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.
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 during the month of October 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 by October 1.
2. Grading of these exams would be completed by a minimum of three (3) fabrication examiners.
3. A minimum of seven (7) days’ notice to arrange a proctor (proctor is required).
Certification, Registration, & Recertification Guide 2021
Exam Candidate Handbook 2021 (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.
6/1/2022
Exam Application OPEN
All day
6/1/2022
Exam Application OPEN
Exam Application Process Open for the 2021 Exam Cycle.
All day
8/1/2022
Application Deadline
All day
8/1/2022
Application Deadline
All day
9/1/2022
Final Application Deadline with $350 late fee
All day
9/1/2022
Final Application Deadline with $350 late fee
Final day to submit exam applications for the 2021 NEBO Certification Exam.
All day
10/1/2022
Fabrication Completion Deadline
All day
10/1/2022
Fabrication Completion Deadline
The Fabrication portion of the BCO exam must be post marked by today.
All day
10/1/2022-10/31/2022
2021 NEBO Certification Exam
10/1/2022-10/31/2022
2021 NEBO Certification Exam
The Annual 2021 Written Certification Exam will be at local Scantron testing site.
Certification Exam Downloads
Click Below to download
If you are interested in taking the Certification exam off-cycle (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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