How do you get testing accommodations for the FE exam?
You request reasonable accommodations for the FE exam during registration in MyNCEES. Pearson handles the request under the ADA, and the exam stays on hold until a decision is made, so you cannot schedule a seat while you wait. If you complete registration without the request, you have to cancel and register again so the request is included.
Request accommodations when you register
NCEES lists five registration steps, in this order:
- Review your licensing board’s approval process.
- Create a MyNCEES account.
- Register and pay.
- Request accommodations or a military exception if you need one.
- Receive an authorization notice that lets you schedule.
You submit reasonable accommodations with registration and payment, in the same action as a military exception if that is what you need instead. Because the authorization notice is what lets you schedule, the request has to be included before you are waiting on that notice. How you register for the FE exam follows this same sequence, so include the accommodation request before registration is finished.
Registration starts with your licensing board, and board approval to sit for the exam is a separate step from the Pearson accommodation decision.
What happens after the request is in
The hold blocks every appointment until Pearson decides, so put the request in during registration if you already know you need it, and leave time before the week you want to test. You will not have an appointment to move until scheduling is allowed. When the authorization notice arrives, follow the rules to schedule, reschedule, or cancel the FE exam.
If you registered without the request
If you finished registration without the request, you have to cancel and register again, since a finished registration does not pick up the request later. When your exam status is Unscheduled, cancel in MyNCEES to get the registration fee back, less a $50 administrative fee. Register again and include the accommodation request this time before you finish. The new registration carries its own fee, covered on the FE exam fee page.
Comfort aids and items that need approval
Standard items, Pearson comfort aids, and approved accommodation items can all be in the testing room, but they are allowed on different terms.
| Category | What it includes | Accommodation approval |
|---|---|---|
| Standard room items | ID, one NCEES-approved calculator without its cover, locker key, reusable booklets and markers Pearson supplies, eyeglasses without the case, light sweater or light jacket that is not outerwear | No |
| Pearson comfort aids | Comfort aid items Pearson already allows | No |
| Accommodation items | Other items allowed because they were approved | Yes |
You do not need to file an accommodation request to wear a light sweater, use the one approved calculator, keep the locker key, or write in the booklets Pearson supplies. A comfort aid on Pearson’s list also needs no accommodation request. Anything beyond the standard items and those comfort aids has to be an approved accommodation item. Confirm the model against the calculator policy, and pack from what you can bring to the FE exam.
Military exception for a center abroad
A military exception is a different request from accommodations, even though both are submitted at the same step during registration. Active-duty U.S. service members, or their spouses, stationed outside North America and the listed U.S. territories can request to test at an approved center abroad, and you submit this before you expect an authorization notice.
The exception is about where you test. Reasonable accommodations are about changes in how you test under the ADA. If your duty station qualifies and you need a center abroad, request the military exception while you register.
Frequently asked questions
Can I request FE accommodations after registering?
You cannot add an accommodation request after you finish registering. Cancel that registration and register again with the request included. If the status is Unscheduled, you cancel in MyNCEES and receive the registration fee back less a $50 administrative fee.
Who reviews FE accommodation requests?
Pearson handles the request. Your exam stays on hold, and you cannot schedule, until a decision is made. Registration still starts with your licensing board’s approval process. The board review and the Pearson decision are separate parts of getting to a scheduled seat.
Are earplugs allowed in the FE exam?
The standard room list does not name earplugs. Pearson comfort aid items are allowed without an accommodation approval, and approved accommodation items are allowed once they are approved. If earplugs are on the Pearson comfort-aid list, bring them as a comfort aid. If they are not, bring them only as an approved accommodation item, and check the current examinee guide before exam day.
Can I schedule the FE exam while an accommodation request is pending?
You cannot schedule while the request is pending. The exam stays on hold until a decision is made. You need the authorization notice before a seat can be booked. After that notice, scheduling follows the normal rules.
Sources
- NCEES Examinee Guide, May 2026 (PDF). Retrieved October 3, 2026.
- NCEES: FE exam. Retrieved October 3, 2026.