Exam disability accommodations
We're committed to offering our proctored exams to individuals with disabilities and in compliance with legal requirements.
Before initiating a request
- Follow the published deadlines and submit all requested documentation through the secure online portal.
- A decision from CFA Institute is needed before scheduling your exam. Do not schedule your exam appointment until you hear from us regarding a decision on your submission.
- Review the FAQs.
Important deadlines
Disability accommodation requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must be submitted by the deadline for your exam. Please submit your requests as early as possible. Late submissions will not be reviewed.
CFA® Program
CIPM® Program
March 2025
Standard registration deadline
5 February
If you have registered for the March 2025 exam, your deadline to submit a disability accommodation request is 5 February 2025.
Certificate in ESG Investing
You must submit your request within 30 days of registering for the Certificate in ESG Investing program. If you are considering Online Proctored Testing, please note that not all accommodations are available. Read the disability accommodations form carefully.
Comfort requests
Items on Prometric’s pre-approved personal items list don't require a disability accommodations request or CFA Institute approval. Food and non-water beverages are not permitted in the testing room. However, candidates may keep them in the personal belongings area which can be accessed during the optional scheduled break. For comfort requests, including nursing accommodations, contact examadmin@cfainstitute.org. These are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and depend on test center availability, so approval isn't guaranteed. Submit requests as early as possible.
Returning & deferred candidates
Candidates with previously approved CFA Institute accommodations must submit a disability accommodations request form for each exam administration.*
- Same accommodation: No new documentation is required.
- Changes to accommodation: Submit the form with new documentation supporting the updated request.
*This applies even if you deferred your exam, as accommodations do not transfer automatically.
Requested documentation
What to submit
- Medical Professional Questionnaire and Personal Statement (PDF)
Complete and sign the form with a detailed personal statement explaining your diagnosis and the need for accommodations. - Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation Report
Submit your most recent evaluation (within the last 3 years) with DSM-V code if applicable. This should come from a qualified professional and can't be substituted with general letters. You may submit an evaluation report that is more than three years old; however, documentation that doesn't accurately reflect or describe your current level of impairment may impact the evaluation of your request. - Supporting documentation
Provide proof of prior accommodations if applicable (e.g., SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, university accommodations, or special education plans).
Submit all documentation in English within ten (10) business days of submitting the request form, but no later than the deadline.
Do not submit
- Documentation in a language other than English.
- General letters from medical professionals in place of a comprehensive evaluation report.
- Documents via email; use the secure online portal for submission.
- Protected documents, self-reports, or research articles.
CFA Institute recognizes that each individual’s condition and situation is unique. When you request an accommodation, you should provide documentation that objectively demonstrates you have an impairment that reasonably hinders your ability to sit for a proctored exam under standard testing conditions. The information should reasonably show that the accommodation you seek will address your specific impairment as it relates to the appropriate proctored exam and testing environment.
Accommodation request process
After registering for an exam, submit the disability accommodation request form, using the links below, with the requested documentation. After you have submitted your request, you can view the status and details of your request online (log-in required).
CFA disability accommodation request form (log-in required)
ESG disability accommodation request form (log-in required)
CIPM disability accommodation request form (log-in required)
Please allow approximately 4 weeks for the review and processing of your request. All accommodation requests and supporting medical documentation are carefully reviewed by exam administration personnel. You will receive notification regarding the status of your request once it has been evaluated, along with the next steps for scheduling your exam appointment.
Some testing accommodations are not able to be scheduled through the online ProScheduler. In these cases, you will be instructed to contact Prometric directly. A member of the Prometric team will work to schedule an exam appointment inclusive of your granted accommodation in your preferred testing area. Please note that this process may require additional processing time to arrange the logistical aspects of your granted accommodations request.
If you are not granted accommodation, you will still be permitted to take the exam under standard testing conditions and will be provided instruction on how to proceed with scheduling your exam appointment.
Important Note: The exam appointment general scheduling deadline does not apply to Disability Accommodations candidates. Any emails from CFA Institute in reference to this can be disregarded.
Frequently asked questions
No. Your appointment will need to include any approved accommodations; therefore, we ask that you do not schedule an exam appointment until we have completed our evaluation of your request.
Once we have made a determination on your request, we will provide you with information on how to schedule your exam appointment. Please note that if accommodation is granted, any existing appointment will automatically be cancelled so that a new appointment can be scheduled inclusive of any approved accommodation, if applicable.
When you complete the online request form, you may request accommodations which are both necessary and appropriate for your condition. Examples of testing accommodations offered include:
- Extended time
- Flexible, off-the-clock breaks
- Private rooms*
- Reader to read questions and instructions on screen
- Screen reading technology
- Scribes to type or select answers
- Wheelchair-accessible testing stations**
- ZoomText font magnification
*Please note we cannot guarantee a private room in every market, as they are subject to availability.
**To ensure that candidates with wheelchairs are scheduled in ADA-compliant testing labs and at wheelchair compliant workstations, we strongly encourage candidates who require wheelchair assistance to submit a Disability Accommodations Request form. Additional documentation is not required.
The Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation Report should present objective evidence measuring the way in which the condition hinders major life activities used in taking one of our proctored exams, specifically, reading, thinking, and the like. Such information must show that the accommodation sought will address and ameliorate the specific measurable limitation suffered as a result of the condition. Typically, this objective evidence is reflected through an evaluation report with norm-referenced test batteries (e.g., WAIS-IV, WJ-IV, WIAT-III, GORT-V, etc.) and scores.
No. CFA Institute does not reimburse for the costs associated with obtaining any required medical documentation.
Can't find your answer?
For accommodation request queries, please get in touch. Our team aims to respond within 5 business days. We handle all cases in the same manner and cannot speak directly with candidates or their advocates.