FAQs

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 PEPS, ISE, LSPE, and OSLE. Each exam is offered on certain days and times; however, not all are offered daily. Candidates who wish to take multiple exams should check the exam calendar and choose the date(s) that list the exam they want to register for. It is unlikely that you could take the LSPE on the same day as Part III PEPS; however, it may be possible to take the ISE or an OSLE on the same day as Part III PEPS. You may be able to take LSPE and Part III PEPS on back-to-back days to minimize travel time.

For all NBEO examinations, candidates cannot register until they receive a failing score for the previous attempt. For additional information, please refer to the eligibility policy

.

Candidates can only have one registration date reserved per exam in the system. Once you have completed that exam session, you can register again only if you have received a failing score for that exam. For additional information, please refer to our eligibility policy.

Candidates may reschedule their exam without incurring any rescheduling fees if they reschedule 30 or more days before their scheduled exam date. This change can be done online by accessing your NBEO account here. Candidates may reschedule an exam up to 5 times within an administration. Candidates must register again after five reschedules.

Any changes within 30 days of an exam will be considered a withdrawal, and all examination fees will be forfeited. After submitting your withdrawal request, 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. Also, email NCCTO@optometry.org. Someone will contact you as soon as possible.


Are there exceptions to the administrative fee for changing an exam date?

On occasion, additional exam sessions can be opened. Additional sessions, cannot be guaranteed and are dependent upon schedules and resources. You can email to NCCTO@optometry.org with the dates 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. All Part III PEPS and ISE equipment is available in the orientation room. Additionally, NCCTO has posted a list of the equipment and photos to help candidates familiarize themselves with the exam room and the equipment.

For all NBEO exams: Candidates should arrive at the testing center on the date and time listed on their registration. The earliest candidates should arrive at the test center is 10 minutes before their exam time.

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