Non-Standard Testing Accommodations include any accommodation that deviates from standard testing, including conditions requiring food, water, and special equipment. See Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7, § 3.11 and Board Policy P-3.11, with Appendices under Governing Authorities. A copy of Board Policy P-3.11 and related Appendix A can be found at the end of this page.
A Courtesy Accommodation is a necessary and reasonable accommodation due to a medical or other condition that does not alter the standard administration of the test but permits otherwise prohibited items or conduct during the examination. Examples of a Courtesy Accommodation include testing equipment and food for diabetes or other medical condition, frequent restroom breaks due to a medical condition (permanent or temporary), large font for printed material related to a physical or medical condition, or special seating due to a mobility device or medical condition. A Courtesy Accommodation Request DOES NOT INCLUDE any accommodation request that includes extra time, off-the-clock breaks, a change in the examination schedule, assistive technology, a separate room, or any other modification of the standard testing schedule and security protocols, for which the applicant must complete the Request for Non-Standard Testing Accommodations, as described below.
Applicants who require an accommodation that modifies the standard testing schedule and security protocols and an accommodation that would otherwise be a courtesy accommodation will complete the Request for Non-Standard Testing Accommodations.
A Request for Non-Standard Testing Accommodation must be submitted each exam with current documentation to show current limitations; comprehensive medical reports are removed after each exam to protect privacy.
REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS AND DEADLINES
Requests for Non-Standard Testing or for Courtesy Accommodations must meet the same deadlines as examination applications and all documents must be received by the Final Deadline. Documents and NST Forms required as part of the Request for Accommodations must be uploaded to the Request for Accommodations in Synergy. Documents and NST Forms related to the Request for Accommodations uploaded to the Application for Admission by Examination (First Time or Re-examination) will not be considered.
- The Request for Non-Standard Testing Accommodations and Form 1, and the Request for Courtesty Accommodations and Form 1A, are found in Synergy for each exam and follow the same schedule and deadlines as exam applications. NOTE that Form 1 is now part of the Synergy Application and a separate upload of the Form is not required.
- The Request for Non-Standard or Courtesy Accommodations with the included NST Form 1 or 1A must be submitted in Synergy on or before the Application Deadline.
- The balance of the documentation (NST Forms 2, 3, and 4, as applicable) must be submitted on or before the Final Deadline.
- Applicants must have a pending Application for Admission by Examination (First Time or Reexamination) before the Board will consider any Request for Accommodations.
- The Board will complete review of Requests for Accommodation after the Final Deadline. Most letters regarding accommodations will be sent by January 20 (for February exams) or June 20 (for July).
- RELATED DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR THE REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATIONS: Applicants submitting a Request for Accommodations must submit or cause to be submitted NST Form 2 (for all Requests for Accommodations, including Courtesy), and if applicable, NST Form 3 and/or Form 4, plus any attachments.
- Applicants with disabilities have the responsibility to meet the same deadline for application as individuals without disabilities. NST Forms 2, 3 and 4 must be received by the Board on or before the Final Deadline.
- As some of the NST Forms (listed below) require input from third parties, the Board strongly recommends that applicants request the appropriate individuals complete the forms well in advance of the Final Deadline for filing the Request for Non-Standard Testing Accommodations. It may take several months to get an appointment with a Qualified Professional (as defined in Board Policy P-3.11, Appendix A, Paragraph B) and evaluative testing takes time.
- Incomplete submissions will result in denial due to insufficient information upon which the Board can make a reasonable accommodation.
- Completed forms must be provided to the TBLE directly from the person or entity completing the form on or before the Final Deadline. See also Board Policy P-3.01(b)(4) and (c)(13), and Policy P-3.03(a), (b), (e), (f) and (g).
- The completed form may be mailed to the TBLE at the address therein.
- In the alternative (and the recommended process), the person completing the form may contact the TBLE at ble.administrator@tncourts.gov for a link to a secure file server to upload the form; the link is not provided to Applicants.
- Deadlines apply to receipt of all information, including documentation requested from third parties, and are “received by” deadlines, not “postmarked by” deadlines.
- The Supreme Court approved revisions to the Non-Standard Testing Accommodations Policy P-3.11 and Appendix A in January 2024, which include updated evaluation report and testing requirements, particularly if requesting extra time or a modified testing schedule. The updated Policy and Appendix A can be found at the end of this page.
- Extra time, off-the-clock breaks or other modifications of the test administration schedule:
- For all accommodations requests for which additional time is requested due to ADHD, a Learning Disorder, or a Psychological/Emotional/Behavioral Health Disorder, measures of intelligence, achievement, and scholastic abilities must be included with the required evaluation reports and must be performed by a mental health professional who is trained in psychological, neuropsychological and/or psychoeducational assessment of adults.
- For all accommodations requests for which additional time is requested due to ADHD or a Learning Disorder, the assessment must include current levels of academic functioning in reading (decoding and comprehension) and a timed reading measure that has been normed on adults and allows for both extended and regular administration, such as the Scholastic Abilities Test for Adults (SATA).
- For details, see Board Policy P-3.11, Appendix A, Paragraph C; Sub-Appendix A-1 for Learning Disorder, Formal Testing – Paragraph B; and Sub-Appendix A-2 for ADHD, Formal Testing – Bullet 5.
- If a disability requiring accommodations first arises after the Application Deadline, the applicant may submit an Emergency Request for Non-Standard or Courtesy Accommodations in Synergy. All NST Forms related to the disability are required in the same format and by the same process as noted above. See Board Policy P-3.11, Appendix A, Paragraph G.
By submitting a Request for Non-Standard Testing Accommodations, applicants agree to the release of the application and attachments to TLAP and/or an appropriate professional and agree to appear for assessment, if requested to do so by the Board. See Board Policy P-3.11, Appendix A, Paragraph H.
NST FORMS: The following is a list of the NST Forms related to Requests for Accommodations. The relevant NST Form 2 must be be received by the TBLE directly from the Qualified Professional on or before the Final Deadline; for example, for an applicant with a Learning Disorder and ADHD, NST Form 2A and NST Form 2B are needed. Additionally, if an applicant previously received accommodations, NST Forms 3 and/or 4 must be submitted. All forms were updated in January 2024 and earlier forms will not be accepted.
- NST Form 2A – Learning Disabilities
- NST Form 2B – ADHD
- NST Form 2C – Psycholigical Disability
- NST Form 2D – Physical Disability
- NST Form 2E – Visual Disability
- NST Form 3 – Educational Institutions (such as law schools)
- NST Form 4 – Testing Agencies (LSAT, SAT, LSAC, MPRE, other bar exams) – For standardized tests and the MPRE, applicants can upload the letter received documenting the accommodation granted to the Request for Accommodations in Synergy.
If you use the Google Chrome browser, all forms must be downloaded before it will work as a fillable .pdf.
Please note that all versions of NST Form 2 require specific testing and/or a comprehensive report that may take several weeks or months to complete. Do not wait to begin the evaluation process if your last evaluation has expired. See Board Policy P-3.11, Appendix A, and the applicable Sub-Appendix A-1, A-2, or A-3, found at the end of this page.
Forms from third parties must be mailed so that the forms are received by the deadline. In the alternative, third parties may contact the TBLE at ble.administrator@tncourts.gov for a link to a secure file server to upload the form which results in immediate delivery of the document to the TBLE. Note that an E-mail or fax delivery of any documents that must be sent to the Board by third parties is not permitted. See Board Policy P-3.03(e)(2).
REMINDERS:
- An application for examination or re-examination must be submitted prior to submitting a Request for Non-Standard Testing Accommodations; the Board will not consider a Request for Non-Standard or Courtesy Testing Accommodations without an exam application.
- You will receive at least one notice of missing items needed for your Request for Non-Standard Testing Accommodation after you submit and pay the application fee for the Application for Admission by Examination. There is not a fee for the Request for Non-Standard or Courtesy Accommodations.
- The emergency request for accommodations is to be used ONLY when the need for accommodation arises after the final deadline.
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