ATU |Council for Professional Accreditation and Certification

1. Document Control

Document Title: ATU-CPAC Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration Policy
Document Owner: ATU-CPAC Certification and Assessment Committee
Issuing Authority: Arab Trainers Union
Policy Authority: ATU-CPAC Governing Council
Approval Authority: Arab Trainers Union Board of Directors, where required
Effective Date: 1 June 2026
Review Date: Every three years, or earlier where required
Applicability: ATU-CPAC, approved providers, accredited providers, authorized assessment centers, candidates, learners, certified professionals, trainers, assessors, IQAs, EQAs, reviewers, partners, and all persons involved in ATU-CPAC-governed assessment and certification activities

2. Introduction

The Arab Trainers Union Council for Professional Accreditation and Certification, referred to as ATU-CPAC, is a specialized council operating within the Arab Trainers Union.

ATU-CPAC regulates, monitors, quality assures, and verifies professional accreditation, professional certification, assessed training programs, assessment systems, provider performance, registry records, and related compliance activities under the authority of the Arab Trainers Union.

Reasonable adjustments and special consideration are used to support fair access to assessment while protecting the validity, reliability, integrity, and credibility of ATU-issued certificates and professional certifications.

All certificates, professional certifications, accreditation certificates, assessed certificates, registry confirmations, and verification records governed by ATU-CPAC are issued in the name and under the authority of the Arab Trainers Union.

3. Purpose

This policy sets out how ATU-CPAC and approved providers shall manage reasonable adjustments and special consideration requests.

The policy aims to:

1. Ensure fair access to assessment.
2. Support candidates and learners with verified needs or exceptional circumstances.
3. Protect the required assessment standard.
4. Ensure assessment decisions remain valid, reliable, fair, and evidence-based.
5. Provide clear rules for request, approval, evidence, recording, and review.
6. Prevent unfair advantage or inappropriate reduction of standards.
7. Protect confidential personal information.
8. Support consistent practice across ATU-CPAC providers, assessment centers, programs, and certification schemes.

4. Scope

This policy applies to reasonable adjustments and special consideration related to:

1. Professional certification assessments.
2. Assessed training programs.
3. Certificates of achievement.
4. Accredited training programs.
5. Accredited professional programs.
6. Authorized assessment centers.
7. Examinations.
8. Assignments.
9. Projects.
10. Portfolios.
11. Practical assessments.
12. Presentations.
13. Professional interviews.
14. Online, blended, face-to-face, remote, and workplace-based assessments.
15. Partner-endorsed or jointly supported assessment activities where applicable.

This policy does not apply to requests that would reduce, remove, or compromise the required learning outcomes, assessment criteria, competence requirements, professional standards, assessment security, or certification integrity.

5. Policy Principles

ATU-CPAC reasonable adjustments and special consideration shall be guided by the following principles.

5.1 Fair Access

Candidates should have fair access to assessment where reasonable support can be provided without reducing the required standard.

5.2 No Reduction of Standard

Reasonable adjustments and special consideration must not make the assessment easier, remove essential requirements, or award achievement without sufficient evidence.

5.3 Validity

Any adjustment must preserve the validity of the assessment and must still allow the candidate to demonstrate the required outcome or competence.

5.4 Reliability

Assessment decisions must remain consistent and comparable with decisions made for other candidates.

5.5 Evidence-Based Decisions

Requests shall be reviewed using appropriate evidence, professional judgment, approved criteria, and documented decision-making.

5.6 Confidentiality

Personal information, supporting evidence, and decisions shall be handled confidentially and shared only with authorized persons.

5.7 Proportionality

Adjustments and consideration shall be proportionate to the candidate’s need, assessment method, level, risk, and certification requirements.

5.8 Transparency

Candidates shall receive clear information about available support, request procedures, evidence requirements, decision outcomes, and appeal rights.

6. Reasonable Adjustments

A reasonable adjustment is an approved change to the assessment arrangement that enables a candidate to access or complete an assessment fairly without changing the required standard.

Reasonable adjustments are normally agreed before the assessment takes place.

Examples may include:

1. Additional assessment time.
2. Accessible assessment format.
3. Larger print or screen-readable documents.
4. Use of assistive technology.
5. Separate room or reduced-distraction environment.
6. Reader or scribe where appropriate.
7. Rest breaks.
8. Adjusted seating or room arrangement.
9. Alternative submission format.
10. Oral questioning instead of written response where valid and approved.
11. Remote assessment arrangement where secure and appropriate.
12. Modified assessment schedule where justified.
13. Technical support for approved online assessment access.

Reasonable adjustments must not provide an unfair advantage.

7. Special Consideration

Special consideration is a post-assessment review applied where a candidate’s assessment performance or participation was affected by verified exceptional circumstances.

Special consideration may be considered where the candidate experienced:

1. Serious illness or sudden medical issue.
2. Accident or emergency.
3. Bereavement or serious family emergency.
4. Technical failure outside the candidate’s control.
5. Major disruption during assessment.
6. Unexpected assessment center incident.
7. Verified circumstances that prevented completion or affected performance.

Special consideration does not automatically result in a pass, certificate, certification, or higher grade. The candidate must still meet the required assessment criteria or provide sufficient evidence of achievement.

8. Requests That Are Not Normally Permitted

ATU-CPAC shall not approve requests that would compromise assessment integrity.

Requests are not normally permitted where they would:

1. Remove an essential assessment requirement.
2. Change the learning outcome or competence standard.
3. Give the candidate an unfair advantage.
4. Replace required evidence with unsupported claims.
5. Allow certification without assessment where assessment is required.
6. Compromise assessment security.
7. Allow unauthorized assistance.
8. Allow another person to complete the assessment.
9. Permit use of prohibited materials or tools.
10. Alter results without evidence.
11. Conflict with partner or regulatory requirements.
12. Damage the credibility of ATU-issued credentials.

9. Candidate Information

Candidates shall be informed of reasonable adjustment and special consideration procedures before assessment.

Information should include:

1. How to request support.
2. When to submit the request.
3. Evidence required.
4. Types of possible adjustment.
5. Limits of adjustment.
6. Confidentiality arrangements.
7. Decision timelines.
8. Appeal routes.
9. Responsibility to provide accurate information.
10. Impact on assessment scheduling or certificate release.

Approved providers and assessment centers must ensure candidates have access to this information.

10. Request Procedure for Reasonable Adjustments

Reasonable adjustment requests should normally be submitted before the assessment date.

The request should include:

1. Candidate name.
2. Candidate registration number where applicable.
3. Program or certification title.
4. Assessment name or type.
5. Requested adjustment.
6. Reason for the request.
7. Supporting evidence where required.
8. Date of assessment.
9. Provider or assessment center name.
10. Candidate declaration that information is accurate.

Late requests may be considered where there is a valid reason, but approval may not be possible where the provider or ATU-CPAC cannot reasonably arrange the adjustment in time.

11. Request Procedure for Special Consideration

Special consideration requests should normally be submitted as soon as possible after the assessment or disruption.

The request should include:

1. Candidate name.
2. Candidate registration number where applicable.
3. Program or certification title.
4. Assessment name or type.
5. Date of assessment.
6. Description of the exceptional circumstance.
7. Explanation of how the circumstance affected assessment.
8. Supporting evidence where required.
9. Provider or assessment center report where applicable.
10. Candidate declaration that information is accurate.

Special consideration requests should normally be submitted within 5 working days after the assessment unless exceptional circumstances justify late submission.

12. Supporting Evidence

ATU-CPAC or the approved provider may request evidence to support a reasonable adjustment or special consideration request.

Evidence may include:

1. Medical note or professional confirmation.
2. Accessibility or support needs evidence.
3. Provider incident report.
4. Assessment center report.
5. Technical failure report.
6. Official document confirming emergency circumstances.
7. Candidate statement.
8. Witness statement.
9. Relevant communication record.
10. Other evidence accepted by ATU-CPAC.

Evidence must be sufficient, relevant, authentic, and proportionate to the request.

Sensitive evidence shall be handled confidentially.

13. Decision-Making

Requests shall be reviewed by authorized persons according to ATU-CPAC procedures.

Decision-makers shall consider:

1. Candidate need or circumstance.
2. Evidence provided.
3. Assessment method.
4. Assessment level.
5. Required learning outcomes or competencies.
6. Assessment security.
7. Practical feasibility.
8. Fairness to the candidate.
9. Fairness to other candidates.
10. Partner requirements where applicable.
11. Impact on assessment validity and reliability.
12. Whether the request would create unfair advantage.

Decision-makers must declare conflicts of interest and must not decide requests where impartiality is compromised.

14. Possible Decisions

Reasonable adjustment decisions may include:

1. Approved.
2. Approved with modification.
3. Approved with conditions.
4. Deferred pending evidence.
5. Rejected.
6. Referred to ATU-CPAC for decision.
7. Alternative assessment arrangement approved where valid.

Special consideration decisions may include:

1. No action required.
2. Additional time for submission.
3. Reassessment opportunity.
4. Resubmission opportunity.
5. Assessment attempt not counted.
6. Consideration of existing evidence.
7. Result review.
8. Certificate decision deferred.
9. Request rejected.
10. Referral for further review.

Special consideration must not be used to award achievement where required evidence is missing.

15. Timing and Deadlines

Reasonable adjustment requests should normally be submitted before assessment.

Special consideration requests should normally be submitted shortly after the assessment event.

ATU-CPAC or the approved provider may set specific deadlines according to the program or certification scheme.

Where deadlines are missed, the request may still be reviewed if:

1. The candidate had a valid reason for late submission.
2. Evidence is available.
3. Review remains fair and practical.
4. Assessment integrity is not compromised.
5. Partner requirements allow late review.

16. Recording and Documentation

All reasonable adjustment and special consideration decisions shall be recorded.

Records should include:

1. Candidate name.
2. Program or certification title.
3. Assessment affected.
4. Request received.
5. Evidence reviewed.
6. Decision made.
7. Reason for decision.
8. Adjustment or consideration approved.
9. Person approving the decision.
10. Date of decision.
11. Communication to candidate.
12. Impact on assessment or certificate decision.
13. Appeal information where applicable.

Records shall be retained according to ATU policy, ATU-CPAC requirements, legal requirements, and partner requirements where applicable.

17. Confidentiality and Data Protection

Information related to reasonable adjustments and special consideration shall be confidential.

Protected information may include:

1. Personal data.
2. Medical or accessibility-related evidence.
3. Candidate statements.
4. Provider incident reports.
5. Assessment records.
6. Special consideration decisions.
7. Appeal records.
8. Internal review notes.

Information shall be shared only with authorized persons who need access to arrange, review, approve, implement, quality assure, or audit the request.

18. Implementation of Approved Adjustments

Approved providers and assessment centers are responsible for implementing approved reasonable adjustments accurately and fairly.

Implementation may include:

1. Informing relevant staff confidentially.
2. Preparing adjusted assessment arrangements.
3. Ensuring assessment security.
4. Confirming candidate identity.
5. Recording the adjustment provided.
6. Ensuring assessors understand any approved arrangements.
7. Reporting any issue or failure to implement.
8. Maintaining evidence of implementation.

Failure to implement an approved reasonable adjustment may be treated as maladministration.

19. Assessment and Certification Integrity

Reasonable adjustments and special consideration must not compromise the integrity of assessment or certification.

ATU-CPAC may refuse, modify, or withdraw an adjustment where:

1. It compromises assessment validity.
2. It creates unfair advantage.
3. It affects assessment security.
4. It conflicts with essential competence requirements.
5. It conflicts with partner requirements.
6. Evidence is insufficient.
7. The request is false or misleading.
8. The request is impractical or unsafe to implement.
9. The adjustment would damage the credibility of the credential.

20. False or Misleading Requests

Submitting false, altered, exaggerated, or misleading evidence for reasonable adjustment or special consideration may be treated as malpractice.

Possible actions include:

1. Request rejection.
2. Assessment result hold.
3. Certificate hold.
4. Malpractice investigation.
5. Result cancellation.
6. Suspension.
7. Withdrawal.
8. Revocation.
9. Registry update.
10. Referral to ATU leadership where required.

21. Provider Responsibilities

Approved providers and authorized assessment centers shall:

1. Publish reasonable adjustment and special consideration procedures.
2. Inform candidates of their rights and responsibilities.
3. Receive and record requests.
4. Review requests fairly within delegated authority.
5. Refer complex or high-risk requests to ATU-CPAC.
6. Protect confidential information.
7. Implement approved adjustments.
8. Maintain records.
9. Report implementation failures.
10. Cooperate with IQA, EQA, audit, complaints, and appeals.
11. Ensure adjustments do not reduce assessment standards.
12. Ensure trainers, assessors, and assessment administrators understand this policy.

22. ATU-CPAC Responsibilities

ATU-CPAC shall:

1. Set requirements for reasonable adjustments and special consideration.
2. Provide guidance to providers and assessment centers.
3. Review complex, high-risk, or disputed requests.
4. Monitor provider implementation.
5. Review records during IQA, EQA, accreditation, renewal, or audit.
6. Protect candidate confidentiality.
7. Ensure decisions preserve assessment validity.
8. Investigate misuse, maladministration, or malpractice.
9. Review complaints and appeals fairly.
10. Use findings for continuous improvement.

23. Assessor, IQA, and EQA Responsibilities

Assessors, internal quality assurers, and external quality assurers shall:

1. Respect approved reasonable adjustments.
2. Apply assessment criteria consistently.
3. Avoid reducing standards.
4. Maintain confidentiality.
5. Report concerns about inappropriate or missing adjustments.
6. Review evidence fairly.
7. Cooperate with investigation or appeal where required.
8. Check records during IQA or EQA where applicable.

Assessors must not approve informal adjustments outside approved procedures.

24. Candidate Responsibilities

Candidates shall:

1. Submit requests as early as possible.
2. Provide accurate and truthful information.
3. Provide supporting evidence where required.
4. Follow approved assessment arrangements.
5. Notify the provider or ATU-CPAC of any issue affecting implementation.
6. Avoid false or misleading claims.
7. Respect assessment security and confidentiality.
8. Submit appeals within approved timelines where dissatisfied with a decision.

25. Partner Requirements

Where a program or certification is partner-endorsed or jointly supported, reasonable adjustment and special consideration decisions shall also comply with approved partner requirements.

Partner requirements may include:

1. Specific evidence rules.
2. Prior approval requirements.
3. Adjustment limits.
4. Assessment security requirements.
5. Reporting obligations.
6. Special consideration rules.
7. Partner review or audit rights.

No provider may approve an adjustment that conflicts with a partner agreement or certification scheme requirement unless formally authorized.

26. Complaints and Appeals

Candidates may submit complaints or appeals related to reasonable adjustment or special consideration decisions according to the ATU-CPAC Complaints and Appeals Policy.

Appeals may relate to:

1. Rejection of a request.
2. Approved adjustment not implemented.
3. Special consideration decision.
4. Evidence rejection.
5. Assessment outcome affected by approved support failure.
6. Alleged unfair treatment.
7. Delay in decision-making.

Appeals should be submitted within 15 days from notification of the decision unless another approved procedure applies.

27. Monitoring and Quality Assurance

ATU-CPAC may monitor reasonable adjustment and special consideration practice through:

1. IQA review.
2. EQA review.
3. Provider monitoring.
4. Assessment audit.
5. Candidate feedback.
6. Complaints and appeals analysis.
7. Malpractice and maladministration review.
8. Registry and certificate decision review.
9. Partner review where applicable.

Findings shall be used to improve guidance, procedures, assessment design, accessibility, and provider compliance.

28. Records Management

ATU-CPAC and providers shall maintain secure records of reasonable adjustment and special consideration requests.

Records may include:

1. Request form.
2. Supporting evidence.
3. Decision record.
4. Implementation record.
5. Candidate communication.
6. Assessment impact record.
7. IQA or EQA review record.
8. Complaint or appeal record.
9. Corrective action record.
10. Confidentiality and access record where required.

Records shall be retained according to ATU policy, ATU-CPAC requirements, applicable laws, and partner requirements where applicable.

29. Continuous Improvement

ATU-CPAC shall use reasonable adjustment and special consideration data to improve:

1. Candidate guidance.
2. Provider guidance.
3. Assessment design.
4. Accessibility of assessment materials.
5. Online assessment procedures.
6. Assessment center arrangements.
7. Trainer and assessor training.
8. IQA and EQA review.
9. Complaint and appeal procedures.
10. Risk management and compliance monitoring.

Trends shall be reviewed by the Certification and Assessment Committee and Quality Assurance and Compliance Committee where required.

30. Review of Policy

This policy shall be reviewed every three years or earlier where required due to:

1. ATU Board decision.
2. Legal or regulatory change.
3. ATU-CPAC standards update.
4. Assessment policy update.
5. Complaints or appeals trends.
6. IQA or EQA findings.
7. Provider monitoring findings.
8. Candidate feedback.
9. Partner requirements.
10. Operational need.

31. Definitions

Final Policy Statement

ATU-CPAC Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration Policy exists to ensure fair access to assessment while protecting the validity, reliability, integrity, and credibility of credentials issued under the authority of the Arab Trainers Union.

Through clear procedures, evidence-based decisions, confidentiality, appropriate support, quality assurance, and appeal rights, ATU-CPAC supports candidates fairly without reducing professional standards or compromising certificate integrity.