At The Cyber Scheme we believe everyone should have access to a career in security testing. This was at the forefront of our minds for example when creating our new website, which is available in large screen formats, high contrast colourways and approved fonts. It also informs everything we do when introducing new training and exams, and running existing assessments from our Cheltenham centre, as well as regional locations.
An accessible exams process begins with booking an exam via the website, and includes the literature you receive regarding your exam, and of course the day of the exam itself.
What we have done to make our exams more accessible
When booking your exam via our online booking system you have the option to inform us that you will require reasonable adjustments at the time of your booking. When we process your booking, we will then contact you to discuss how we can accommodate you during your exam. The reasonable adjustments we can offer candidates include, but are not limited to:
- Extra time on your exam
- Desk accommodations
- Providing ear plugs upon arrival
- Use of examination dividers if requested, to prevent movement distraction
- The option of printed instructions in a large font.
If you request an adjustment which we are unable to offer, we will give you a reason why we cannot offer it. This might be because it maps to a key Knowledge, Skill, or Behaviour that we have to assess against within the certification. If that is the case, we will tell you which aspect we think would not be properly assessed.
Additions to the joining instructions
We aim to reduce anxiety and stress around the exam for all candidates. This is why we have chosen to add additional information to our joining instructions. We have included a map to the nearest pay and display carpark, as well as detailed instructions of what to do when you arrive for your exam, including pictures of the building and reception area. In our joining instructions you can also find information about the exam rooms themselves, such as the type of lighting and noise levels you can expect. We have also included the capacities of all training and exams that we offer, that way you can attend your session knowing how many people will be in the room with you.
Our offices are suitable for people with mobility issues, there are lifts to our offices and accessible bathrooms on several floors within the building. We have an evacuation chair within our centre and can inform security staff if we are accommodating candidates with limited ability. There is also disabled parking on site, however this does require a blue badge to be displayed at all times and will need to be prebooked.
These reasonable adjustments are to ensure you are given an equal opportunity to demonstrate the necessary knowledge, skills and behaviours required. We recognise that not all disabilities are visible.

Why this is important for the cyber security industry
It is estimated that around 1 in 7 people are neurodiverse in the UK, at 15% of the population it makes no sense to cut people off from accessing a successful career in cyber. There should be diversity among cyber security professionals because the businesses and populations they protect are themselves diverse. Adding valuable perspectives to the conversations around cyber security will only make systems more robust, and this is true across gender, ethnicity, sexuality and neurological condition. Neurodiverse voices are a vital part of the population of the UK, and the cyber security industry can only benefit from reflecting that.
Add to this the fact that a reported 17.8% of the population have a physical disability and you would be cutting off a large percentage of the population from being able fulfil a career in cyber. With a well-documented skills shortage within the industry, we need to ensure cyber professionals are a representative group with wide ranging skills and diverse ways of thinking.
Further reading:
The 2021 Decrypting Diversity report by KPMG and the NCSC talks about necessitating change to facilitate the fact that around 19% of the workforce within this industry are neurodiverse.
The UC Cyber Security Council have produced an interesting article on Neurodiversity in Cyber.
To learn more about what The Cyber Scheme are doing, read our Accessibility Policy here.