Part III, renamed "Clinical Skills" (CSE), consists of a single section – the 4-station Clinical Skills Examination that was one of the two sections that comprised the former Part III.
In CSE, the candidate examines a different patient at each of four 30-minute stations, in the performance of 18 clinical skills and Injections Skill Examination. Although this examination primarily measures psychomotor skills, it contains an assessment of affective (i.e., clinical habits and attitudes) and communication skills, as well as some interpretation of clinical findings. CSE is administered in one 3.5 hour session; however, because of the limited number of candidates who may be examined per session, multiple sessions are scheduled. Click here for the August 2011 - July 2012 CSE Candidate Guide (updated July 18, 2011). Candidates are expected to carefully and thoroughly review the Candidate Orientation information contained in this document prior to arrival at the test center. Most of this information will not be repeated during the on-site Candidate Orientation. Click here to view the text from the scannable August 2011 - July 2012 CSE Station Evaluation Forms.
For CSE, the only acceptable reasons for rescheduling are situations which are beyond your or our control. Such rescheduling is dependent upon available openings. Candidates should submit their special requests for CSE along with their application. Candidates should email, mail, or fax any special requests to the NBEO office. The National Board will try to meet these special requests but cannot guarantee that the requests can be met.
The National Board reserves the right to add or cancel a test session at any time. If a session is canceled, registrants will be reassigned to the nearest available date.
Student candidates are permitted to take Part III starting August of the year prior to graduation. However, an individual candidate's official score report containing Part III scores will not be released until the National Board has received official notification that the candidate has graduated. Also, no official score reports containing Part III scores will be released to any candidate until the posted date for Release of Score Reports.
Specific content for each section is linked to a PDF file. To ensure your ability to read these PDF files, please download the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader® by clicking here.
NOTE: The table below reflects the CSE content and format for August 2011 and is subject to change.
| August 2011 - July 2012 CSE Content |
| Clinical Skills - Practical examination with 4 Stations and 18 skills |
| Station 1: |
1. Case History / Patient Communication
2. Patient Education
3. Near Cover Test
4. Binocular Extraocular Muscle Motility Evaluation
5. Pupil Testing
6. Blood Pressure Measurement
7. Ophthalmic Lens Evaluation
|
| Station 2: |
8. Biomicroscopy
9. Goldmann Applanation Tonometry
10. 3-Mirror Gonioscopy
11. Collagen Implant Insertion and Removal
12. Soft and GP Contact Lens Insertion, Evaluation, and Removal
|
| Station 3: |
13. Retinoscopy
14. Distance Subjective Refraction
15. Heterophoria and Vergence Testing at Distance
16. Accommodation Testing
|
| Station 4: |
17. Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopy
18. Dilated Biomicroscopy and Non-Contact Fundus Lens Evaluation
19. Injection Skill Examination*
|