The National Board of Examiners in Optometry (www.optometry.org) was established in 1951 as a private, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that develops, administers, and scores examinations, and reports the results, that state regulatory boards utilize in licensing optometrists to practice eye care. Licensure is a regulatory function designed to protect the public in the competent provision of health care. In serving the profession and public for 56 years, the National Board has compiled a distinguished record of accomplishments that include being the first national board among the doctoral level health professions to eliminate grading-on-a-curve, and one of the few national boards in any profession with a repertoire of examinations that includes conventional multiple-choice tests, a computer-based test, a clinical skills test with live patients, and an advanced competence examination.

The Board of Directors consists of 8 members who may serve up to two full terms, each term having duration of 4 years. Four members are individuals nominated by Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO), three are nominated by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), and one member is a representative of the public-at-large. The President, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer are elected annually from the Board and serve as the Executive Committee.

The NBEO Web site has been designed to answer the most commonly asked questions about the "National Boards" and to assist you as you prepare for our examinations. This site also will frequently be of value when you apply to the state boards for a license to practice optometry. We urge you to browse the site thoroughly.

The 2009 "National Boards" are the culmination of the work of over 791 optometrists and optometric educators. This includes the National Board's case authors and item writers, seven examination development committees, three examination councils, more than 579 clinical examiners, proctors, and site coordinators, the Board of Directors, and its staff.

All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico require Parts I and II, and 47 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require Part III. Also, 43 states plus the District of Columbia require the TMOD examination as one step toward therapeutic privileges.

Consequently, the 2009 examinations represent a national standard of entry-level competence to practice Optometry. The information in the table "2009 Exam Schedule" summarizes answers to the most frequently asked questions. Also, you will find a section regarding how to register for an exam, more details of the exam schedule and deadlines, the test centers in which our exams will be administered, our fees, and eligibility requirements.

We recommend that you study the outlines of the examination content. This presents, in detail, the scope of our exams and how the questions are distributed. Careful review of the exam outlines will help you prepare better and perform at your maximum potential. The section on score reporting explains how your scores are determined and the pass/fail cutoff.

Finally, the listing of key individuals associated with the National Board, including its Board Members and staff, and those you can contact at a state board office or school, is a valuable resource. If you do not find the answers to your questions on this site, please contact the college liaison administrator at your school if you are a student; call the National Board directly if you are a practitioner.

In the upcoming months, additional information will be provided concerning the NBEO Examination Restructure which occurs in 2009-2010. Please visit the Web site frequently for updates on the restructure.

The National Board extends its greeting to you and its best wishes for your success in your chosen profession of optometry.

Janet L. Carter, O.D
2008 President