ABO NCLE Exam 2026: FREE Opticianry Study Guide, Pass Rates & State Licensing Boards

Key Facts

The ABO Basic exam (NOCE) costs $275 per attempt from October 1, 2026 and contains 125 multiple-choice questions with a 2-hour time limit (ABO-NCLE registration page and handbook).
The NCLE Basic exam (CLRE) costs $275 per attempt from October 1, 2026 and contains 125 multiple-choice questions with a 2-hour time limit (ABO-NCLE registration page and handbook).
The NOCE covers six scored domains with Ophthalmic Optics weighted highest at 25 of the 100 questions in its test specifications (ABO-NCLE Basic Exam Handbook, July 2026).
The CLRE covers eight scored domains with Dispensing and Follow-Up tied highest at 20 of the 100 questions in its test specifications (ABO-NCLE Basic Exam Handbook, July 2026).
The 2024 ABO Basic pass rate was 64.0% and the NCLE Basic pass rate was 59.0% per ABO-NCLE official exam pages.
ABO-NCLE uses the Modified Angoff method to set a criterion-referenced minimum passing standard; the current handbook does not publish a numeric cut score (ABO-NCLE Basic Exam Handbook, July 2026).
ABO recertification requires 12 CECs every 3 years and NCLE recertification requires 18 CECs every 3 years, plus a renewal fee (ABO-NCLE Renewals page).
The 2025 median annual wage for opticians was $47,260 with about 5,600 projected annual openings over the decade (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
ABO-NCLE administers exams across four quarterly testing windows in 2026 with non-refundable registration fees (ABO-NCLE Register for an Exam page).
After a failed exam, candidates must wait 14 days to retake; after three unsuccessful attempts, a 90-day wait applies (ABO-NCLE Basic Exam Handbook, July 2026).

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ABO NCLE Opticianry Exam in 2026: The Complete FREE Guide

The ABO (American Board of Opticianry) and NCLE (National Contact Lens Examiners) basic certifications are ABO-NCLE's two national basic certifications. The ABO exam (officially the NOCE — National Opticianry Competency Examination) certifies competency to dispense eyeglasses. The NCLE exam (officially the CLRE — Contact Lens Registry Examination) certifies competency to dispense contact lenses.

Many state licensing boards require a passing score on qualifying exams, and employers may require or prefer certification in eyeglass dispensing and contact lens dispensing.

This guide is built from the July 2026 ABO-NCLE Basic Exam Handbook (the handbook in effect for 2026 testing windows), current Prometric procedures, and verified Bureau of Labor Statistics data. We cover exam format, every scored domain, Prentice's Rule and ANSI tolerance shortcuts, ABO-NCLE's list of state licensing boards, pass rate data, a sample study schedule that works around a retail job, and salary benchmarks.

ABO NCLE At-a-Glance (2026)

Feature ABO (NOCE) NCLE (CLRE)
Official Name National Opticianry Competency Examination Contact Lens Registry Examination
Basic Exam Fee $275 per attempt $275 per attempt
Practical Exam Fee (ABOP / NCLEP) $125 $125
Basic + Practical Combined Registration $300 $300
Advanced Exam Fee (ABO Advanced / NCLE Advanced) $275 $275
Length 2 hours 2 hours
Questions 125 (a portion may not be scored) 125 (a portion may not be scored)
Format Multiple-choice, computer-based Multiple-choice, computer-based

Passing Standard Modified Angoff; numeric cut score not published Modified Angoff; numeric cut score not published

Testing Vendor Prometric (300+ centers) or ProProctor remote Prometric or ProProctor remote
Testing Windows 4 per year (Q1-Q4) 4 per year (Q1-Q4)
Eligibility High school diploma or GED High school diploma or GED
2024 Pass Rate (Official) 64.0% 59.0%
Recertification Every 3 years, 12 CECs + renewal fee Every 3 years, 18 CECs + renewal fee
Valid Credentials ABOC NCLEC

Check which exams you need. Employers may require or prefer certification in eyeglass dispensing and contact lens dispensing, each with its own exam. Many state licensing boards require a passing score on qualifying exams, and other states use state-specific exams.

Start Your FREE ABO NCLE Prep Today

Launch FREE NOCE Practice Questions Practice questions with detailed explanations

Our NOCE question bank covers all six NOCE domains. CLRE candidates can use the CLRE practice questions . AI-powered explanations and Prentice's Rule walk-throughs — 100% free .

ABO vs NCLE: Which Do You Need?

This is the first question every opticianry candidate asks. The short answer: it depends on your state and employer . Here is the longer answer.

ABO (NOCE) — The Spectacle Exam

The ABO Basic certifies your competency to dispense eyeglasses . The NOCE covers lens theory (vergence, Prentice's Rule, vertex compensation), frame fitting, facial measurements (pupillary distance, fitting height, pantoscopic tilt), ocular anatomy, and the regulations that govern dispensing (FTC, ANSI, FDA, HIPAA).

If you only plan to dispense eyeglasses, check whether your employer or state asks for anything beyond the ABO.

NCLE (CLRE) — The Contact Lens Exam

The NCLE Basic certifies your competency to dispense contact lenses . The CLRE covers tear film and corneal anatomy specific to contact lens wear, keratometry (K readings), soft and rigid gas permeable (RGP) lens parameters (base curve, diameter, Dk/t, water content), toric and multifocal designs, patient education on insertion/removal and replacement schedules, and the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (FCLCA) — the federal law governing contact lens prescription release.

If your practice dispenses contact lenses, check whether your employer or state requires the NCLE.

Which Exams Do You Need?

If you are testing for a state license, verify the requirements with your state licensing board before registering, because each state has its own rules. Employers may also require or prefer certification in eyeglass dispensing, contact lens dispensing, or both.

Combined testing discount : ABO-NCLE offers a Basic + Practical Combined registration at $300 per credential (vs. $275 Basic + $125 Practical = $400 separately). If you plan to hold both full credentials (ABO Basic + ABOP + NCLE Basic + NCLEP), the combined pathway saves $200 where your state allows it.

Who Should Take the ABO and NCLE?

The ABO-NCLE basic exams are designed for several candidate profiles:

Retail optical employees at LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Visionworks, Warby Parker, Costco Optical, Target Optical, Sam's Club, or independent opticals who want to advance from sales associate to licensed dispensing optician.

Career changers moving from general retail into healthcare-adjacent roles. Opticianry has a high school diploma entry point and a clear credentialing ladder.

Optometric technicians working in OD or MD offices who want formal recognition of their spectacle and contact lens dispensing skills.

Apprentices working toward a state license.

Opticianry program graduates — students finishing an accredited COA (Commission on Opticianry Accreditation) associate degree or certificate program.

Internationally trained opticians seeking U.S. credentialing to practice domestically.

You do not need a postsecondary degree, prior exam, or employer sponsorship to sit for the basic exams. The only hard eligibility requirement is a high school diploma or GED.

State Licensing Boards

Opticianry is regulated at the state level, and some states require opticians to be licensed. In addition to passing one or more exams, licensure usually requires an approved educational program, an apprenticeship, or other supervised work experience (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Many state boards require a passing score on qualifying exams, and other states require state-specific exams.

ABO-NCLE lists these opticianry licensing boards. Requirements differ by state, so confirm which exams you need with your board before registering.

State Licensing Board
Alaska Alaska State Board of Dispensing Opticians
Arizona Arizona State Board of Dispensing Opticians
Arkansas Arkansas Board of Dispensing Opticians
California California State Board of Optometry
Connecticut Connecticut Opticians Licensure, Department of Public Health
Florida Florida Department of Health, Board of Opticianry
Georgia Georgia State Board of Dispensing Opticians
Hawaii Hawaii Board of Dispensing Opticians
Kentucky Kentucky Board of Ophthalmic Dispensers
Massachusetts Massachusetts Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians
Nevada Nevada State Board of Dispensing Opticians
New Jersey New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Ophthalmic Dispensers and Ophthalmic Technicians
New York New York State Board of Ophthalmic Dispensing
North Carolina North Carolina Board of Opticians
Ohio Ohio Vision Professionals Board
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Department of Health
Rhode Island Rhode Island Opticians Advisory Committee
South Carolina South Carolina Board of Examiners in Opticianry
Tennessee Tennessee Licensing Board for Dispensing Opticians
Vermont Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation
Virginia Virginia Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians
Washington Washington State Department of Health

Source: ABO-NCLE State Licensing Boards . ABO-NCLE dates this list April 2025.

Eligibility, Registration, and Scheduling
Eligibility

The only hard requirement for the Basic NOCE and CLRE is a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent . You do not need:

Prior ABO-NCLE certification
A postsecondary degree
Employer sponsorship

Proof of work experience (for the Basic exams; Advanced credentials and the Practical exams have additional requirements)

Registration

Create an account at abo-ncle.org .

Review the ABO-NCLE Basic Exam Candidate Handbook (updated July 2026 and applicable to 2026 windows).

Select your testing window and exam(s).

Pay the registration fee ($275 per Basic exam, $125 per Practical, or $300 for the Basic + Practical Combined registration per credential).

Save your confirmation email.

24 to 48 hours after registering, use the link in that email to schedule at a Prometric center or via ProProctor remote testing.

2026 Testing Windows and Registration Deadlines

Window Testing Dates Registration Opens Registration Closes
Q1 January 2 – March 31, 2026 December 1, 2025 March 15, 2026
Q2 April 1 – June 30, 2026 March 16, 2026 June 15, 2026
Q3 July 1 – September 30, 2026 June 16, 2026 September 15, 2026
Q4 October 1 – December 21, 2026 September 16, 2026 November 15, 2026

Source: ABO-NCLE 2026 Testing Dates and Registration Deadlines . Registration fees are non-refundable once payment is submitted.

There are no late registrations. Missing the deadline means waiting for the next window.

Exam Day — Prometric and ProProctor

At a Prometric center , you will show one valid, government-issued photo ID with a signature and stow personal items in a locker. Paper and writing instruments are not allowed in the testing room, and the exam has an on-screen scientific calculator for Prentice's Rule and vertex calculations. Breaks are unscheduled and do not add time to your 2-hour clock.

With ProProctor remote testing , you test on your own computer, which needs a camera, microphone, and internet connection, while a Prometric proctor oversees the exam remotely. You may use your own white board, no larger than 8 1/2 x 11 inches, with up to 3 dry erase markers and an eraser, and you must erase all notes at the end. If a bathroom break is taken, the timer keeps running, and ABO-NCLE reviews the exam. Before scheduling, verify with your state licensing board that a remotely proctored exam is approved for licensing purposes.

ABO (NOCE) Content Outline and Weights — 2026

The NOCE is a 125-question, 2-hour exam. A portion of the questions may not be scored because they are pretested for future exams, and the test specifications list 100 questions. The six domains and their weights, per the July 2026 handbook:

Domain Weight Approx. Questions
I. Ophthalmic Optics 25% 25
II. Ocular Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, and Refraction 10% 10
III. Ophthalmic Products 20% 20
IV. Instrumentation 15% 15
V. Dispensing Procedures 20% 20
VI. Laws, Regulations, and Standards 10% 10
I. Ophthalmic Optics (25%) — The Highest-Weight Domain

You must master:

Prescription interpretation : sphere, cylinder, axis, add, prism notation (cross cylinder form, transposition)
Vergence : converting refractive power to focal length and back ( F = 1 / f F = 1/f F = 1/ f in meters)

Prentice's Rule : Δ = h ⋅ F \Delta = h \cdot F Δ = h ⋅ F where h is decentration in cm and F is lens power. Plus lenses: base direction same as decentration. Minus lenses: base direction opposite to decentration.

Vertical imbalance : unequal distance powers give each eye a different vertical prism at the reading level, which can cause eye strain or double vision. Calculated as the difference in vertical prism between the two eyes at the reading level.

Vertex distance compensation : matters most in stronger prescriptions, commonly over about ±4.00 D. Formula: F n e w = F o l d / ( 1 − d ⋅ F o l d ) F_{new} = F_{old} / (1 - d \cdot F_{old}) F n e w = F o l d / ( 1 − d ⋅ F o l d ) where d is the distance the lens moves in meters, positive when it moves closer to the eye.

Lens form and base curve selection : Tscherning's ellipse, minus-cylinder convention, toric transposition.

Oblique meridians : power at an angle between the two principal meridians.

II. Ocular Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, and Refraction (10%)

Basic ocular structures (cornea, iris, lens, retina, optic nerve, vitreous humor), the accommodation mechanism, and the four core refractive errors: myopia (nearsightedness, minus lens correction), hyperopia (farsightedness, plus lens correction), astigmatism (cylinder correction), and presbyopia (add power correction for near work, usually after age 45). High-level awareness of common pathologies (cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy) — enough to recognize and refer, not to diagnose.

III. Ophthalmic Products (20%)

Lens materials ranked by index of refraction, Abbe value, impact resistance, and UV protection:

Material Index Abbe Impact Resistance Typical Use
CR-39 1.498 58 Moderate (requires drop-ball) Low-power standard Rx
Crown glass 1.523 59 Low (rarely used) Legacy
Polycarbonate 1.586 30 Very High Safety, children, sports, drill-mount
Trivex 1.53 43 Very High Rimless, safety, clarity
Mid-index (1.60) 1.60 36-42 Moderate Moderate Rx
High-index (1.67) 1.67 32 Moderate High Rx thin profile
High-index (1.74) 1.74 33 Moderate Very high Rx

Lens treatments and coatings: anti-reflective (AR), scratch-resistant, UV, polarized, photochromic (Transitions), mirror coatings, blue-light filtering. Frame materials: zyl (cellulose acetate), nylon, TR-90, titanium, beta-titanium, stainless steel, Monel, memory metal.

IV. Instrumentation (15%)

Lensmeter (focimeter) : measures sphere, cylinder, axis, prism, and add power of finished lenses.

Lens clock : measures front and back surface curvature in diopters (calibrated for 1.53 index; correction needed for other materials).

Pupillometer : measures monocular and binocular pupillary distance.

PD ruler : manual PD and segment height measurement.

Frame warmer and frame heater : for adjusting zyl frames.

Hand tools : nylon jaw pliers, snipe nose, angling pliers, optical screwdrivers.

Lens edger : grinds lens blanks to fit frames.

V. Dispensing Procedures (20%)

Pupillary distance : monocular (preferred for asymmetric faces and progressive lenses) vs. binocular.

Fitting triangle : the three points where a frame touches the head: the junction of each ear and the skull, and the bridge of the nose.

Seg height / fitting height : bifocal seg at lower lid, progressive fitting cross at pupil center.

Frame selection : boxing system measurements — A (horizontal lens), B (vertical lens), ED (effective diameter, longest diagonal from geometric center), DBL (distance between lenses / bridge).

Minimum blank size calculation : M B S = E D + 2 ⋅ ∣ decentration ∣ + 2 mm MBS = ED + 2 \cdot |\text{decentration}| + 2 \text{ mm} MBS = E D + 2 ⋅ ∣ decentration ∣ + 2 mm .

Adjustments and repairs : adjusting for proper bridge fit, correcting pantoscopic tilt, replacing screws and nosepads, heat-straightening temples.

VI. Laws, Regulations, and Standards (10%)

FTC Eyeglass Rule (16 CFR Part 456): requires prescribers to give patients a copy of their eyeglass prescription immediately after a refractive eye exam, whether or not the patient asks and before offering to sell glasses, at no extra charge.

FTC Contact Lens Rule / Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (FCLCA) : requires prescribers to release the contact lens prescription to the patient and verify prescriptions to third-party sellers.

ANSI Z80.1 : the American National Standard for Prescription Ophthalmic Lenses. A Vision Council presentation describes a 2025 revision, ASC Z80.1-2025, so check the current edition. It sets tolerances for sphere, cylinder, axis, prism, add power, and center thickness, and the handbook's sample questions include an axis tolerance item.

FDA 21 CFR 801.410 : eyeglasses and sunglasses must be fitted with impact-resistant lenses, except where a physician or optometrist finds that such lenses will not fulfill the particular patient's visual requirements, directs other lenses in writing, and gives the patient written notification.

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.133 : safety eyewear standard in occupational settings.

HIPAA : patient health information privacy and record-keeping.

ANSI Z80.1 Tolerances to Memorize

These single vision and multifocal values come from The Vision Council's quick reference to ANSI Z80.1-2015.

Parameter Tolerance
Sphere power ±0.13 D (up to ±6.50 D); ±2% beyond
Cylinder power ≤ 2.00 D ±0.13 D
Cylinder power > 2.00 to 4.50 D ±0.15 D
Cylinder power > 4.50 D ±4%
Cylinder axis (cyl 0.12-0.25) ±14°
Cylinder axis (cyl > 0.25-0.50) ±7°
Cylinder axis (cyl > 0.50-0.75) ±5°
Cylinder axis (cyl > 0.75-1.50) ±3°
Cylinder axis (cyl > 1.50) ±2°
Add power ≤ 4.00 D ±0.12 D
Add power > 4.00 D ±0.18 D
Horizontal prism imbalance 0.67 Δ up to ±2.75 D; above that, within ±2.5 mm of the specified PD
Vertical prism imbalance 0.33 Δ up to ±3.375 D; above that, PRP heights within 1.0 mm
NCLE (CLRE) Content Outline and Weights — 2026

The CLRE is also 125 questions in 2 hours, and its test specifications list 100 questions. The eight domains and their weights, per the July 2026 handbook:

Domain Weight Approx. Questions
I. Ocular Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology 12% 12
II. Refractive Errors 5% 5
III. Instrumentation for Measurement and Observation 12% 12
IV. Prefitting 15% 15
V. Diagnostic Fitting 11% 11
VI. Dispensing 20% 20
VII. Follow-Up 20% 20
VIII. Regulatory and Administrative 5% 5
I. Ocular Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology (12%)

Know the tear film's three layers: lipid (outer) , aqueous (middle) , mucin (inner) — and their glands of origin (meibomian, lacrimal, goblet cells). Understand tear break-up time (TBUT; normal >10 seconds), and systemic conditions that affect tear film (Sjogren's syndrome, diabetes, thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS).

Contact-lens-specific pathologies: keratoconus, corneal neovascularization, corneal edema, microbial keratitis, giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC), corneal infiltrates, corneal ulcers.

II. Refractive Errors (5%)

Ametropias related to contact lenses: myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism (irregular, against-the-rule, with-the-rule, oblique), presbyopia, anisometropia, aniseikonia, amblyopia, aphakia, pseudophakia. Principles of optics as they apply to contacts: refraction, prismatic effects, residual astigmatism, lacrimal lens, accommodation, transposition, spherical equivalent, sagittal depth, and vertex distance.

III. Instrumentation for Measurement and Observation (12%)

Keratometer (ophthalmometer) : calibration, procedures, readings, interpretation. Cornea's curvature in diopters or mm. Conversion: R (mm) = 337.5 / K (D) R \text{ (mm)} = 337.5 / K \text{ (D)} R (mm) = 337.5/ K (D) . Flatter K = smaller diopter number = larger radius. Normal K range is approximately 40-46 D.

Corneal topography : maps the entire corneal surface; critical for irregular corneas and keratoconus.

Slit lamp (biomicroscope) : operation, focus, illumination, evaluation with and without contact lenses (fluorescein patterns, staining patterns, pathology).

Schirmer's tests (#1 and #2) and tear film break-up time (BUT).

Lens verification instruments : radiuscope (optic spherometer), lensometer (focimeter), thickness gauge, measuring magnifier, diameter gauge. Evaluation of parameters and compliance with all ANSI Z80 standards.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) : anterior segment evaluation, contact lens clearance, landing zones.

IV. Prefitting (15%)

Case history and evaluation : lifestyle (occupation, environment, hobbies, wear schedule), medical factors (adnexa, diseases, medications, allergies, gender, age), motivation, and relationship between corneal measurements, patient prescription, and current lens parameters.

Material and design : special lens designs (lenticular, torics, bifocal/multifocal, aspheric, hybrid, scleral, quadrant-specific, orthokeratology). Lens material properties — oxygen permeability (Dk), thermal conductivity, transmissibility (Dk/t), durability, wetting angle, water content, silicone hydrogel, modulus, surface treatments (plasma, HydroPEG).

FDA classifications for soft lenses :

Group Water Content Ionic?

I Low (< 50%) Non-ionic
II High (≥ 50%) Non-ionic
III Low (< 50%) Ionic
IV High (≥ 50%) Ionic
V Silicone hydrogel (Own category)

Determination of lens parameters : central posterior curve (CPC, base curve), peripheral curves (IPC, PPC), diameter, thickness, power, edge design.

Base curve (BC) selection : initial BC is typically 0.5 to 1.0 mm flatter than flat K for soft lenses; matched to flat K or slightly steeper for RGP lenses.

Contraindications : active eye infection, uncontrolled allergies, severe dry eye, poor hygiene, very young patients without guardian supervision.

V. Diagnostic Fitting (11%)

Evaluating the fit on the eye: movement (1 mm soft, 1-2 mm RGP on blink), centration , rotation/axis stability for torics, fluorescein pattern for RGP (with-the-rule fit shows horizontal bearing vs. vertical clearance; against-the-rule is the opposite). Patient subjective feedback on comfort, acuity, and awareness.

VI. Dispensing (20%)

Wearing schedules : daily wear, flexible wear, extended wear (up to 6 nights), continuous wear (up to 30 nights for approved SiHy lenses).

Replacement schedules : daily disposable, two-week, monthly, quarterly, annual.

Care systems : multi-purpose solutions, hydrogen peroxide systems (3% neutralized), rigid lens cleaners, enzyme cleaners, surfactant cleaners. Solution compatibility and sensitivities.

Insertion and removal techniques for soft and RGP lenses. Emergency responses to insertion/removal problems.

Patient education : hygiene, compliance, never sleep in lenses unless specifically approved, never rinse in tap water (acanthamoeba risk), never shower or swim in lenses, annual eye exam required, do not share lenses.

VII. Follow-Up (20%)

The Follow-Up domain is one of the two highest-weighted CLRE domains (tied with Dispensing at 20 questions). It covers subjective findings (dryness, lens awareness, fluctuating/blurry vision, pain, photophobia), objective findings (steep/flat lens, everted lens, corneal/conjunctival staining, injection, corneal edema, discharge, vision loss, lid problems including GPC and ptosis, SEAL, CLARE, VLK, SLK, CLPU, dimple veiling, smile staining, mucin balls, microbial keratitis, acanthamoeba keratitis, dendritic ulcer, corneal infiltrates, corneal dellen, 3 and 9 o'clock staining, corneal molding/warpage), assessment techniques, and visual acuity/overrefraction.

Common complaints and causes:

Symptom Likely Cause
End-of-day dryness Low Dk, low water content, environmental dryness
Vision fluctuates with blink Loose fit, excessive movement
Lens feels tight / binding (RGP) Steep fit, dehydration
Red eye with pain Microbial keratitis — REMOVE and refer immediately
Itching, papillary changes Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC)
Blur at distance (toric) Axis rotation — verify mark position
3 and 9 o'clock staining (RGP) Lens edge too tight or too thick
VIII. Regulatory and Administrative (5%)

Proper record retention and retrieval, methodology used to document patient charts and identify changes (lens parameters and care system, ocular health and disease progression), and availability of product and diagnostic tools. The Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (FCLCA) and the FTC's implementing Contact Lens Rule govern contact lens prescription release and third-party sale verification. Key rules:

Prescribers must give patients a copy of their contact lens prescription at the end of the fitting.

Prescribers must verify prescriptions from third-party sellers within 8 business hours, or the prescription is deemed verified.

Contact lens prescriptions must include expiration date (minimum 1 year), brand, base curve, diameter, power, and any additional specifications.

FDA : contact lenses are medical devices under FDA jurisdiction.

ABO NCLE Pass Rates and Difficulty

ABO-NCLE publishes pass rate data on its website. Official 2024 figures :

Exam 2024 Pass Rate (Official)
ABO Basic (NOCE) 64.0%
NCLE Basic (CLRE) 59.0%
ABO Advanced 52.0%
NCLE Advanced 42.0%
ABO Practical (ABOP) 65.0%
NCLE Practical (NCLEP) 69.0%

Source: ABO-NCLE Basic Exams, Advanced Exams, and Practical Exams pages (2024 reported pass rates).

ABO-NCLE says no prior experience is required, but those with 2-3 years of hands-on experience or completion of an optical school program have higher success rates. It publishes no pass rate by training route.

Common Weak Spots

Weak on optics math — unable to apply Prentice's Rule, vertex compensation, or calculate induced prism in multifocals at the reading level.

Memorized ANSI tolerances superficially — cannot differentiate the axis tolerance at 0.50 D cyl (±7°) vs. 1.50 D cyl (±3°).

Confused FDA soft lens groups with Dk/t categories.

Guessed on tear film layers — lipid-aqueous-mucin order and their glands of origin are testable.

Forgot FCLCA verification timeline — the Contact Lens Rule window is 8 business hours.

Blew through calculations without verifying sign — in Prentice's Rule, the right amount with the wrong base direction (plus = same, minus = opposite) is a wrong answer.