What Is The NBEO Exam? (Passing Scores)
The NBEO is a set of professional exams used to assess knowledge and clinical skills for optometry licensure in the United States. Historically, the passing scores have been 300 for Part I, 300 for Part II, and 75 for Part III. These are exam-score benchmarks, not percentages. Check the current NBEO handbook and your state board before you plan.
If you are trying to work out whether you are ready to register, the numbers can feel like one more secret code. The key is to separate three things: what each exam tests, what score applies, and what your state requires for a license.
I advise students to confirm each step with an official source before paying a fee or making a study plan. Exam formats, rules, and state requirements can change. Below is a practical guide to what the NBEO exams mean and how to use the passing-score information safely.
Admissions and Exam Overview
The NBEO exams are professional licensing exams, not college admission tests. They assess optometry knowledge and clinical skills during or after optometry school. Your OD program, the NBEO, and the state board each have distinct roles, so passing an exam does not by itself grant a license.
What is the NBEO exam?
The National Board of Examiners in Optometry, or NBEO, administers examinations used in the optometry licensure process. An OD is a Doctor of Optometry degree. The NBEO exams assess whether candidates meet exam standards; state boards decide whether an applicant meets all legal requirements to practice in their state.
If you are still choosing an OD program, the NBEO is not an undergraduate entrance test. Admission requirements are set by each program. Check that the program is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), the programmatic accreditor for optometric education.
What are the NBEO passing scores?
A passing score is the minimum score set for an exam. The benchmarks below are historical NBEO standards often cited for these parts. They are not percentages, GPA cutoffs, or a combined score. Confirm the current cut score and exam format in the NBEO candidate handbook before registering.
| Exam | Main focus | Historical passing benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Part I: Applied Basic Science (ABS) | Foundational science knowledge | 300 |
| Part II: Patient Assessment and Management (PAM) | Patient assessment and clinical decisions | 300 |
| Part III: Clinical Skills Examination (CSE) | Clinical skills | 75 |
These scores are reported on exam-specific scales. A score of 300 does not mean 300 out of 100, nor does it equal a particular percentage. Do not compare scores across parts as if they use one shared scale.
How should I interpret an NBEO score?
An NBEO score tells you whether you met the standard for that specific exam under the applicable rules. It does not show your GPA, guarantee a job, or prove that you have met every state licensing requirement. Use the official score report and handbook for your exam year when you make decisions.
The word “historical” matters. Exam policies and formats can change, and older web pages may not reflect the rules that apply to your test date. Before scheduling, check the latest NBEO candidate materials for the exam’s name, structure, passing standard, and result process.
Curriculum, Requirements and Preparation
Your exam plan should connect your OD program, NBEO rules, and intended state of practice. Check eligibility and dates before choosing a test window. Then use current content outlines and faculty guidance to focus your study. This helps prevent missed requirements and avoidable costs.
What steps should I take before testing?
A testing roadmap is a short sequence of checks that keeps you from relying on assumptions. I recommend confirming requirements with both your OD program and the NBEO, since a school may set academic milestones that differ from NBEO eligibility rules.
- Check your academic plan. Ask your OD program when students are expected or allowed to take each required exam. Review course prerequisites and any school deadlines.
- Confirm NBEO rules. Check current eligibility, registration dates, fees, exam sequence, accommodation steps, retake rules, and cancellation or refund terms in official NBEO materials.
- Schedule with care. Compare the testing window with your classes, clinical duties, and preparation time. Keep confirmation records and note any required documents.
- Track results and next steps. Save official score reports. If you do not pass, follow the current NBEO retake policy and ask your program about academic support.
- Check state licensure rules. Contact the board where you plan to practice. Ask about every required exam, document, and application step.
Do not rely on a classmate’s timeline as your own. Their state, exam year, or school policy may differ from yours.
How do I prepare for the NBEO exams?
A study plan is a schedule built around the exam’s tested topics and your own gaps. Begin with the current NBEO content outline, then ask faculty or academic advisors to help you identify areas that need review. Your OD program’s course sequence can help you connect basic science to patient care.
For each exam, consider using:
- Timed practice: Work under time limits to build pacing and spot questions that slow you down.
- Clinical case review: Explain how you would assess a case and choose a next step. This is especially useful for linking facts to decisions.
- Targeted review: Keep a list of missed topics and revisit those areas rather than repeating material you already know well.
- Rest and scheduling: Leave time for review before test day and check the arrival, identification, and equipment rules in the current handbook.
Practice-test results can show where you may need work, but they are not an official prediction of your NBEO score. Practice questions may differ from the live exam in content, format, or difficulty.
Academic Success, Student Experience and Risk
A strong plan lowers the risk of missed deadlines, surprise costs, and confusion after a score report arrives. The main risk is assuming that one passing result completes the licensing process. Confirm each requirement with the NBEO, your OD program, and your intended state board.
What should I budget and verify?
Your total testing cost may include more than the exam fee. Fees change, and a retake may add another exam charge. Travel, lodging, or time away from other responsibilities may also matter, depending on the exam format and your location.
Before you commit, confirm current fees and refund rules directly with the NBEO. Ask your program about available student support, and check whether your budget should include retakes or travel. Avoid making plans based on old fee lists or advice from a different exam year.
Also check accommodations early if you need them. Follow the NBEO’s current process and deadlines. Do not assume that an accommodation approved by your school automatically applies to an NBEO exam.
What can go wrong, and how can I avoid it?
The scenarios below are common planning situations, not reports about named candidates. They show how a small check can prevent a larger problem.
| Situation | Risk | Useful next step |
|---|---|---|
| A candidate schedules from an old web page | The format, deadline, or score rule may have changed | Confirm details in the current NBEO handbook |
| A candidate passes NBEO exams but applies in a new state | That state may require more steps | Ask that state board for its complete checklist |
| A candidate treats a practice score as a guarantee | Practice results may not match the live exam | Use them to find study gaps, not predict a pass |
| A candidate overlooks retake costs | The budget may not cover another attempt | Check current fees, retake rules, and refund terms |
If you receive an unsuccessful result, pause before making assumptions about your next attempt. Read the official result information, confirm when you may retest, and ask your program what support is available. Then revise your study plan around the topics that need work.
Career Pathways and Employment Outcomes
NBEO results are mainly a licensure milestone for optometrists. They are not a job-placement test, a salary measure, or a complete measure of clinical ability in every practice setting. To work legally, you must also meet the requirements of the state where you plan to practice.
Does passing the NBEO mean I am licensed?
No. Passing the required NBEO examinations does not automatically grant a license. Each state board sets and reviews its own requirements. Depending on the state, these may include a jurisprudence exam, background checks, documents, or other clinical requirements. Confirm the full list with the board directly.
This is especially important if you plan to move after graduation. Do not assume that one state’s checklist applies elsewhere. Ask the board about application timing, required records, and any steps you must complete before you may practice.
NBEO results relate to a required credentialing step, but they do not alone determine where you will work or what you will earn. Employment also depends on factors beyond exam results. For reliable career and licensing information, speak with your OD program and the relevant state board.
Frequently asked questions about NBEO passing scores
These short answers cover common questions about the exams and licensing steps. Use them as a starting point, then verify details for your exam year and state. The NBEO handbook and the state board are the best sources for current rules.
What score do I need to pass NBEO Part I?
The historical passing benchmark for Part I, Applied Basic Science, is 300. Check the current NBEO handbook to confirm the standard and format that apply to your exam date.
What score do I need to pass NBEO Part II?
The historical passing benchmark for Part II, Patient Assessment and Management, is 300. Confirm the current standard with NBEO before scheduling or interpreting a score.
What is the historical passing score for Part III?
The historical benchmark for Part III, Clinical Skills Examination, is 75. Check current NBEO materials because exam structure and rules can change.
Are NBEO passing scores percentages?
No. The benchmarks are scores on exam-specific scales. They are not percentages, GPA values, or a single combined score across all parts.
Is the NBEO an entrance exam for optometry school?
No. It is part of professional credentialing for optometry practice. OD programs set their own admission requirements.
Does passing the NBEO give me a license?
No. You must also meet the licensing requirements of the state where you plan to practice. Contact that state’s board for its full checklist.
Does every state have the same requirements?
No. State requirements can differ. A state may require additional exams, documents, or checks beyond NBEO results.
Where should I check current NBEO rules and fees?
Use the current NBEO candidate handbook and official registration materials. Confirm state licensing requirements and fees with the relevant state board.
What should I do if I do not pass an exam?
Read your official score information, then check NBEO retake rules and timing. Ask your OD program about targeted academic support before setting a new test date.
Before you register, verify the current exam standard, eligibility, dates, and fees with NBEO. Before you plan to practice, get the full checklist from your state board. Those two checks help turn an intimidating set of acronyms into clear next steps.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Nathan Sterling. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
