1. (a) Prospective Need for Reasonable Accommodation. An employer or other covered entity shall not deny an employment benefit because of the prospective need to make reasonable accommodation to an applicant or employee with a disability.

2. (b) Qualification standards, tests, and other selection criteria.

   1. (1) In general. It is unlawful for an employer or other covered entity to use a qualification standard, employment test, proxy, or other selection criteria -- including but not limited to those administered through the use of an automated-decision system -- that screens out or tends to screen out, or otherwise has an adverse impact on an applicant or employee or a class of applicants or employees on the basis of disability. However, such standard, test, or other selection criteria, as used by the employer or other covered entity, is not unlawful under this subsection when job-related for the position in question, consistent with business necessity, and there is no less discriminatory standard, test, or other selection criteria that serves the employer's goals as effectively as the challenged standard, test, or other selection criteria. Statistical comparisons between persons with disabilities and persons who are not disabled are not required to show that an individual with a disability or a class of individuals with disabilities is screened out by selection criteria.
   2. (2) Qualification Standards and Tests Related to Uncorrected Vision or Uncorrected Hearing. An employer or other covered entity shall not use a qualification standard, employment test, proxy, or other selection criteria -- including but not limited to those administered through the use of an automated-decision system -- that discriminates against an applicant or employee based on uncorrected vision or uncorrected hearing. However, such standard, test, or other selection criteria, as used by the employer or other covered entity, is not unlawful under this subsection when job-related for the position in question, consistent with business necessity, and there is no less discriminatory standard, test, or other selection criteria that serves the employer's goals as effectively as the challenged standard, test, or other selection criteria.

   3. (3) An employer or other covered entity shall not make use of any testing criterion, including but not limited to through the use of an automated-decision system, that discriminates against applicants or employees with disabilities, unless:

      1. (A) the test score or other selection criterion used is shown to be job-related for the position in question; and
      2. (B) an alternative job-related test or criterion that does not discriminate against applicants or employees with disabilities is unavailable or would impose an undue hardship on the employer.
   4. (4) Tests of physical agility or strength shall not be used as a basis for selection or retention of employment unless the physical agility or strength measured by such test is job-related. Such tests include but are not limited to those administered through the use of an automated-decision system.

   5. (5) An employer or other covered entity shall select and administer tests concerning employment so as to ensure that, when administered to any applicant or employee, including an applicant or employee with a disability, the test results accurately reflect the applicant's or employee's job skills, aptitude, or whatever other criteria the test purports to measure rather than reflecting the applicant's or employee's disability, except when those skills affected by disability are the criteria that the tests purport to measure. Tests concerning employment include, but are not limited to, those administered through the use of an automated-decision system. To accomplish this end, reasonable accommodation shall be made in testing conditions. For example:

      1. (A) The test site must be accessible to applicants and employees with a disability.
      2. (B) For applicants and employees who are blind or visually impaired, an employer or other covered entity may translate written tests into Braille or provide or allow enlarged print, real time captioning, digital format, the use of a human reader or a screen reader, the use of other computer technology, or oral presentation of the test.
      3. (C) For applicants or employees who are quadriplegic or have spinal cord injuries, an employer or other covered entity may provide or allow someone to write for the applicant or employee, or provide or allow voice recognition software or other computer technology, or allow oral responses to written test questions.
      4. (D) For applicants and employees who are hearing impaired, an employer or other covered entity may provide or allow the services of an interpreter.
      5. (E) For applicants and employees whose disabilities interfere with their ability to read, process information, communicate, an employer or other covered entity may allow additional time to complete the examination.
      6. (F) Alternate tests or individualized assessments may be necessary where test modification is inappropriate. Competent expert advice may be sought before attempting such modification since the validity of the test may be affected. The use of an automated-decision system, in the absence of additional process or actions, does not constitute an individualized assessment.
      7. (G) Where reasonable accommodation is appropriate, an employer or other covered entity may permit the use of readers, interpreters, or similar supportive persons or instruments.
3. (c) No testing for genetic information. It is unlawful for an employer or other covered entity to conduct a medical examination to test for the presence of a genetic characteristic, or to acquire genetic information, unless such testing or acquisition is authorized by federal law under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000ff-1(b).

Note: Authority cited: Section 12935(a), Government Code. Reference: Sections 12920, 12921, 12926, 12926.1 and 12940, Government Code; and GINA, 42 U.S.C. § 2000ff-1(b).

History

1. Change without regulatory effect renumbering former section 7294.3 to new section 11072 filed 10-3-2013 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2013, No. 40).

2. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(3), (b)(4)-(5) and (b)(5)(F) filed 6-27-2025; operative 10-1-2025 (Register 2025, No. 26).