Mission Statement: To serve the public and the profession of optometry by developing, administering, scoring, and reporting results of valid
examinations that assess competence.
Established in 1951, the NBEO® is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization whose examinations are universally accepted for optometric
licensure in the United States and accepted internationally.
The NBEO website was designed to provide comprehensive information about the National Board's examinations. Its purpose is to help answer your questions and
to assist you in learning about and preparing for your licensing and self-assessment examinations. We urge you to carefully study the information on this website.
New Website Coming Soon!
UPDATED October 15, 2020
COVID-19 Health and Safety Updates
UPDATED August 18, 2020
Please click here to review important information detailing the NBEO's response to COVID-19.
NBEO is doing everything we can to expedite the scoring process for examinations rescheduled as a result of COVID-19. Our normal process takes 6-7 weeks due to the multiple steps and quality assurance measures in place. We will email candidates and post scores as quickly as we possibly can.
News from the NBEO
June 19, 2020
Part III Model and Blueprint
The NBEO has made substantial progress in the development of a new Part III exam and is pleased to release the blueprint and exam model. The name of the exam, Patient Encounters and Performance Skills (PEPS), reflects the content and focus of the exam. PEPS will be comprised of twelve stations; ten stations with patient encounters in which candidates interact with standardized patients and two stations in which candidates perform clinical skills. This new exam will complement the Part I and Part II exams in assessing whether candidates are qualified to enter the independent practice of optometry. The new Part III exam represents a shift toward clinical decision-making while still including the physical performance of five essential skills.
The exam development process has been grounded in research-based methods and psychometric best practices. A diverse group of leaders and experts from the optometric and assessment communities were involved in the creation of the blueprint and model to ensure that a wide variety of perspectives and ideas were considered. Additionally, stakeholder feedback has been incorporated in every phase of development; formal opportunities to provide input occurred with the stakeholder survey and the focused job task analysis.
The NBEO has made a concerted effort to keep the optometric community informed and engaged regarding exam development, and additional information about the exam will be provided as further details of the exam emerge. The next step in the process is to build a bank of case scenarios which will be used to create multiple versions of the exam. The final step prior to exam implementation is pilot testing. The purpose of pilot testing is to finalize the exam structure and content and to ensure operational readiness. This stage of exam development will be the most extensive due to the high-stakes nature of the exam.
The blueprint and model are consistent with the NBEO�s mission of public protection and achieve the purpose and goals set forth for the new exam. The NBEO looks forward to continuing to serve the public through the further development of the PEPS exam.
To view the blueprint and model, please click here.
News from the NBEO
March 16, 2020
Registration for the 2021 Administration of the Laser and Surgical Procedures Examination (LSPE™) is now open!
The National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) continuously strives to provide high quality examinations. We would like to share a few organizational updates as the new year begins.
Part III Clinical Skills Examination (CSE) restructuring continues
Substantial progress has been made on the Part III exam restructure over the past year, and this project will continue in 2020. The restructure task force has been extremely active in generating a preliminary exam blueprint which is expected to be finalized by the end of the year. Further details regarding the goals and methodology of the restructure can be found in an article published in the December edition of Optometry and Vision Science1. Additionally, an upcoming job task analysis (JTA) will provide the optometric community an opportunity to give critical feedback that will contribute to the exam�s content. The JTA will be distributed later this month. Click here for more information about the job task analysis.
Updated website planned for summer 2020
NBEO is preparing to update our website in the summer of 2020 to make it more user-friendly. Please continue to visit this site, as more details will be revealed in the coming months.
National Center of Clinical Testing in Optometry expansion complete
NCCTO® renovations are complete with the addition of four examination lanes and more locker space. This addition has allowed for more flexibility in candidate scheduling.
________________________________________________ 1Hobbs, Brianne and Bryant, Jill. 2019. "Examination innovation: Transforming the National Board of Examiners in Optometry's Clinical Skills Examination." Optometry and Vision Science 96 (12): 896-897. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000001455.
Laser and Surgical Procedures Examination
The Laser and Surgical Procedures Examination (LSPE™) went live in the fall of 2019. We will be entering the second administration year beginning in August 2020, with registration opening in March. For more information about LSPE, click here.
Part I, II, and III Examination fees increase effective February 15th
NBEO continues to take its commitment to fiscal responsibility seriously while balancing organizational expenses and initiatives. As a part of NBEO�s strategic plan to best serve the public, the organization annually reviews the examination fee structure during its overall financial review. Accordingly, NBEO has determined that exam fees will increase by $100 for the Part I, II, and III exams effective February 15, 2020. NBEO is still able to keep total examination costs lower than other health professions (shown in the chart below).
*The amount displayed is the total cost to complete the exam sequence from information publicly available as of 1/13/2020
**Canadian to US exchange rate as of 1/13/2020
***Regional exam pricing subject to change
****The amount displayed is the total cost with the exam fee increase.
The table below shows which examinations will be affected in 2020.
Thank you for your ongoing support and the opportunity to serve you in 2020!
News from the NBEO
15 March, 2019
National Center of Clinical Testing in Optometry (NCCTO®): Updates for the August 2019 -July 2020 Administration Cycle
The Part III Clinical Skills Examination and Injections Skills Examination schedule is available for the August 2019 - July 2020 administration. Registration opened for both examinations on February 15, 2019.
New Slit Lamps for the Part III CSE
The NBEO will be replacing the slit lamps used for the Part III Clinical Skills Examination (CSE) beginning August 1, 2019 with the Haag-Streit BI900. More information about this slit lamp can be found in the 2020 Site Information and Equipment List for the CSE on our website here. Candidates are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the features of this model.
Part III CSE Orientation Video
Beginning August 1, 2019, during the Part III CSE on-site orientation Candidates will have the choice to view the Orientation Video or spend their time practicing with the equipment. The Orientation Video is available on our website here. Candidates are encouraged to view the video as well as the Evaluation Forms, Candidate Guide, and Site Information List before arriving at the NCCTO as these materials address questions they may have about their exam day.
NBEO�s Laser and Surgical Procedures Examination (LSPE) Now Open for Registration!
15 February, 2019
The National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) is proud to announce registration is now open for its Laser and Surgical Procedures Examination (LSPE). The examination will consist of both a computer-based testing (CBT) portion and a clinical skills portion. The LSPE exam is comprised of a Laser section and a Surgical section allowing candidates to register for one or both portions of the examination.
The LSPE exam will be administered at the National Center for Clinical Testing in Optometry (NCCTO) in Charlotte, NC.
Candidates eligible to sit for this examination must be optometric 4th-year students, residents, or practitioners. For more information about LSPE click here.
You may view the LSPE video showcasing a brief overview of the examination below.
Ready to sign up for a National Board examination? 
October 9, 2020
