If you have a disability, a medical condition, or you are pregnant or have just given birth, EPSO can change how you sit its tests: more time, a different format, a person to help, or a later date. You do not need to disclose anything to apply, but you do need to ask at the application stage, and EPSO asks for documents. This page sets out the steps, what you can ask for, what EPSO needs from your doctor, and what happens next.
Who can ask
- Candidates with a permanent or temporary disability.
- Candidates with a medical condition that needs special arrangements for a test.
- Pregnant candidates and candidates who have recently given birth.
EPSO calls these reasonable accommodations (or adjustments). They are decided one candidate at a time, for each type of test you need to sit.
What you can ask for
EPSO’s page gives examples and says the list is not complete. Ask for what your situation needs and explain why.
| Kind of adjustment | Examples EPSO lists |
|---|---|
| Help from a person | A personal assistant who supervises, reads the questions aloud, helps record your answers or keeps time |
| More time | A percentage extension, for example 25%, 50%, 100% or 120% |
| Breaks | Extra breaks between test sections, where justified |
| A different format | Braille, enlarged print (A3 instead of A4), note-taking on scratch paper, colour-blind-friendly tests, paper-based tests |
| Equipment | Approved personal items such as an ergonomic, vertical, trackball or left-handed mouse or a specialised keyboard; a calculator or medical device with prior authorisation |
| Personal and medical devices | Insulin pump, hearing aid, medication, mobility aids, depending on your needs; a service dog may be allowed |
| A different date | Rescheduling in certain cases, such as pregnancy, childbirth, or temporary conditions like cancer treatment or hospitalisation |
Two cautions from EPSO. Having several conditions does not automatically add up to several adjustments, and assistive technology is not available at every stage of every selection procedure. Tests may also be delivered remotely, and EPSO takes that into account (see the remote proctored test day).
The five steps
- Application. In the “Reasonable accommodation (adjustments) requirements” section, answer “Yes”, then validate your application before the deadline.
- Information form. Complete the form linked in your application by the application deadline or within 24 hours after it, and attach your supporting documents.
- EPSO analysis. EPSO’s Accessibility Team assesses your request. If it is granted, you are told before your test date. If you disagree with the outcome, you can contact EPSO.
- The tests. You sit them with the approved adjustments.
- Feedback. EPSO invites you to give feedback after each test.
The application itself still has its own deadline and its own steps: see how to apply to an EPSO competition.
What your documents must look like
EPSO applies a “no certificates, no adjustments” policy. According to its page:
- Documents must be on official letterhead and signed. A document missing either is invalid.
- A medical certificate should describe your condition, the functional limitations that affect taking a test, and why each adjustment is needed.
- A disability certificate is accepted only with a detailed description of the condition and a justification for the adjustments.
- A specialist report must come from a qualified medical professional.
The practical point: ask your doctor to write down what the condition prevents you doing in a timed, on-screen test, and which adjustment answers that. A certificate that only names a diagnosis leaves EPSO to guess. EPSO handles medical and personal data confidentially under EU data protection rules.
How EPSO decides
- Each request is assessed on your functional limitations, the type and method of the test, what you have to do during it, and your documents.
- You are offered adjustments per type of test, and the final arrangement may differ from your request.
- Arranging adjustments can mean a later test session; EPSO tells you if so.
Pregnancy and new parents
- Tell EPSO your expected due date as early as possible, especially if it may fall near your test date.
- You can ask to postpone the test if it falls within 42 days after you give birth (send the birth certificate when you have it), if a medical certificate covering the test date shows you cannot sit it, or if your partner gives birth on the test date.
- Flexible breaks are not technically possible in online tests, so breastfeeding breaks are not provided, and a baby cannot stay in the room.
Travel costs for candidates with special needs
This applies only to candidates invited to sit a test at a test centre. EPSO’s page says that for extra costs linked to special needs you must submit a prior approval request within 5 days of receiving your test invitation, and each request is assessed case by case. Reimbursement claims go in within 3 months of the test session, with the signed form and documents. The general hotel contribution is capped at €171 per night. Read EPSO’s page before you book anything.
Practise under the same conditions
If you are getting extra time or a different format, practise that way. Time yourself against the extended limit, use the same device and mouse you will use on the day, and run through the platform once beforehand (the TAO test platform). The standard timings, so you can work out your own: verbal reasoning 20 questions in 35 minutes, numerical reasoning 10 in 20, abstract reasoning 10 in 10 (8-week prep plan).
Who to contact
- Adjustments and accessibility: epso-accessibility@ec.europa.eu
- Reimbursement: EPSO.REIMBURSEMENT.CANDIDATE@ec.europa.eu
Tests run directly by a recruiting service rather than by EPSO are arranged with that service, so contact it once you have its invitation.
Try the question types at your own pace
The free samples have five questions for each reasoning test, each with an explanation, so you can see what time you need before you decide what to ask EPSO for.
Start the free verbal sample → Also numerical and abstractFrequently asked questions
How do I ask EPSO for reasonable accommodations?
Answer “Yes” in the reasonable accommodation section of your application, validate the application before the deadline, then complete the information form linked in it by the application deadline or within 24 hours after, with your supporting documents.
What documents does EPSO need?
A medical certificate, a disability certificate with a detailed description, or a report from a qualified specialist. Each must be on official letterhead and signed, and should explain your limitations and why each adjustment is needed. EPSO applies a no-certificates, no-adjustments policy.
Can I get extra time in the EPSO tests?
Yes, if EPSO grants it. Its page gives percentage extensions such as 25%, 50%, 100% or 120% as examples. Each request is assessed individually and the final arrangement may differ from what you asked for.
Can I ask for a different test date if I am pregnant?
Yes. Tell EPSO your due date early. You can ask for postponement if the test falls within 42 days after the birth, if a medical certificate shows you cannot sit it, or if your partner gives birth on the test date.
Is my medical information confidential?
EPSO says medical and personal data are handled confidentially under EU data protection rules.
Based on EPSO’s published pages on reasonable accommodations and special adjustments; rules and deadlines can change, so check your competition’s notice. As on 1 November 2026.