Administrative Nonstandard Test Accommodations

In General

1. An applicant who is otherwise eligible to take the bar examination, but who does not qualify for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, may request administrative nonstandard test accommodations when applying for admission. Examples of nonstandard test accommodations are: the ability to wear a wrist guard or brace as a result of an injury that may not qualify as a disability under the ADA; whatever accommodations may be necessary to pump breast milk during the bar examination; and/or permission to take certain medications during the bar examination for conditions that do not rise to the level of a disability under the ADA.
   
   
2. The policy of the Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) is to provide reasonable administrative nonstandard testing accommodations to applicants who need such accommodations.
   
   
3. Requests for administrative nonstandard test accommodations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the BBE. Applicants seeking breastfeeding-related accommodations must file a completed Request for Administrative Nonstandard Test Accommodations form but are not required to submit any additional documentation.
   
   
4. All applicants seeking accommodations for any reason other than breastfeeding must file a completed Request for Administrative Nonstandard Test Accommodations form and must also submit documentation from one (1) or more qualified professionals that provides information on the applicant's needs and the rationale for the requested administrative nonstandard test accommodations requested on the bar examination.
   
   
5. All documentation will be retained by the BBE and may be submitted to one (1) or more qualified professionals for an impartial review.

Filing Deadline 

1. Requests for administrative nonstandard accommodations will be considered after receipt of all required information. The Request for Administrative Nonstandard Test Accommodations form must be submitted with the application by the deadline of the examination the applicant wishes to take.
   
   
2. Because some of the administrative nonstandard accommodation request forms require input from third parties, the appropriate individuals should be asked to complete the forms well in advance of the deadline. Third party forms must be received by the applicant for submittal with the application by the deadline applicable to the applicant. 
   
   
3. An applicant who has submitted a complete and timely request for administrative nonstandard accommodations, but whose needs have changed since the submission of the timely request, may submit an updated request, using the Request for Administrative Nonstandard Test Accommodations form, but such updated request must be filed at least thirty (30) days prior to the first day of the applicable examination.
   
   
4. Requests for administrative nonstandard test accommodations and supporting documentation must be submitted with the Petition for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar through the Rhode Island Supreme Court Attorney Portal (RISCAP).​
   

Retake Applicants

1. Applicants who retake the examination must submit the Request for Administrative Nonstandard Test Accommodations form with each application for the bar examination, even if the applicant previously requested and/or was granted accommodations by the BBE.
   
   
2. The BBE reserves the right to request an update to documentation in all cases if the BBE determines that the documentation is insufficient to establish the applicant's need for accommodations.