Purpose: The purpose of offering an exam waiver is to give learners additional time to prepare for the National Family Support Professional Certification Exam. The waiver does not eliminate the requirement for a direct service family support professional to successfully complete the exam, it only extends the timetable for completion beyond one year. The waiver may be valid for 3 to 12months. At the end of the waiver period, the applicant may re-apply for another waiver.

Who can apply: Individuals with a learning disability, or English Language Learners, or persons with extenuating circumstances such as extended leave of absence from their job may apply for a waiver after exhausting all other preparatory supports for the Certification Exam. Incomplete waivers will be denied. Persons who have not completed the pre-assessment are not eligible for a waiver. Persons that have taken the exam and failed two times are not eligible for the waiver.

English Language Learners may need to take the exam in their primary language. The exam is currently only available in English, but learners may use the Text-to-Speech (TTS) feature that is available in both the pre-assessment and the certification exam. Testing this feature, and other learner supports available within the KITE system on the pre-assessment, is the first step to determine exam readiness.

Instructions for Completing the Waiver Form: The person requesting the exam waiver is the person that completes the exam waiver request form. The Requester's supervisor will review the completed waiver form. The supervisor's signature indicates they are in agreement with the information provided in the waiver request form. In rare circumstances, such as an extended and unexpected leave of absence, the supervisory may complete the form on behalf of their employee.

1. This is the name of the family support professional who is asking for a waiver to be granted.
2. Include the email address of the person named in #1.
3. This is the name of the employer of the person seeking the waiver.
4. This is the name of the supervisor of the person seeking the waiver.
5. This is the email address of the supervisor named in #4.
6. This is the date you began your employment in this position with this employer. Please provide at least month and year (MM/YEAR)
7. Write in the name of each county where you provide services.
8. Are you an English Language Learner, mark yes or no. English Language Learners have a language other than English that is their primary language. English Language Learners are students who are unable to communicate fluently or learn effectively in English, who often come from non-English-speaking homes and backgrounds. Do not mark yes if you are comfortable and understanding the English language.
9. Do you have a learning disability, mark yes or no. A learning disability may be suspected and not confirmed.
10. Have you taken an extended leave of absence in the past 12 months? Yes or No? An extended leave of absence is a period of time longer than one month.
11. Explain why you are requesting the waiver and how the additional time to prepare will benefit you.
12. Provide the dates you have taken and completed the pre-assessment. If you have taken it multiple times, list your pre-assessment dates in chronological order (earliest assessment to the most recent assessment taken.) Do not include the scores for pre-assessments that you started but did not finish. Your waiver application will be denied if you have not taken the pre-assessment or if you do not include your score.
13. Include your pre-assessment score. If you have taken the pre-assessment multiple times, include each of your scores in chronological order (earliest assessment to most recent assessment taken.) Do not include the scores for pre-assessments that you started but did not finish. Your waiver application will be denied if you have not taken the pre-assessment of if you do not include your score(s).
14. Indicate if you have taken the Certification Exam?
14.a. If you answered yes, please include the date you took the exam.
14. b. If you answered yes, please include the score you achieved.
14.c. If you received a passing score of 72% or higher, but did not earn the certification, please describe the academic violations that occurred.
15. List each Institute Module that you have completed. Do not include modules that you started but did not finish. List the date you completed the module right after the title of the module you have completed. You may email a copy of your Institute transcript instead of providing a list of modules completed. Please email the transcript to Kristy Roosa at kristy.roosa@idph.iowa.gov and indicate in the response box that you have provided a transcript via email. Modules completed should reflect competency areas where you have not achieved proficiency and you still need assistance.
16. Indicate if you participated in any study groups offered by the Iowa Department of Public Health to assist you in preparing for the exam.
16.a. List the dates of all study groups you attended. Include at a minimum the month and year.
16. b. If you answered that you did not attend any study groups, please explain why you did not attend.
17. List any other activities that you have completed to prepare for the exam. Please be as detailed as possible and include dates of each activity.
18. In your own words, state how your supervisor has assisted you in preparing for the exam.

Certification Statement: By signing this, both the applicant and their supervisor are in agreement that the waiver application is complete and accurate.

Signature and Dates: The first signature and date is completed by the requestor of the waiver. The second signature and date is completed by the supervisor of the person requesting the waiver.