ABO Basic certification is the entry-level credential for opticians who dispense eyeglasses. You earn it by passing the National Opticianry Competency Examination (NOCE), administered by the American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners (ABO-NCLE). Certified opticians use the ABOC designation. In states that license opticians, the exam is often part of the licensing process — check with your state board.
Exam format at a glance
| Questions | 125 multiple-choice questions (test specifications cover 100 scored items; a portion are unscored pretest items) |
|---|---|
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Fee | $275 (non-refundable), as of Oct 2026; $75 to change window, date, time, or location. ABO-NCLE’s Oct–Dec 2026 registration pages list $275. The July 2026 Basic Exam Handbook still shows $225, so confirm the amount when you register. (source: ABO-NCLE Oct–Dec 2026 ABO registration page (opens in a new tab)) |
| Combined option | NOCOP (NOCE + ABO Practical), 3 hours — confirm the current fee with ABO-NCLE |
| Eligibility | High school diploma, GED, or equivalent |
| Delivery | Computer-based at Prometric test centers or by ProProctor remote proctoring; English and Spanish; on-screen scientific calculator |
| Scoring | Criterion-referenced (modified Angoff method) |
| Retakes | Wait 14 days after a failed attempt; after a third failed attempt, wait 90 days. Confirm retake fees with ABO-NCLE. |
2026 testing windows
- Jan 2 – Mar 31
- Apr 1 – Jun 30
- Jul 1 – Sep 30
- Oct 1 – Dec 21
There are no late registrations. For the Oct–Dec 2026 window, ABO-NCLE’s registration pages list Nov 15, 2026 as the last day to register. ABO-NCLE’s Basic Exam overview page still shows 2025 windows with a Dec 15 deadline; Nov 15, 2026 is the date on the 2026 registration pages.
What the exam covers
The test specifications describe 100 scored items across six domains:
| Domain | Weight | Items |
|---|---|---|
| I. Ophthalmic Optics | 25% | 25 |
| II. Ocular Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology & Refraction | 10% | 10 |
| III. Ophthalmic Products (frames, lenses, low-vision aids, preassembled eyewear) | 20% | 20 |
| IV. Instrumentation | 15% | 15 |
| V. Dispensing Procedures | 20% | 20 |
| VI. Laws, Regulations & Standards | 10% | 10 |
Optics, products, and dispensing together make up 65% of the exam, so the math (Prentice's Rule, transposition, decentration, blank size) and the practical knowledge of frames and lenses deserve most of your study time.
How to prepare
- Download the official handbook. Read the content outline and policies in the ABO-NCLE Basic Exam Handbook before anything else.
- Map your weak areas. Take our free ABO sample quiz and note which domains you miss.
- Master the math. Work through Prentice's Rule and lens transposition, then check your answers with our calculators.
- Practice with the on-screen calculator in mind. The exam provides an on-screen scientific calculator, so practice setting up problems correctly rather than doing long arithmetic by hand.
- Consider official materials. ABO-NCLE states that a practice examination is available for purchase, and it sells an ABO Basic Exam Review.
Keeping your certification
ABO certification renews every 3 years; CECs must be earned within the cycle, with no carry-over. ABO-certified opticians need 12 approved CECs, including at least 6 ABO-approved ophthalmic CECs. If you hold both ABO and NCLE certification, the joint requirement is ABO: 9 CECs (at least 5 ophthalmic) + NCLE: 12 CECs (at least 6 ophthalmic).
Official ABO-NCLE pages currently show different renewal fees and different grace-period policies. We don't publish a renewal fee or grace period until ABO-NCLE confirms which is current.
Common questions
Answered with official sources on our FAQ pages:
Official sources
- ABO-NCLE — Basic Exam overview (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE — Register for an Exam (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE — ABO Basic Examination, Oct–Dec 2026 registration (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE Basic Exam Handbook (July 2026 edition, linked from the Register page) (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE — NOCE content outline / test specifications (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE — Basic Certification Renewal (opens in a new tab)
- Prometric — ABO-NCLE exam listing (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed . Requirements, fees, and dates change — always confirm with the official source before you register or apply.