[NFBCS] Pearson VUE Testing Acomodations for the ISC2 Certified Information Systems Professional (CISSP) Exam

[Beth Fogle-Hatch]

Hello Harry,, all,


Harry, I'm sorry for the experience you had with Pearson Vue. I had a 
similar experience back in 2015, so I'm disappointed and discouraged to 
hear about yours. I asked Pearson Vue to allow me to use JAWS to take 
the CISSP(Certified Information Systems Security  Program) exam in 2015. 
I believe the test measured my computer experience and knowledge in many 
areas and therefore, I should have been able to take the test using a 
computer ans assistive technology. I exchanged many letters with ISSC2 
(the certifying body) and Pearson Vue, (testing provider.) Each blamed 
the other for the difficulty I had with arranging accommodations, 
getting an accessible test with JAWS, and taking the test. Although 
human readers are a valuable and efficient means of accommodation, I did 
not want to use double time (at that time it could have been up to 12 
hours because in 2015 sighted people were given six hours to take the 
250 question test) the computer would be quicker and more efficient for me.


Consequently, after much discussion and negotiation, a PDF version of 
the CISSP test was produced for my use and I took the test with a 
proctor in the room with me. The test contained static answers, meaning 
they did not change based on the previous answers I provided. I was told 
the "dynamic" nature of this test, and the inaccessible Pearson Vue test 
was why I couldn't take the same test as my sighted peers.


The problem was made worse when I learned I did not pass the test in my 
opinion due to mislabeled choice answers. For example,the second check 
box should read the answer and then "2 out of five" to show how many 
choices were available while reading each choice for a particular 
question. Instead, though I knew I was on the second question, the 
description would say "three out of five." Hence, it was difficult to 
know if I was choosing the second or third answer.


I wrote Pearson Vue and ISSC2 again and explained my problems with the 
check boxes and was told they hired an accessibility expert to make this 
file. If I did not pass the test due to my lack of study or knowledge, 
that's on me, but the test was not accessible due to its errors.


I approached the NFB for support, and although the staff understood my 
stress and frustration, they decided not to take my case. Now that there 
are many of us doing these certification exams, I hope we will fight 
this now as it is imperative blind people have the same opportunities as 
our sighted colleagues do to  take and pass these high stakes 
certification exams as they are required for our career advancement.

Best


BethISSC2  1/20/2024 1:24 PM, Harry Staley via NFBCS wrote:

> BLUF:
> Pearson VUE IMHO does not provide equal access for people with disabilities.
>
> SITUATION:
> The CISSP exam is a professional Cybersecurity exam that costs $750.00 every time you sit for the exam regardless of your passing status. Also not that only %20 of test takers pass the exam on their first try. The exam is a 125 to 175 Computer Adaptive Exam (CAT) where the answers you give early on in the exam determine what questions you get further on in the exam and an algorithm is used to determine whether giving you more questions would help the algorithm determine your pass or failure on the exam.
>
> ACCOMMODATION REQUEST AND SCHEDULING:
> After several months of study and preparation I requested reasonable accommodations in the form of extended time and the use of large white board markers, and a reader on the exam. I was not told that I needed to provide anything for the exam in fact I was told that I should not bring anything into the testing area unless explicitly instructed to.
>
> ISC2 and Pearson approved the accommodations.
>
> I scheduled my exam in early November requesting a date in December and was told that I would need to wait 3-5 days for Pearson to contact me to offer me an available date that was convenient for them. I was contacted 5 days later and was offered a date that was in less than 10 days from that date. I asked for a different date possibly in January. I was contacted the following week and was given a January 8th exam date and I accepted the appointment.
>
> This process is just quite simply a bad process and is not conducive to those who are working professionals in the cybersecurity field.
>
> EXAM DAY:
> I arrived at the testing center 45 minutes prior to my exam start time. I got checked in for my exam and was told that I was to provide the large white board markers for the exam and I would forfeit my exam time if I left the center to go purchase the item and came back due to the extended time going past the hours of operation for the center. The center attendant had numerous of these pens on her desk asking about them she reiterated that I needed to provide them for the exam.
>
> I was able to phone my wife and she bought some pens from the store and brought them to me. I got started on the exam and the reader was reading the Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to starting the exam and the exams suddenly stopped letting us know that we did not agree to the NDA in the allotted time limit.
>
> The software did not show a timer nor was there a pop up notifying myself or the reader that we had a time limit to read and accept the NDA. The exam administrator escorted me and the reader out of the testing area stating that she could not reset the exam and that I would need to contact Pearson and ISC2 support.
>
> I have contacted Pearson VUE and they have denied me the ability to reschedule the exam without providing a new voucher or paying for the exam again. I contacted ISC2 and gave them the situation and the promptly provided me with a new exam voucher so that I can take the exam.
>
> I have rescheduled the exam and am waiting to hear back as to when it is convenient for Pearson VUE to allow me to test.
>
> I would hope that the NFB would take up this cause because there are lots of high stakes testing situations that are minimally required for us as Blind people advance in our careers as technologists.
>
> Harry Staley
> (330) 718-1876
> Hstaley at nfbtx.org
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