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2008–2009
Registering to Test

 
REGISTERING FOR ALTERNATIVE TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RICA WRITTEN EXAMINATION
 
   
Alternative testing arrangements that are reasonable in the context of this licensing test and supported by documentation may be provided for the following candidates who would not be able to take the RICA Written Examination under standard conditions:
  • Candidates with physical disabilities (e.g., visual impairments, hearing impairments, motor disabilities, illness, injury)

  • Candidates with disabilities other than physical (e.g., learning disabilities)

  • Candidates whose religious practices do not allow them to take tests on Saturdays
Procedure for Requesting Alternative Testing Arrangements
In all cases, candidates requesting alternative testing arrangements must (a) complete a test registration and submit correct payment, (b) mail or fax a completed Alternative Testing/Assessment Arrangements Request Form, and (c) mail or fax any required documentation. The Alternative Testing/Assessment Arrangements Request Form is available to download as a PDF document by selecting "Print Bulletin and Forms (PDF)" on the RICA Web site. Write your name and telephone number on each piece of correspondence you provide.

All timely and complete alternative testing arrangements requests and accompanying documentation are reviewed on a case-by-case basis upon receipt. In some cases, the submitted documentation may not be sufficient to make a determination regarding the requested accommodation(s) or may not support the requested accommodation(s). Additional information or test results may be needed.

You must submit an Alternative Testing/Assessment Arrangements Request Form each time you register. However, you only need to submit all the required documents the first time that you request alternative testing arrangements. Evaluation Systems will keep your documentation on file for one year. If you register for subsequent test dates within that year, you only need to submit your completed registration, correct payment, and a completed Alternative Testing/Assessment Arrangements Request Form, as long as your condition and the recommended accommodations have not changed. Please be aware that your request form and supporting documentation may be shared with the CTC in order to process your request. The documentation will be kept confidential to the extent required by law.

If you plan to register using a RICA Written Examination late registration fee waiver (see "Test Fees and Payment Policies") and require alternative testing arrangements, please call (888) 793-7999 or (916) 928-4004 as soon as possible to discuss your request for alternative testing arrangements. This is necessary to allow the maximum amount of time to process your request. Because of time and logistical issues, it may not be possible to grant some requests for alternative testing arrangements made when registering using a RICA Written Examination late registration fee waiver.

Some alternative testing arrangements may be accommodated at selected sites only. In some cases, you may be contacted directly to discuss suitable testing arrangements. Before the test date, you will receive information regarding your request. You should contact Evaluation Systems at the time you receive this information if you have any questions or concerns about it.

Requests for additional time. The four-hour test session is designed to allow sufficient time to complete the RICA Written Examination. Examinees may find the four hours of testing time to be more than enough to complete the test, even if they have needed extra time on other tests they have taken in the past.

If, however, you have a documented disability and you feel you need extra time for testing, you may submit a request for alternative testing arrangements when you register for the RICA Written Examination. Please note that testing must be completed within one test administration day and that all requests for additional time require appropriate documentation and are subject to approval by the CTC.

If you are granted extra time, thereby beginning your test session in the morning rather than the afternoon, for test security reasons you will be required to remain in the testing room until after the regular afternoon testing session is under way; that is, you will not be allowed to be dismissed from your testing room before 1:30 p.m., even if you complete the test earlier than that time.

Deadline for requests. The deadline for submission of requests and all necessary documentation for alternative testing arrangements is the regular registration deadline. Because of space, staff, and time constraints, there can be no assurance that requests received after this deadline can be accommodated.

Some accommodations (e.g., Braille tests) have specialized production requirements associated with them, and more time for production may be required than is available after the regular registration deadline. Although every effort is made to process all requests in a timely manner, the earlier you submit your request, the more time will be available for specialized production, if needed. Certain production requirements may necessitate rolling over your registration to a future test administration.

Documentation Requirements and Review of Requests
The following alternative testing arrangements may be requested because of a disability (e.g., visual impairment, hearing impairment, motor disability, illness, injury) and can be accommodated at all test sites:
  • Wheelchair-accessible facilities
  • Frequent breaks (e.g., for those with hypoglycemia or diabetes)
  • Use of a magnifying glass, color overlays, or a straightedge (e.g., for those with a visual impairment)
  • Use of a pen for a written assignment (e.g., for those with a motor impairment)
  • Written copy of the oral directions (e.g., for those with a hearing impairment)
To request any of the alternative testing arrangements listed above, you must
  1. complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and
  2. submit a completed Alternative Testing/Assessment Arrangements Request Form indicating the nature of and reason for the request.
If you wish to request arrangements other than those listed above, please review the instructions that follow.

Registering for alternative testing arrangements because of a physical disability. If you require arrangements other than those listed above and the alternative testing arrangements are being requested due to a physical disability (e.g., visual impairment), you must
  1. complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and
  2. submit a completed Alternative Testing/Assessment Arrangements Request Form identifying the disability and the specific arrangements requested; and
  3. submit a signed statement by a licensed professional, written on that person’s professional letterhead, whose license or credentials are appropriate to diagnose the disability (e.g., ophthalmologist for visual impairment). The statement must indicate the following:

    • The disability for which alternative testing arrangements are being requested
    • The recommended test administration modifications that are specifically related to the disability and are reasonable in the context of this licensing test
Registering for alternative testing arrangements because of a disability other than physical. If you are requesting alternative testing arrangements due to a disability other than physical (e.g., learning disability), you must
  1. complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and

  2. submit a completed Alternative Testing/Assessment Arrangements Request Form identifying the disability and the specific arrangements requested; and

  3. submit a signed statement by a qualified professional, written on that person’s professional letterhead, whose license or credentials are appropriate to describe or diagnose the disability. The statement must indicate the following:
    • The disability for which alternative testing arrangements are being requested, with supporting documentation in the form of one of the following, which must be included as part of the statement or as separate documentation:

      • A full educational history with complete documentation of special education services, including other disability-related testing modifications, received within the past five years, along with the name, date, and results of the diagnostic test(s) or evaluation(s), designed for purposes other than screening, administered within the past five years, used to document the disability (test results should demonstrate a significant discrepancy in your performance and your expected capability level and demonstrate the current functional impact of your disability)

        or

      • Results of a psychological, neuropsychological, or psychoeducational diagnostic test battery, designed for purposes other than screening, administered within the past five years, interpreted by a qualified professional whose license or credentials are appropriate to diagnose the condition (test results should demonstrate a significant discrepancy in your performance and your expected capability level and demonstrate the current functional impact of your disability)

        or

      • Results of an evaluation interpreted by a licensed professional verifying physical abnormalities as evidenced by a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalogram (EEG), or brain topography mapping test administered within the past five years

        and

    • The recommended test administration modifications that are specifically related to the disability and are reasonable in the context of this licensing test
Please note: If your test(s) or evaluation(s) were administered prior to the past five years, a full battery of testing may not be required. Instead, you may wish to consult with a qualified professional to determine which diagnostic test(s) related to your disability would indicate the current functional impact of your disability.

  Documentation Checklist
Before submitting your Alternative Testing/Assessment Arrangements Request Form and any required documentation, use the checklist below and the information in the sections above to confirm that your documentation is complete.

You may wish to share this information with the qualified professional with whom you have consulted.

This checklist does not apply to candidates registering for an alternative test date for religious reasons (see "Registering for an Alternative Test Date for Religious Reasons" below).

Your documentation must meet all of the following requirements:
It must include a signed statement by a qualified professional, written on that person’s professional letterhead, whose license or credentials are appropriate to describe or diagnose the disability.
It must include a diagnosis of the disability or disabilities.
Where documentation of test(s) or evaluation(s) is required, it must include the name, date, and actual results of diagnostic test(s) designed for purposes other than screening. The diagnostic test(s) should
  • be current, i.e., completed within the past five years;

  • demonstrate a significant discrepancy in your performance and your expected capability level;

  • demonstrate the current level of functional impact of your disability.
It must include recommended test administration modifications that are specifically related to the disability and that are reasonable within the context of this licensing test.
Documentation, in itself, does not automatically support the granting of alternative testing/assessment arrangements.

Appeal of denial of request for alternative testing arrangements. Evaluation Systems will notify candidates of the determination made with regard to their requests for alternative testing arrangements. You may appeal the denial of some or all of your requests for alternative testing arrangements. Before you submit your appeal, it is suggested that you review "Registering for Alternative Testing Arrangements for the RICA Written Examination." This section describes the documentation requirements for different types of alternative testing arrangements requests. If after reviewing the information in this section you still wish to proceed with an appeal of the decision, you may do so by submitting your appeal, in writing, to:

Director of Alternative Testing Arrangements
Evaluation Systems
Pearson
P.O. Box 340880
Sacramento, CA 95834-0880

Telephone: (888) 793-7999 or (916) 928-4004
Fax: (866) 483-6460 or (916) 928-6110

The appeal should include the following information:

  • Your name, address, and social security number

  • The date of the appeal

  • The date of the test administration upon which the appeal is based

  • Any documentation, in addition to the documentation that you submitted with your Alternative Testing/Assessment Arrangements Request Form, that supports your alternative testing arrangements requests

  • A brief summary of the reasons why your alternative testing arrangements requests should be granted

  • Your signature

Your appeal should be submitted as soon as possible. Please be advised that an appeal that is received less than 30 days before the test date for which a candidate is registered may not be processed by that date.

After your appeal is reviewed, you will be notified as to whether your appeal has been granted or denied. All appeal determinations made by the CTC are final.


Registering for an Alternative Test Date for Religious Reasons
Alternative test dates may be arranged for people whose religious practices do not allow them to take tests on Saturdays. These alternative test dates may be arranged only for religious reasons and will be scheduled for the Sunday following the regular Saturday test date. Alternative test dates are available only in the following test areas:

Test Area Code
Chico area 203
Fresno area 204
Humboldt County/Arcata area 201
Orange County/Anaheim area 210
Sacramento area 212
San Diego area 214
San Luis Obispo area 218
Santa Rosa area 220
Woodland Hills area 209

To request an alternative test date, you must

  1. complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and

  2. submit a completed Alternative Testing/Assessment Arrangements Request Form; and

  3. submit a signed letter from a member of the clergy, written on that person’s professional letterhead, stating that your religious practices prohibit Saturday testing.

The deadline for submission of your Alternative Testing/Assessment Arrangements Request Form and supporting letter is the regular registration deadline.

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2008–2009 RICA Registration Bulletin
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliate(s). All rights reserved.
Evaluation Systems, Pearson, P.O. Box 226, Amherst, MA 01004