THE PATHS TO ELIGIBILITY FOR THE DSFP EXAM

CMSSA provides reasonable and appropriate accommodations to individuals with disabilities who document a need for testing accommodations.

Since every request for testing accommodation is unique, no single type of service will be suitable for individuals with disabilities. Merely satisfying the diagnosis criteria of a certain medical condition or disorder does not guarantee that an individual qualifies to receive accommodations during tests. All requests are considered and evaluated separately on an individual basis.

Testing accommodations include the following, but are not limited to:

• By allowing for an additional 50% of time allotted to the project, a total of 4.5 hours will be allocated.
• Additional 30 minute break per testing session 
• Flexible Breaks (Stop the Clock Breaks)
• Scribe
• Large-Font Exam
• Private Room

When using eyeglasses, hearing aids, insulin pumps attached to the body (other medical equipment that is not attached will require an accommodation request), anti-glare screens or canes/crutches/walkers, testing accommodations are unnecessary.

TESTING ACCOMMODATION REQUEST SUBMISSION

If you meet the prerequisites set by CMSSA, such as certifications or degrees, then you may have the chance to take an Accelerated Path towards certification. By having some of these qualifications already, it's likely that you'll be able to bypass a majority of requirements for taking the DSFP exam.

To ensure that your testing accommodation request can be fully reviewed, please submit it before the exam administration period has ended. Unfortunately, requests will not be taken into consideration for future exams if they are received after this time frame. In some cases, CMSSA may require additional documentation which could lead to a longer processing period - so plan ahead! Keep in mind that all of the necessary paperwork must be submitted prior to each exam date for best results.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

To meet the testing accommodation criteria, an in-depth medical, psychiatric or psychological evaluation from a certified diagnostic professional must be included. This should consist of detailed letter(s) and report(s) that abide by our set format, currency and content rules. All evaluations need to be presented on the evaluator's official stationery and signed for authentication purposes. Moreover, they have to fulfill stringent requirements as outlined below:

Currency Requirements: To ensure precise assessment, the diagnosis must be conducted within the specified deadline(s) as indicated below:

• If you plan to take the DSFP exam and have a physical disability, chronic health condition, psychological disorder or psychiatric issue, it is recommended that no more than one year passes before your anticipated examination date.
• Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disorders, and other cognitive impairments must have had these conditions for no more than five years prior to taking the DSFP exam.

Content Requirements:A thorough evaluation must include:

• An exact and comprehensive diagnosis, confirming that all diagnostic criteria for the condition have been fulfilled, as well as evidence to prove that the symptoms are not caused by any other factors such as an emotional disorder, a physical disorder or English being the second language.
• To gain a deeper understanding of the applicant's impairment, it is necessary to collect their history regarding when the symptoms first appeared, age at time of diagnosis and how this condition has affected them.
• The current influence of the disorder/condition on the applicant's educational performance, job (if pertinent), and other everyday activities must be assessed.
• The probable operational constraints which may impede an individual's capacity to take the DSFP exam under average conditions are likely to be observed.
• Develop concrete testing accommodations with a comprehensive explanation for each request.