Becoming a Board Certified Ocularist
Testing Excellence
The NEBO Certification exam is monitored and developed with Scantron Corporations. Keeping our exam current, fair, and unbiased. When you become a NEBO Board Certified Ocularist, you will be recognized by CMS, Medicare, the Canadian Healthcare System, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. All of which name NEBO as the ONLY certification to have as an Ocularist.
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The Certification Examination
The exam consists of the written exam and the fabrication exam.
The certification examination was designed by studying the work that ocularists do and the knowledge they rely on to perform their work competently. A nationally representative committee of highly qualified certified ocularists, called SME's (subject matter experts), carried out such a study to define precise content areas that are important, critical and relevant to the profession. The results of this Role Delineation study are included in a survey sent to all current BCOs for approval and assigned a level of criticality. This classification is what forms the blueprint for the exam questions.
Written Exam
The written section of the Certification Examination consists of 150 multiple choice questions. The Candidate has 3.5 hours to complete the exam. The written exam is offered annually and is administered by Scantron Corporations.
See DOWNLOADS for Item Classification.
Exam Resource Material
See DOWNLOADS below for the approved list of resource material for the certification exam.
Fabrication
This part of the examination requires that the examinee demonstrate his/her ability to fabricate the two most commonly encountered types of prostheses, a conventional prosthesis, and a scleral shell prosthesis.
The fabrication portion of the annual Board Certification exam must be completed PRIOR to the scheduled annual written exam. Upon verification and approval of a candidate’s exam application, candidates will contact the Fabrication Chairperson to schedule and begin their proctored fabrication examination.
1. All fabrication exams must be completed 14 days prior to the written exam date.
2. Grading of these exams would be completed at the annual meeting by a minimum of three (3) fabrication examiners. If three (3) are unable to attend, the regular process of grading by mail must be completed 14 days prior to the end of the exam calendar year.
3. A minimum of seven (7) days’ notice to arrange a proctor (proctor is required).
4. Exam deadline is 60 days prior to the annual written exam date.
5. After 60 days there is a $350 late fee.
6. No candidates are accepted with in 30 days of annual written exam date.
Certification, Registration, & Recertification Guide 2019
NEBO Reference Guide 2019 (pdf)
DownloadUpcoming Events
Please see important dates below for the upcoming exam cycle. Due to COVID-19, check website regularly for updates to exam cycle.
9/18/2020
Exam Applications are DUE
All day
9/18/2020
Exam Applications are DUE
2020 Certification Exam Applications are Due. After 9/18/20 a $300 late fee will apply thru 10/16/20. No applications will be accepted after...
All day
10/16/2020
Final Application Deadline with $350 late fee
All day
10/16/2020
Final Application Deadline with $350 late fee
Final day to submit exam applications for the 2020 NEBO Certification Exam.
All day
11/3/2020
Fabrication Completion Deadline
All day
11/3/2020
Fabrication Completion Deadline
The Fabrication portion of the BCO exam must be completed 14 days prior to the annual written exam.
All day
11/17/2020
2020 NEBO Certification Exam
1pm - 5pm
Las Vegas, Nevada
11/17/2020
2020 NEBO Certification Exam
The Annual 2020 Certification Exam will be in Las Vegas, NV, at the Flamingo Hotel. Applications can be found in the download link below and...
1pm - 5pm
Las Vegas, Nevada
Certification Exam Downloads
Click Below to download
If you are interested in taking the Certification exam offsite (additional fees apply),
please contact Executive Director, Dan Yeager
Our Partners
The National Examining Board of Ocularists
2050 Keokuk St, NEBO, Suite NEBO Suite, Iowa City, IA 52240, US
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