::February 3, 2012
Part III (CSE) registration for entering 4th year students will open on February 15, 2012.
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::January 17, 2012
Registration for the stand-alone Injections Skill (ISE) examination is now available.
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::January 12, 2012
Scores for the December 2011 Part II (PAM) and TMOD examinations are now available.
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::January 6, 2012
Scores for the November 2011 Part III (CSE) and ISE examinations are now available.
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::January 5, 2012
The American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry (ABCMO) uses the passing of ACMO in its Board Certification process.
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::December 13, 2011
Registration for the June 2012 ACMO examination is now available.
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::October 18, 2011
Registration for the March 2012 Part I (ABS) examination is now available.
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::September 6, 2011
CSE Candidate Guide, ISE Candidate Guide, and the Sample Patient Data Form have been updated with minor changes.
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::August 10, 2011
NCCTO Equipment List Update:
After further testing with the Volk 20D Lens and the Volk Digital Clear Field Lens, it was found that both lenses provide equal images for Video Taping on BIO. Therefore, you will have the option of using either lens.
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::July 18, 2011
April 2011-July 2012 CSE and ISE Evaluation Forms and updated Candidate Guides are now available.
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Calculators
For the Part I Applied Basic Science (ABS) examination, the National Board will provide candidates with a basic calculator that has the following functions: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and square root. The National Board has determined that this calculator is adequate for the calculations that are required on Part I ABS. Although there will be no calculations on the ABS exam that require use of trigonometric functions, the concepts will still be tested.
Note that calculators are not permitted on any National Board exam other than Part I ABS.
Why This Policy Is Necessary
The National Board adopted this calculator policy for several reasons. First, the distinction between a handheld calculator and a handheld computer is blurring. As handheld computers jeopardize test security, greater assurance is needed so that candidates use only a permissible computational aid. Second, proctors have had difficulty in identifying calculators with features and capabilities that violated prior policy. This difficulty is the result of a wide variety of manufacturers and models, many of which have hidden or esoteric features. Third, many candidates have expressed uncertainty regarding which calculators are permissible. Finally, the combination of these dilemmas could create inequities among candidates, in addition to jeopardizing test security.
In order to continue allowing calculators on its exams, the Board believed that it was necessary to restrict use to a specific model that the Board will provide. This restriction eliminates the concern and confusion among proctors and candidates regarding permissible devices. Standardizing on one manufacturer also facilitates proctor checking-in of candidates at the beginning of each test session, and monitoring throughout the test. The Board is better able to monitor rapid industry changes in maintaining reasonable and effective policy, as well as compliance.
How This Policy Was Developed
This policy was developed by the Refractive Committee of Part I ABS. The Board periodically calls upon the Optics Subcommittee for recommendations on calculator policy change, if any is warranted. The Subcommittee recommendation was then discussed and endorsed by the Part I Examination Council, and subsequently by the Board of Directors.
The Board acknowledges and regrets that some candidates will need to become familiar with the Board-provided calculator. Although, a strict limitation of permissible calculators was needed for continued calculator allowance, minimizing any inconvenience and additional cost to candidates were serious considerations that influenced the resultant policy.
