ABO NCLE

to recognize qualified opticians and contact lens practitioners at multiple levels of professional proficiency for the benefit of consumers and the ophthalmic community by: (1) certifying individuals who successfully complete professionally developed examinations, and (2) requiring and promoting approved continuing education as part of the recertification process. Our vision is it be the trusted national standard for opticianry and contact lens certification—advancing professional competency, protecting the public, and strengthening patient-centered eye care. ABO, the American Board of Opticianry, certifies Opticians – those who dispense and work with spectacles (eyeglasses and eyewear). NCLE, the National Contact Lens Examiners, certifies those Ophthalmic Dispensers who fit and work with contact lenses. ABO-NCLE’s rigorous and extensive test development process is administered by an industry-leading credentialing, technology, and delivery solutions company. This systematic process produces certification examinations that are psychometrically sound and legally defensible. ABO-NCLE staff guides the entire process that involves:

Creating Content Expert Panels composed of a representative sampling of highly qualified, currently practicing, certified opticians

Conducting job analyses to determine the professional skills and abilities required to fulfill the role

Developing test content outlines with the Content Expert Panels

Training groups of volunteer expert opticians to write test items

Pilot-testing the examination questions to ensure validity and psychometric adequacy

Our certification exams are continually refined and updated to reflect current practices and to ensure that they are fair and accurate measures of professional competency. ABO-NCLE certification is highly regarded nationally and internationally, earning recognition from state licensing boards, the U.S.