When must accommodations be approved for scheduling an ARE exam?

• A. There is no extra time.
• B. Prior to scheduling an exam appointment.
• C. A letter from your instructor.
• D. Approval is optional.

Answer: (B)

Accommodations must be approved before you schedule an ARE exam because the testing provider needs to confirm and arrange the specific supports you’ll need (extra time, a separate room, assistive technology, etc.) and ensure the center can accommodate them. This approval determines what accommodations are available to you and how your appointment will be set up, so you can’t rely on accommodations being guaranteed at the moment of scheduling.

To get this approval, you submit a formal accommodations request with appropriate documentation (often from a licensed professional) to NCARB. The review can take some time, so plan ahead. Once approved, you’ll receive confirmation and can schedule your exam with the accommodations noted in your appointment. If you don’t need accommodations, you can schedule normally, but if you do, waiting for approval is necessary rather than assuming accommodations will be granted automatically.