Exams are given in English and Spanish, via computer and each exam is 2 hours long. You must be at least 18 years old, and a high school graduate or have earned a GED or the equivalent in order to take the exams. ABO-NCLE reserves the right to require that you produce proof of eligibility at any time. To earn your basic certification, you need to achieve a passing score on an examination. Each exam consists of questions on the skills and knowledge required for competency in ophthalmic dispensing. The National Opticianry Competency Examination (NOCE) is spectacle related and the Contact Lens Registry Examination (CLRE) is for certification in contact lens dispensing.
The NCLE exam consists of the following 8 sections:
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- I. Ocular Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology (10%)
- Adnexa, anterior and posterior segments
- Drugs and diseases/viruses affecting contact lens wear
- Contact lens related conditions and pathology
- II. Refractive Errors (8%)
- Ametropias and optical conditions related to contact lenses
- Terminology and principles of optics related to contact lenses
- III. Instrumentation for Measurement and Observation (16%)
- Selecting and using appropriate instruments and tests for evaluation and modification procedures
- Interpreting data collected through use of instruments, tests and evaluation procedures
- IV. Prefitting (14%)
- Collecting and analyzing the data obtained by using instrumentation and diagnostic aids
- Converting spectacle data into contact lens data including vertex compensation and spherical equivalent
- Evaluating the relationship between the corneal readings and the refractive error to identify the possible need for specialty materials/designs
- Selecting the optimum lens materials and designs
- V. Diagnostic Fitting (18%)
- Selecting initial diagnostic lens
- Identifying defects of contact lens material or design
- Inserting, removing, manipulating, and caring for diagnostic contact lenses
- Identifying the fitting characteristics and visual performance of the contact lens and refining lens parameters to obtain an optimal fit
- VI. Dispensing (10%)
- Wearing schedules
- Care systems
- Patient handling
- VII. Follow-up (19%)
- Subjective findings
- Objective findings
- Assessment: Assessing or verifying patient’s subjective responses and objective findings to determine if desired results have been attained
- Plan: Establishing follow-up protocol
- Identifying normal and abnormal symptoms
- Maintaining patient records
- VIII. Regulatory (5%)
- Administrative
- Standards
- Legal
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