Access arrangements for medical conditions, pregnancy, breastfeeding and prayer time during exams

If you intend to apply for access arrangements for a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) please refer to the access arrangements section of our website.

We will do what we reasonably can to meet your needs. Common arrangements include:

• Extra time;
• Stop the clock rest breaks;
• Use of a reader
• Use of a reader or scribe
• Medical breaks / Medications 
• Comfort Aids and specialist equipment 
• Position in the hall (onsite exams)

For short term conditions (e.g. a temporary injury such as a broken arm) some arrangements cannot be granted. Rest breaks or extra time for short term conditions will be a maximum of 17%.

Let us know if your condition means you may need to use equipment that you own or that your employer has provided for you, or if your condition restricts you from travelling.

The medical report form medical statement for examination access arrangements needs to have the relevant sections filled out by a registered medical practitioner who has treated you. This will usually be your normal doctor or the specialist doctor treating you for your condition.

We will only accept diagnoses and recommendations from doctors. We won’t accept a diagnosis from a nurse, practitioner of complimentary health, or occupational health advisor - although we’ll consider this evidence together with a diagnosis from a doctor. The diagnosis must be up-to-date and, in almost all cases, the doctor will have seen you in person.

Your evidence must be current and must explain as clearly as possible the particular difficulties you may encounter, and the arrangements that would help you overcome them. For example, telling us that 'extra time will be required' is not enough. We need to know how much time and why this is needed, e.g., 'five minutes extra time per exam hour is required to allow stretches to be carried out'. We will not accept applications which do not fully evidence the circumstances and the resulting recommendations.

You’ll need a recent letter from your GP or consultant, or a completed ICAEW medical form signed by a suitably qualified healthcare professional within three months.

Additional Guidance for Specific Situations:

• Pregnancy: A letter from your GP or midwife, or a MAT B1 form
• Breastfeeding: A copy of your baby’s birth certificate
• Diabetes: A letter from your GP or diabetes nurse
• Prayer Breaks: No documents required—just provide your exam dates and the expected prayer times when applying

Examples of documents that are not accepted:

• Dyslexia screening results (not a full diagnostic report)
• DSA Needs Assessment reports
• GP record printouts or full medical summaries without specific details
• Prescriptions or screenshots from NHS apps
• EHCPs (Education, Health and Care Plans) or GP fitness notes
• PIP letters (Personal Independence Payment)
• Physiotherapy reports or treatment guidelines
• Care or treatment plans without medical confirmation
• Screenshots showing symptoms or conditions
• Reports from schools, colleges, or universities
• Letters from family members or friends
• Cover letters written by the student
• Photographs of a condition

Students can apply for access arrangements online via my.icaew.com/examsonline. 

Please upload the following information:

• a covering letter explaining why you are applying for access arrangements, including any passwords needed to access your evidence;
• the medical report form ‘Application for access arrangements: supporting evidence’ which should be completed by a doctor or a letter from your doctor on headed paper; and 
• any additional supporting evidence that will help us consider your application; if we understand your difficulties, we will be able to help you more effectively, for example from your employer or tuition provider.

If you have a condition such as diabetes and need to check your glucose levels using an app or electronic device, you must register for access arrangements for your exams.

Where access to a phone or electronic device is approved for glucose monitoring, the device will not be kept on the desk. Instead, it will be placed on the invigilator’s control desk within a certain distance. If you have approved access arrangements, you will typically be allocated rest breaks or "stop-the-clock" time, which can be used to check your glucose levels as needed.

It is your responsibility to manage your use of stop-the-clock time during the exam. Therefore, it’s important that you have a clear plan in place for when breaks will be taken to ensure your needs are met without disrupting the exam process.

If you are sitting your exam remotely, ICAEW requires dual-camera monitoring. This means you must have two devices with cameras—typically a laptop and a mobile phone or tablet. The primary camera (usually the laptop webcam) should clearly show the student’s face, while the secondary camera (typically a mobile phone) must provide a side view of the exam environment. Both devices must be connected to Wi-Fi.

If the mobile phone is being used for glucose monitoring or any other essential function, an alternative device must be used as the secondary camera to meet ICAEW’s invigilation requirements.