Register | Login
Member States Login
National Optician's Practical Examination Login
IMPORTANT NOTICE All candidates must FIRST apply with their respective State opticianry board, meet the State’s eligibility requirements and pay the appropriate fees in order to obtain access to the candidate area of this website.
1. Candidates for the National Optician’s Practical Examination must meet their respective State’s eligibility requirements for licensure in opticianry and pay the appropriate fees in order to obtain access to the candidate portion of this website. 2. All candidate information is submitted from the State opticianry boards for candidates who meet the eligibility requirements and have paid the appropriate fees to the test administrator. 3. Upon receipt of the candidate information from the State, candidates will be given access to the “candidate” section of National Optician’s Practical Examination website by the examination administrator.
No Exceptions States interested in adopting the National Optician’s Practical Examination as an eligibility requirement for opticianry licensure should contact the National Commission of State Opticianry Regulatory Boards at slarson@ncsorb.org or (855) 208-9349.
The National Practical Optician’s Examination is comprised of a Spectacles only and a Spectacles and Contact Lens multiple-choice and skill examination.
Depending on specific State licensing requirements, candidates may be required to take only the Spectacles examination or both the Spectacles and Contact Lens examinations.
Candidates must complete the National Optician’s Practical Examination registration form and include all requested information, documentation and appropriate fees. Unless otherwise directed by your State board, completed registration forms are to be submitted to your respective State for processing.
Examination registration fees can be obtained from your respective State or will be included on your registration form.
Examinations are given at Pearson VUE testing centers located throughout the United States.
The development of National Optician’s Practical Examination is based on the results of a national “job task analysis” survey which was distributed to licensed dispensing opticians for their feedback. The survey results identify the tasks performed most often and of greatest importance. The examination content outline is based on these results.
• All examinations are delivered in English.
• In addition to scored items, all candidates receive between 10-25 sample questions. While they are not identified or scored, these questions are being tested for possible inclusion in future examinations.
The multiple-choice examination is a series of statements or questions followed by four possible answers. One answer is the single-best response; the others are distracters. While some answers may be partly correct, there is only one BEST answer.
1. The number 75 in lens prescription -5.00 + 1.50 X 75 is the
A. power of sphere.
B. axis of cylinder.
C. interpupillary distance.
D. vertex distance.
Answer: B
The development of the National Optician’s Practical Examination is based on the results of a national “job task analysis” survey which was distributed to licensed dispensing opticians for their feedback. The survey results identify the tasks performed most often and of greatest importance. The examination content outline is based on these results. The content outlines indicated in this book for each examination area is an excellent study aid.
The six (6) skills for the computer simulated Spectacles and Contact Lens portion of the skill examination are those most commonly performed by licensed opticians according to the results of the national “job task analysis”.
Candidates for the Spectacles and Contact Lens Skill Examination(s) will be required to perform the following selected examination(s) as assigned.
1. Measure Pupillary Distance and Segment Height
2. Neutralization of Spectacles
1. Identify Contact Lens Images and Conditions of the Eye
2. Evaluate Contact Lens Fits Using a Slit Lamp
3. Identify Various Pathologies and Illuminations Using a Slit Lamp
4. Perform Corneal Curvature Measurement (Keratometry)
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) the test administrator will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. If you believe that you require such accommodation, please contact the test administrator to receive a special accommodations questionnaire. Return the completed questionnaire with your application, along with documentation of your disability from a qualified health care provider.
The examinations are developed by the test administrator which includes licensed dispensing opticians. A variety of reference materials are used to create examination questions, which are selected from a pool of items based on the examination specifications and content outlines.
The examinations are criterion-referenced which means that each candidate passes or fails based on their performance. Individual examination results are judged against an objective standard and not on the performance of others on the same examination(s).
The established passing score for the examination(s) is the minimum number of questions that must be answered correctly. Scoring is statistically adjusted to ensure that all those who pass meet the same standards of competence, regardless of which form of the examination they took.
The passing score for the examination(s) are set by a committee of experienced licensed dispensing opticians and a psychometrician (a specialist in the mathematics of examinations), using methods that are nationally accepted for professional examinations. These methods allow the board of directors to determine the minimum standard of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the dispensing optician’s job. The passing score for the multiple-choice and skill examination(s) is 70%.
Your test performance is measured against the minimum standard set by this group of experts, rather than measured against other people who have taken the examination. Establishing the passing score in this way helps to ensure that only those candidates who have the knowledge are granted licenses. Passing scores are not based on straight percentage or a curve, nor does the performance of any other test–taker affect how your performance will be judged.
A modified Angoff procedure is used to establish each test question (item) passing score. In this commonly accepted psychometric procedure, content experts estimate the probability of each question being answered correctly by a person who meets the minimum eligibility requirements.
The Spectacles and Contact Lens Skill Examination(s) scoring system is based on overall performance of how each task is performed.
The Spectacles and Contact Lens Skill Examination(s) include the following elements:
1. Each task is scored independently.
2. Each task is scored on the overall accuracy of performance and results in the task.
3. To evaluate the accuracy of results, a panel of subject matter experts has established tolerance ranges for each of the required categories. To achieve a passing score for the task all required results must fall within the established tolerance ranges.
The examinations are designed to cover the knowledge and skills needed by licensed dispensing opticians in a variety of settings.
1. The examinations will include questions from every content area.
2. Multiple reference sources are used in the development of the examinations.
3. Before the examination, find the test center and locate parking areas. Knowing where to go will reduce your stress on test day.
4. Study at a pace that suits your needs and do not cram for the test.
5. Focus on doing your personal best; your score is not affected by anyone else’s.
You will have 90 days from the date of your authorization letter to take the examination. The skill examination tutorial is designed to familiarize you with the equipment, dials and entering of data within the computer based skill examination. The tutorial is not intended to “teach” you how to be an optician, but was designed to assist you with the operation of the computer-based skill examination.
The test administrator shall admit candidates without regard to age, sex, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or marital status to all rights, privileges, programs, and examination. It shall not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or marital status in the administration of licensure.
Web: www.pearsonvue.com/ncsorb
You will be required agree to an NDA Agreement that will be presented at the beginning of your examination. Failure to read/accept the agreement within the allotted 5 minutes will result in your examination ending and a forfeit of your examination fees. Please take a moment to review the agreement now so that you are familiar with it when you sit for your examination.
NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT AND GENERAL TERMS OF USE FOR THE NATIONAL OPTICIAN’S PRACTICAL EXAMINATION FOR OPTICIANRY LICENSING
The National Optician’s Practical Examination is confidential and protected by trade secret law. It is made available to you, the examinee solely for the purpose of becoming licensed in the technical area referenced in the title of the examination. You are expressly prohibited from disclosing, publishing, reproducing, or transmitting this examination, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, verbal or written, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without prior express written permission of the National Commission of State Opticianry Regulatory Boards.