taking exams during pregnancy and postpartum
Hi NCARB , and other new mom architects,
I have done 4 out 6 divisions and am trying to finish the rest 2 very soon. I am a new mom and also a female architectural designer who has been working for 8 years in the profession. I just want to write a post to encourage mom architects and also other young female who's trying to finish the exam.
Taking exams during pregnancy is very difficult. I passed CE, but failed other 3 during my pregnancy , so I decided to pause and take after my baby is born. It was very difficult because I almost threw up in the exam during the first trimester ( i had to finish exam sooner in the end, the exam is soooo long and very unfriendly for pregnant test takers), and I wanted to go to bathroom very often in the third trimester when my belly was too big. I really couldn't focus when my baby was kicking my belly while reading extensive long questions especially case studies. The test center people also discouraged me to wait for the baby born. It was not nice to hear that and But after gave birth to my baby last Jan, soon the world pandemic affected everyone's life also mine. I had to take another 10 months , to recover my postpartum body and also for openings for test centers.
It was also not easy to focus on study during the first months after baby was born, because the night feedings every 2-3 hours and many many other reason. And after my maternity leave was over, it is even more difficult for me to study while to balance work and exams. I had to study during the sleepless nights. Luckily, I passed 3 exams in 3 months. Please note NCARB offer a 6-month rolling clock extension for 1 child birth. But if you experienced, you would know 6- month is not enough to cover the disability. I hope NCARB can establish better policy to protect pregnant test takers. Anyway, please dont give up though the whole environment for mom architects is difficult. We need to sacrifice more to realize our dream, that is also something makes mom strong.
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Yiqing Zhao I am so sorry you went through this.
I have personally struggled through testing during pregnancy and breastfeeding and it was a nightmare. It took months for approval on my accommodation for extra breaks during my pregnancy which pushed back my timeline to test late into my pregnancy one at 6 months thankfully I passed and one at 7 months which unfortunately I was experiencing braxton-hicks and threatened pre-term labor and failed that exam. After my son was born I only took 3 months off of studying and applied for a new accommodation for breast feeding so I would be able to pump during the exam. I had the worst experience advocating for myself to be able to take an exam with an extra break and be allowed to pump in a private room. There was so much miscommunication between jkawecki and Prometric and they were blaming each other and no one was taking responsibly for the borderline discrimination I was experiencing to the point that I had to get my state board involved and had to call joanparos and Prometric every single day for weeks. Overall, I wasn't able to schedule my exam until over 2 months later, which when you are working against a rolling clock.
I have heard stories of pregnant women holding themselves and not taking breaks just because they don't want to deal with the hassle of even attempting to get an accommodation. I have heard sad examples of breast feeding women waiting over 5 hours between the start of their exam and completion before having time to relieve their engorgement which could cause an infection just because they didn't want to have to fight for their right to pump or be embarrassed told they can't pump in the lobby that that would have to go in an unsanitary restroom. Most of the mothers I speak to just put their exams on hold when they find out they are pregnant and don't go back until their children are older.
This is frankly appalling and not acceptable that pregnant and breastfeeding people feel that they don't even have another option than to either suffer taking exams while pregnant and breastfeeding or they put their licensure on hold.
It is devastating that is at the root to one of the reasons that there is such a discrepancy is the percentage of women who graduate with an accredited degree and women who are licensed.
I think the 6 month extension is great for all new parents, but there really should be additional extensions for pregnancy (Which is 9 months of symptoms, discomfort, and working around medical appointments. Typically women don't find out they are pregnant until 1-3 months into it and then taking another 2 months before being able to schedule and then usually limited test dates open so that puts testing at the end of the pregnancy when the most discomfort is) and for complications post-partum (which I have heard stories from other new mothers of nrespecki denying additional extensions because of delivery complications that required extensive medical recovery)
nrespecki what are you actively doing to help pregnant and breastfeeding people? Please don't give the same old answer that they should just get accommodations, because I can personally attest that the accommodation process was unclear, complicated to navigate, and way too long. mcohn you are doing a dis-service to the women who are having to choose between licensure and family. Is absolutely disgraceful!
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I definitely hear you... I had scheduled my first test (PcM) for April last year, when I was 6 months pregnant, but then came pandemic and I re scheduled 3 times... I was trying to do at least one test before having my baby, but after so many canelations, I ended up doing PcM when my baby was 1.5 months, in Mid August. I was studying hard and doing good in the practice tests, but after all the stress of trying to find a date available before deliverying plus having a newborn... which means no sleeping, no studiying... of course I failed. Then I tried again in October, failed again... Seems that I study 2+2=4, but at the time at the real test the question is “2+2=4, what is the dog doing outside?” the house ?! So frustrating !!
Plus I asked if I could call my husband at the break time tô check my baby (that was 1.5 months), and of course I wasn’t authorized... -
I didn't even know I could ask for any accommodations. I thought about it a few weeks before when I was getting morning sickness quite often and called. By then it was too late to request anything. Of course, I got sick during the test and felt horrible the whole time. I decided not to test again while pregnant and I won't while breastfeeding either. I don't have any confidence in NCARB working with Prometric to come up with a solution, so at this point I'm just delaying my exams.
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I'm so sad and mad for all of you. It shouldn't be this way. NCARB, are you listening---THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY COULD GET ACCOMMODATIONS. Not like it would help, from what Ashley says; that NCARB is the delay in actually getting the accommodations. No way should folks be making choices between the ARE or expanding their families. C'mon NCARB. This is human decency at this point.
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Hi all,
Thank you all for your comments on this topic. I have shared your feedback with our Customer Relations team - I assure you, we're listening. I'm sorry the accommodations process isn't clear. It is outlined in the ARE Guidelines on page 10, and is applicable for both a documented disability and a temporary medical condition.
Note that NCARB uses the ADA when evaluating accommodation requests. While pregnancy alone is not covered under ADA, complications resulting from pregnancy may be considered physical impairments, in which case an accommodation could be granted. Candidates should request documentation from their doctor to submit with their accommodations request form.
For the jurisdictions in which NCARB manages eligibilities, NCARB's typical review process takes 7-10 business days. Candidates should use the Contact Us form on our website to request the accommodations form, then submit that for review. I know this process has taken longer for some candidates. Miscommunications do sometimes occur, but we do our best to respond to each candidate within a reasonable timeframe.
Some jurisdictions manage their candidates' eligibilities, in which case candidates must contact their jurisdiction, not NCARB, and the process may take longer.
For any accommodation, candidates should not schedule their exam until the accommodation is approved. Many accommodations have a significant affect on an appointment. Time extensions are impacted by TCA or proctor availability. A separate room for nursing is dependent on that resource being available at the test center.
Totally separate from all of that is a rolling clock extension. Whether or not a candidate has received accommodations during or after pregnancy, any candidate can apply for a rolling clock extension after the birth or adoption of a child as described on page 7 of the ARE Guidelines. Candidates would need to fill out the request form and provide a copy of their child's birth certificate.
Also, responding to Eliane's note above about wanting to check on her newborn during a break. While checking cellphones during breaks used to be prohibited, that is now allowed under the new break policy. We also hope pregnant and postpartum candidates can take advantage of online proctored testing. While that setup may not be for everyone, it might allow some people a more comfortable testing experience.
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A couple of links to assist your physician in writing a letter:
https://www.ada.gov/regs2014/testing_accommodations.pdf
https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/titleIII_2010/titleIII_2010_regulations.pdf
(discussion on page 155)
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nrespecki page 10 of the ARE guidelines does not use the words "pregnant," or "breastfeeding." The verbiage, especially "temporary condition," is vague.
If a number of female candidates are unaware of the testing accommodations available for pregnancy or breastfeeding, there is a communication error. Can you please revise the guidelines to include the words "pregnant" and "breastfeeding" to make this accommodation more clear?
Edited to add: Breast pumps are not included on the list of pre-approved medical devices. Why?
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Christiana,
You make a great point, and the timing is excellent - we're in the midst of updating the Guidelines now that the cut score process is complete. I've shared your feedback with our internal team and confirmed we're planning to include clarifying language in the updated document. We'll message to candidates when the updated Guidelines are posted.
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I really appreciate this thread as I did not know that I could ask for accommodations during my pregnancy. I managed to get approved and able to pass one exam. Unfortunately I have one last PDD exam and am breastfeeding which means I would need to pump mid exam. The approval process is so convoluted and bureaucratic. For example, I need a form signed by a doctor, AS WELL AS a letter one their letterhead to state the same thing in the form. SO, not only wasting candidates times to run around and get these letters but also doctors time.
What I find difficult to understand is why do women have to get a doctor to sign off on the fact that I am pregnant and need extra breaks to use the bathroom or stretch? why do I need a doctors letter and signature to get permission to pump? Does NCARB believe that we are trying to cheat our way through the exam and add more time to a gruesome 4 hours exam? Can we not advocate for our own health and well being and be treated like professionals in this field rather than school children needing a doctors note? This whole process has made me so angry and it is so insulting as a woman. Given that most women are going to try and start having families around the same time as taking these exams, NCARB needs to start taking this seriously and change their system ASAP to include women.
I would love to hear any reasonable rational from NCARB to this convoluted process.
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Hi Farah,
I understand you've worked with NCARB's Customer Relations team to ensure you have the accommodations you need for your next exam. Thank you for sharing your experience here as well, and please know we are reviewing our internal processes and forms to facilitate requests related to pregnancy and postpartum. We'll share additional information as it becomes available so that other candidates may benefit as well.
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In regards to the internal process for requests etc. I would like to suggest that there be 1 new family member form. One that covers accommodations if pregnant, post pregnancy accommodations for pumping for any mother who needs it, as well as an automatic extension for every parent post birth/ adoption. This should be all rolled in one for any one with an initial doctors/midwife signature confirming pregnancy or adoption and hope it cuts out 3 forms and saves time for every new parent and NCARB.
Again, appreciating a candid forum on this topic.
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