National Board of Examiners In Optometry

What National Board of Examiners In Optometry does

The National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO), founded in 1951 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that develops, administers, scores, and reports the results of licensure examinations required for optometry practice in the United States. NBEO's core assessment portfolio comprises a three-part licensure series — Part I ABS (Applied Basic Science), Part II PAM/TMOD (Patient Assessment and Management with Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease), and Part III PEPS (Patient Encounters and Performance Skills) — supplemented by specialty examinations including ISE (Injection Skills), LSPE (Laser and Surgical Procedures), ACMO (Advanced Competence in Medical Optometry), and OSLE (state-specific jurisprudence exams across ten states). Computer-based exams are delivered through a partnership with Pearson VUE at up to 200 test centers nationally and internationally, while clinical-skills examinations are administered at NBEO's National Center of Clinical Testing in Optometry (NCCTO), a dedicated facility opened in September 2025 in Charlotte, NC.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through per-attempt examination registration fees paid by individual candidates, with the core Part I, II, and III exams priced at $1,490 each (effective August 2026), ISE at $350, LSPE sections at $1,270, ACMO between $670 and $1,100, and OSLE at $45. Ancillary revenue streams include additional score report requests, employer verification fees ($60), and subscription-based practice databanks administered through partner Test Run ($199/month). The go-to-market is registration-driven rather than sales-driven: candidate demand is mandated by state licensing boards that require NBEO passage for licensure, eliminating traditional customer acquisition costs. Customer segments comprise fourth-year optometry students (primary), postgraduate residents (particularly VA), practicing optometrists seeking expanded procedural privileges, and institutional stakeholders including state regulatory boards, optometry schools (ASCO), and board certification bodies (ABCMO). Strategic positioning is reinforced by 75 years of accumulated psychometric content, 11 registered trademarks covering the exam suite, integration with the Optometry Residency Match (ORMatch), and a new State Board Portal launched in March 2026 to digitize regulator score access.

Name

National Board of Examiners In Optometry

Legal name

National Board of Examiners in Optometry, Inc.

Website

https://optometry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1951 that develops and administers optometry licensure examinations required by all U.S. state licensing boards, serving optometry candidates, schools, and state regulators through a hybrid Pearson VUE and dedicated NCCTO testing platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Licensure Testing

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Offices of Optometrists (62132)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Medical Licensure Exam Prep (USMLE/COMLEX, NCLEX, Dentistry, Pharmacy, PA) (EDANAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional Licensure & Certification Exam Prep (Bar/CPA/NCLEX/PMP, etc.) (EDAGADAD), Professional & Occupational Licensing Examination Authorities (EDADAFAD)

Keywords

• Optometry licensure examinations
• Professional competency assessment
• Clinical skills testing
• Board certification testing
• Healthcare licensure exams

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Examination Registration Fees: Candidates pay registration fees to take each NBEO examination. Fees range from $350 (ISE) to $1,490 (Part I ABS, Part II PAM, Part III PEPS) depending on exam type. These are one-time fees per examination attempt, with late registration fees of $400 for late submissions.
2. Score Reports and Certificates: Candidates can purchase official score reports beyond the five free reports released to state boards. Certificate ordering available for exam completion verification.
3. Exam Verification Services: Employers can request exam verification information for optometrists for employment purposes for a $60 fee.
4. Practice Items Databank Subscriptions: One-month subscription to Part I ABS Practice Items Databank costs $199, with $149 renewal for one additional month. Administered by third-party Test Run.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) develops, administers, scores, and reports the results of a series of professional licensure examinations that assess the knowledge, skills, and clinical competencies required for independent practice of optometry. The seven core examinations — Part I ABS, Part II PAM/TMOD, Part III PEPS, ISE, LSPE, OSLE, and ACMO — are used by U.S. state licensing boards to determine candidate readiness for optometry licensure and by ABCMO for board certification in medical optometry.

Product overview

The National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) offers a comprehensive series of professional licensure examinations for optometrists. The core examination suite consists of seven distinct assessments: Part I ABS (Applied Basic Science), Part II PAM/TMOD (Patient Assessment and Management with Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease), Part III PEPS (Patient Encounters and Performance Skills), ISE (Injection Skills Examination), LSPE (Laser and Surgical Procedures Examination), OSLE (Online State Law Exam), and ACMO (Advanced Competence in Medical Optometry). These exams assess the knowledge, skills, and clinical competencies required for independent optometry practice and are used by state licensing boards for licensure decisions. Computer-based exams (Part I ABS, Part II PAM/TMOD, ACMO) are administered at Pearson VUE testing centers, while clinical skills exams (Part III PEPS, ISE, LSPE) are administered at NBEO's own National Center of Clinical Testing in Optometry (NCCTO) facility in Charlotte, NC. Supporting services include practice databanks administered by Test Run, OE Tracker candidate identification, score reporting services, and integration with state board portals and the Optometry Residency Match (ORMatch) program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NCCTO: National Center of Clinical Testing in Optometry - NBEO's state-of-the-art testing facility in Charlotte, NC for administering clinical examinations including Part III PEPS, ISE, and LSPE.

Products and services

• Part I ABS (Applied Basic Science) Examination

Quantifiable outcome

• NBEO exams are required by all state licensing boards for optometry licensure nationwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Pearson VUEcoreTechnology or Integration · 5 September 2025Pearson VUE serves as the primary technology partner for administering computer-based NBEO examinations (Part I ABS, Part II PAM/TMOD, ACMO) at up to 200 test center locations. Pearson provides the testing platform, test center facilities, and scheduling infrastructure for candidates.
• Test RunsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Test Run administers the Part I ABS and Part II PAM/TMOD Practice Items Databank, providing candidates with online practice examinations using retired NBEO questions. Test Run provides detailed score reports and performance analytics.
• Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARBO represents state regulatory boards of optometry, which are NBEO's primary customer base. NBEO works with ARBO on examination standards, shares data for the optometrist data bank, and collaborates on regulatory matters affecting the profession.
• Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASCO represents optometry education institutions. NBEO collaborates with ASCO on examination development, shares candidate scores with schools upon authorization, and participates in item writing workshops with faculty. ASCO also facilitates the Optometry Residency Match (ORMatch) program which integrates with NBEO score reporting.
• Optometry Examining Board of Canada (OEBC)minorOthersThe OEBC examination has been discussed in the context of licensing requirements, with some state boards considering it as a potential substitute for NBEO Part I. NBEO has expressed concerns about the OEBC exam not testing foundational biomedical science principles necessary for U.S. optometry practice.
• National Association of VA Optometrists (NAVAO)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAVAO requested the development of the ACMO examination to provide VA optometrists formal recognition following residency completion. NAVAO strongly encourages eligible individuals to take the ACMO examination.
• American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry (ABCMO)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorABCMO requires passing the ACMO examination as part of its board certification process for medical optometry. ABCMO is the primary customer for ACMO results, using NBEO scores to certify optometrists in medical optometry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME): NBME develops and administers the USMLE licensure examinations for U.S. allopathic physicians. As the most analogous professional healthcare licensure examination authority, NBME mirrors NBEO's structure, regulatory mandate, and revenue model across a larger medical profession.
• National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME): NBOME administers the COMLEX-USA licensure examination series for osteopathic physicians. It is the closest structural and functional peer to NBEO — a profession-specific examination authority whose exams are accepted by state licensing boards for initial licensure.
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN): NCSBN develops and administers the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN licensure examinations for U.S. nurses. It is a near-perfect structural analog to NBEO: a profession-specific examination body whose tests are universally required by state boards for licensure.
• Optometry Examining Board of Canada (OEBC): OEBC administers the Canadian optometry licensure examination and has been discussed as a potential substitute for NBEO Part I by some U.S. state boards. NBEO has publicly criticized OEBC's lack of foundational biomedical science testing, making it a direct competitor in the cross-border optometry licensure market.
• Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO): JCAHPO provides certification for ophthalmic medical personnel (technicians, assistants, surgical assistants) through standardized examinations. It shares NBEO's competency-assessment mission in the broader eye-care profession but at the allied-health rather than doctor level.

Broad incumbents

• American Board of Optometry (ABO): ABO offers voluntary board certification for practicing optometrists, filling the post-licensure credentialing space that NBEO's discontinued Board Certification Program once occupied. It is adjacent rather than directly competitive but operates in the same optometry competency ecosystem.
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT): ARRT certifies and registers radiologic technologists through competency-based examinations recognized by state regulators. It mirrors NBEO's psychometric, state-board-recognized certification model in an adjacent allied-health profession.
• American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM): ABIM is a physician specialty certification board that administers Maintenance of Certification and initial certification exams. It is comparable to NBEO's ACMO exam pathway, representing post-licensure specialty credentialing in a different healthcare profession.

Others

• Pearson VUE: Pearson VUE is NBEO's primary testing delivery partner, administering Part I ABS, Part II PAM/TMOD, and ACMO at up to 200 test centers. As an ecosystem enabler rather than competitor, Pearson VUE is a critical infrastructure dependency for NBEO's computer-based exam revenue stream.

Emerging players

• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): NBCC administers the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and the Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor examination, which are required for licensure in most U.S. states. It is structurally analogous to NBEO in a non-physician healthcare profession, with similar required-purchase dynamics driven by state regulatory mandates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nbeo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Board of Examiners In Optometry