Becoming a Board Certified Ocularist
Testing Excellence
The NEBO Certification exam is monitored and developed with Meazure Learning. 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.
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 B.C.O.'s 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 On Demand April 1 - November 30 and is administered by Measure Learning.
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 Exam is completed within the candidates own office, they will have 10 business days to complete this exam. A fabrication kit will be mailed to the candidate at which point they will be able to begin the conventional duplication. On the last 2 days of the 10 day window, a proctor will come to your office to witness the painting and finishing of the sclearal shell. The proctor will then collect all items, seal them, and mail back to NEBO.
Grading of these exams will be completed by a minimum of three (3) fabrication examiners.
A minimum of fourteen (14) days’ notice to arrange a proctor (proctor is required)
Fabrication Exam Must be completed by November 1
Certification, Registration, & Recertification Guide 2025
Exam Candidate Handbook 2025 (pdf)
DownloadCertification Exam Forms
Certification Exam Downloads
Click Below to download
Our Partners
The National Examining Board of Ocularists
2050 Keokuk St, NEBO, Suite NEBO Suite, Iowa City, IA 52240, US