form (see “Examination Accommodations” section of the application form). Requests will be reviewed and acted upon by NACOR and all decisions are final.

Testing accommodations requests must be submitted by the application deadline of the relevant exam (see Examination Dates/Locations).

NOTE: after the application deadline of the relevant exam, NACOR may be unable to review testing accommodations requests.

Accommodation requests should be submitted as one (1) document and must include:

Nature of impairment(s) (examples may include Learning, Intellectual, and Behavioural Impairments, Neurological Impairments, Physical or Sensory Impairments, Psychiatric Disorders, etc.)
Functional limitation(s) (i.e. how your impairment impacts your daily life and your ability to take the National Examinations for Canadian Opticians)
History (including history of testing accommodations, if applicable) and ongoing management of your impairment(s) and functional limitation(s)
Requested testing accommodations
Rationale (i.e. details on the how the testing accommodation(s) that you are requesting mitigates your impairment(s) and functional limitation(s))
Supporting documentation (confirmation the nature of impairment must be included; other documentation to support a request, such as additional reports and educational accommodations records from an academic institution may also be included)

NOTE: a candidate is not required to disclose any disability to NACOR. NACOR reserves the right to request additional information or supporting documentation if NACOR determines this to be necessary to make a decision but will never require a candidate to disclose a disability.

NACOR reviews all testing accommodation requests as soon as possible after submission. There are no established timelines for the review process, as this varies with each request. Each request is independently reviewed by NACOR staff members, with input from external consultants for some complex cases. As soon as a decision is made, the candidate will be notified in writing of the decision.

NACOR reserves the right to modify or deny requested testing accommodations if the evidence is found insufficient to support the request. In such cases, NACOR may request additional information, and it is the candidate’s responsibility to supply NACOR with the additional information as soon as possible and no later than the exam application deadline.

NACOR may accept an urgent testing accommodation request for circumstances occurring after the application deadline (i.e., physical injury or impairment), depending on the ability to complete the review process and implement the testing accommodations plan prior to the examination date.

Candidates may submit an urgent request via email to exam@nacor.ca.

Where there is not sufficient time to complete the review process, candidates will be given the following options:

Take the exam without testing accommodations, despite the circumstances.
Reschedule to another exam date where either:
- The circumstances will no longer be relevant, or
- There is sufficient time for a testing accommodation request to be processed.
Withdraw from the exam.