The American Board of Opticianry & National Contact Lens Examiners (ABO-NCLE) is the largest and most prestigious Opticians’ certification organization in the world, recognizing individuals whose Opticianry skills and knowledge meet predetermined standards of excellence. More than 96,000 certifications have been awarded since 1976, and more than 40,000 certifications are currently in force.
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 meets ANSI Standard 1100 for professional certifying organizations. As a result, ABO-NCLE certification is highly regarded nationally and internationally, earning recognition from state licensing boards, the U.S. military, and public and private corporations.
