Requesting exam accommodations: extra time and assistive tech for certification exams

The rule every vendor shares: request first, schedule second

AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud and CompTIA all route disability accommodations through their test delivery provider, Pearson VUE, and all expect the request before you book. Google Cloud says you cannot schedule until the request is approved. AWS says accommodations must be requested before scheduling each exam, and approved candidates are given scheduling instructions by phone.

If you book first and request later, you may have to reschedule, and late reschedules can cost money. Treat the accommodation as the first step of exam registration, not the last.

Timeline planner by vendor

The last column is our planning suggestion, not a vendor figure: it adds a buffer to the stated times so that a request for more information does not push you past the date you want.

Extra time for non-native English speakers

• AWS: a 30-minute extension, called ESL +30, for non-native English speakers taking an exam in English. You request it once in your AWS Certification account (Request Exam Accommodations, then choose ESL +30 MINUTES) before registering, and it applies to all future registrations.
• Microsoft: if the exam is not offered in your preferred language, you can request extra time to take it in another language, using Pearson VUE's English as a Second Language form with a letter from an instructor or employer, or Microsoft's verification form. If the exam is available in your preferred language, no extra time is given. Microsoft adds that a C1-level English certificate may show English is your second language but does not support a need for extra time.
• CompTIA: a 30-minute extension for English-language exams, applied automatically when you register through Pearson VUE, but only in non-English-speaking countries where no localized version exists. It is not available in English-speaking countries.
• Google Cloud: its accommodation page does not mention language-based extra time. Ask through the accommodation form or support if you need it.

What Microsoft accepts as documentation

Microsoft publishes the most detailed list. Only extra time and having another adult in the testing area need documentation; a formal diagnosis is not required. One of these is enough: proof of past testing, training or workplace accommodations; school records such as an IEP or Section 504 plan; a letter from a manager, supervisor or teacher; a letter from a health professional; or other evidence of need.

Many other adjustments need no documentation but must still be requested in advance so the exam can be configured, including reading aloud, chat-only communication with the proctor, screen magnification and screen readers. Some need no request at all for online exams, such as a drink in a transparent spill-proof container, moving within the camera view, and pets or service animals. Microsoft also builds 5 minutes into every exam for unscheduled breaks, so you do not need an accommodation just for a short break.

Assistive technology on online exams

Online delivery can support more assistive technology than a test center. Microsoft lists Dragon Professional Individual 15 and later, Fusion, JAWS and ZoomText 2023 and later, NVDA 2024 and later, Windows Magnifier, Mac Zoom on recent macOS versions and SuperNova for OnVUE with an approved accommodation. At Pearson VUE test centers it lists only Fusion, JAWS and ZoomText. Microsoft notes that Windows Narrator is technically supported but currently gives a poor experience.

The secure exam browser blocks third-party software unless it is approved, so you must request any assistive tool even if you use it every day. Microsoft's exam sandbox lets you try the exam interface with your device and keyboard shortcuts before you request.

Worked example: planning a Microsoft exam with extra time

Suppose you want to sit a Microsoft associate exam online on the first Saturday of next month, about four weeks away, and you need extra time. Today you gather a letter from a past employer confirming workplace accommodations, then submit the request in Pearson VUE's system. Review can take up to 10 business days, which is two calendar weeks.

If more information is requested, you lose another few days. Once approved, the decision email explains how to schedule with the accommodation, and you book the slot. Four weeks leaves room for one round of questions; two weeks would not. If you are denied, Microsoft lets you appeal through the same system, and if you sent documentation, the decision letter says what information was missing.

Checklist before you submit

• Decide the exact adjustments you need, including software versions for assistive technology.
• Collect one acceptable piece of evidence for anything that needs documentation.
• Check whether your adjustment is available online, at a test center, or both.
• Submit before scheduling, then wait for written approval.
• Keep the approval email and confirm the accommodation shows on the booking before exam day.

Sources & verification

Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.

1. Microsoft Learn: Request exam accommodations and frequently asked questions Accessed 30 Oct 2026
2. Microsoft Learn: Available exam accommodations and associated documentation requirements Accessed 30 Oct 2026
3. Microsoft Learn: Exam duration and exam experience Accessed 30 Oct 2026
4. AWS Certification: Before testing policies Accessed 30 Oct 2026
5. AWS Certification FAQs Accessed 30 Oct 2026
6. Google Cloud Certification Help: Requesting an accommodation Accessed 30 Oct 2026
7. CompTIA Candidate Testing Policies Accessed 30 Oct 2026