FAQs


Here you will find questions and answers that are most frequently asked of us. If you are unable to find the answer to your question here, please use the “Contact Us” page to send us your question. We will reply as soon as possible.

REGISTRATION


  • NBEO does not allow candidates to transfer registration to a different administration. If you wish to withdraw from an exam, follow the guidelines for withdrawal listed on the website. When you are ready to take the exam, you must re-register.



  • You must be sponsored to take Part I ABS, Part II PAM, Part III CSE, TMOD, and ISE. Click here for more information.



  • If you wish to apply online but do not have a U.S. SSN, you will need to call our office to request an NBEO ID number. You will use this assigned number when applying, and for all subsequent applications. Please notify NBEO if you later receive a U.S. SSN.



  • No, you do not need to register for each exam separately. TMOD is embedded in Part II PAM, so you are taking both exams at the same time. You will have separate scores (one for Part II PAM and one for TMOD).



GENERAL EXAM QUESTIONS


  • You may take the exams in any order you would like, if you meet eligibility requirements for the exam that you are registering for. In other words, you may take Part II PAM before Part I ABS as long as you are eligible to take Part II PAM. Please see the Exam Eligibility Policy here



  • Each state has its own requirements. Please contact your state board for licensure requirements.



  • A targeted administration is the first opportunity that students have to take the exam once they become eligible. A non-targeted administration is just another opportunity for students to take the exam.




WITHDRAWALS


For information on the NBEO Withdrawal Policy, Please see the NBEO Withdrawal Policy here.


NBEO ACCOUNT INFORMATION


You can update your address by logging into your profile, making the needed adjustments, and saving the changes. Updates may be made as often as necessary. We encourage candidates to keep their profile information current.



A name change must be submitted with legal documentation supporting the requested change. Please click here to use our online form.




WHAT TO BRING FOR NBEO EXAMS


Calculators are not to be brought into the testing room at Pearson VUE testing centers or NCCTO. For the Part I ABS exam, an on-screen scientific calculator will be available. For the Part II PAM and stand-alone TMOD exams, an on-screen calculator will be available.



SCORES


STUDENTS: Please be reminded that upon verification of graduation and passage of all required NBEO Parts for the selected states, NBEO will send a free cumulative score report to the state boards you selected during your final examination (5 maximum). If you would like an official score report sent to you, you will need to order a score report online and select “self.”

NON-STUDENTS: Score reports for any state board can be quickly and easily ordered online and your request will be processed within 7 business days. You can also order a copy for yourself.



Unless requested by a candidate or state board, scores are submitted to state boards only (1) after a candidate passes all NBEO Parts required by the selected state boards, and (2) after NBEO receives notice of graduation verification from the candidate’s optometry school/college.



NBEO exam scores do not expire. After they are released, the scores are always available to the state board(s) you selected to have them released. State boards may have additional requirements for keeping scores active. Please check with the state in which you are seeking licensure as to their regulations.



NBEO automatically transmits the necessary score information to the Optometry Residency Match (ORMatch) through the ORMatch residency application process.



You will need to request a score report online. An official score report will be sent to you for distribution to ABCMO within 7 business days.



The score review process can take anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks. Click here to view the score review policy.



NBEO releases scores based upon a candidate’s authorization to release to an academic institution.



PART II PAM / TMOD


If you fail TMOD and pass Part II PAM, you will need to re-take the TMOD portion if your state requires TMOD for licensure. TMOD is offered as a stand-alone exam. Candidates who desire a TMOD-only score must select TMOD during registration.



If you fail the PAM portion of Part II PAM and pass the TMOD portion of Part II PAM, you will be taking both exams again when you re-take the Part II PAM exam because TMOD is embedded in the Part II PAM exam. The PAM portion of Part II PAM is not offered as a stand-alone exam.



Part III CSE, ISE, and LSPE


The Exam Calendar provides registration dates and deadlines. Please click below to access the Exam Calendar for the applicable administration year.

Click here for the 2023 Exam Calendar
Click here for the 2024 Exam Calendar

Please plan your schedule with the knowledge that the testing slots book out months in advance.



Please see the NBEO Exam Eligibility Policy



NCCTO administers multiple exams including : Part III CSE, ISE, LSPE, and OSLE. Each exam is offered on certain days and times; however, not all exams are offered every day. Candidates who wish to take multiple exams should check the exam calendar and choose the date(s) that lists the exam they want to register for.



CSE: There is no wait-time to register for Part III after taking the exam; however, candidates cannot take the exam twice in the same month.

ISE: There is no wait-time to register for ISE after taking the exam. ISE can be taken more than once a month.


Candidates can only have one registration for the same exam in the system. Once you have completed the initial scheduled exam, you can register again.



Candidates may reschedule their exam without incurring any rescheduling fees 14 or more days before their scheduled exam date. This change can be done online by accessing your NBEO account clicking here.
Candidates may reschedule an exam up to 5 times within an administration. Candidates must register again after 5 reschedules.



Any changes within 14 days of an exam will be considered a withdrawal and all examination fees will be forfeited. After your withdrawal request has been submitted, a staff member will contact you to confirm the withdrawal is complete. The candidate may then register for a new date.



Call 1.800.969.EXAM and press option 2. If no one answers, please leave a message. In addition, please send an email to NCCTO@optometry.org. Someone will contact you as soon as possible.



Please see the NBEO Withdrawal Policy here.



On occasion, additional exam sessions can be opened. This is not a guarantee and is dependent upon schedules and resources. You can send an email to NCCTO@optometry.org with dates that you are requesting to take the exam to see if anything can be opened.



No. The test center is not accessible to candidates until their scheduled exam time. Candidates will have access to the equipment during orientation. Additionally, NCCTO has posted a list of the equipment, as well as photos to assist candidates in familiarizing themselves with the exam room and the equipment.



    You should arrive at the time listed on your registration.


  • Part III CSE: Candidate check-in and orientation will not begin until that time (i.e., 8:00am or 11:15am). The earliest candidates should arrive to the test center is 10-minutes prior to their exam time.

  • ISE: Candidate check-in and orientation will not begin until that time (i.e., 1:00pm). The earliest candidates should arrive to the test center is 5-minutes prior to their exam time.

  • LSPE: Candidate check-in and orientation will not begin until that time. The earliest candidates should arrive to the test center is 10-minutes prior to their listed exam time.




No. Luggage may not be stored in the testing center. Please refer to the candidate guide for more information.



Communication Skills: Providing and obtaining information in a clear and concise manner. This includes avoiding medical jargon and providing information the patient needs to understand their condition and the procedures being performed.

Affective Skills: Interacting with the SP in an organized, professional, and empathetic demeanor.

Psychomotor Skills: Performing the physical tasks of the various skills in a proficient and efficient manner.

Clinical Observation and Reporting Skills: Accurately reporting your obtained findings.

PART III PEPS