ABO-NCLE reports that 59.0% of candidates passed the NCLE Basic exam (CLRE) in 2024, so about two in five did not. The exam has 125 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours. Dispensing and Follow-Up are the largest content areas (20 specified questions each), and the exam is scored against a fixed standard, not against other candidates.
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The official pass rate
| Exam | 2024 pass rate |
|---|---|
| NCLE Basic (CLRE) | 59.0% |
| ABO Basic (NOCE) | 64.0% |
Source: ABO-NCLE’s Basic Exam page. It is one year’s figure, and ABO-NCLE doesn’t publish pass rates by experience, training or attempt.
Format and scoring
- Questions: 125 questions, all multiple choice (the handbook says between 85 and 100 are scored items; the rest are unscored pretest items).
- Time: 2 hours, about 58 seconds per question.
- Where: Computer-based at Prometric test centers or by ProProctor remote proctoring; English and Spanish; on-screen scientific calculator.
- Scoring: Criterion-referenced (modified Angoff method). There is no published passing percentage.
- Fee: $275 (non-refundable), as of Oct 2026. Confirm on the registration page.
Where the questions are
| Content area | Questions |
|---|---|
| VI. Dispensing | 20 |
| VII. Follow-Up | 20 |
| IV. Prefitting | 15 |
| I. Ocular Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology | 12 |
| III. Instrumentation for Measurement and Observation | 12 |
| V. Diagnostic Fitting | 11 |
| II. Refractive Errors | 5 |
| VIII. Regulatory and Administrative | 5 |
Source: ABO-NCLE’s Basic Exam Handbook.
What makes it challenging
- Follow-up and dispensing are 40% of the outline. These questions are about real patients: lens care, insertion and removal, complications and when to refer.
- Two lens families. You need both soft and rigid lens fitting, including toric and multifocal designs.
- Math in context. Vertex conversion, keratometry and tear lens questions are quick if you have practiced them. See the NCLE formulas page.
- Vocabulary. Many questions turn on one term. The NCLE terminology glossary helps.
Which part feels hardest depends on your background; that is our observation, not an ABO-NCLE finding.
If you don’t pass
Wait 14 days after a failed attempt; after a third failed attempt, wait 90 days. Confirm retake fees with ABO-NCLE. Your score report shows how you did in each content area, so start your next round of study with the weakest ones. Our NCLE study plan is built on the official weights. Nobody can guarantee a pass, including us.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NCLE pass rate?
ABO-NCLE reports a 59.0% pass rate for the NCLE Basic exam in 2024. It is a single-year figure; ABO-NCLE does not publish first-attempt pass rates or trends.
Does the lower pass rate mean the NCLE is harder than the ABO?
For 2024, ABO-NCLE reports 59.0% for the NCLE Basic and 64.0% for the ABO Basic. Different people take each exam, so the numbers alone don’t prove one is harder. The NCLE focuses on contact lenses; the ABO on spectacles and optics.
Source: ABO-NCLE — Basic Exam overview (opens in a new tab)
See also: ABO vs NCLE
What score do you need to pass the NCLE?
ABO-NCLE does not publish a passing percentage. The exam is criterion-referenced: the minimum passing score is set by subject-matter experts using the Modified Angoff Method, and you are not compared with other candidates.
Do you need contact lens experience to pass the NCLE?
No experience is required to sit the exam; eligibility is a high school diploma or GED (or an equivalent). ABO-NCLE says candidates with 2–3 years of hands-on experience or an optical school program have higher success rates.
What happens if you fail the NCLE?
You can retest after 14 days. A third failed attempt starts a 90-day wait. Each attempt is paid again, so confirm the current fee on the ABO-NCLE registration page.
Sources: ABO-NCLE — NCLE Basic Examination, Oct–Dec 2026 registration (opens in a new tab) ; ABO-NCLE Exam Handbooks page: Basic Exam Handbook (October 2026 edition, linked from the Oct–Dec 2026 registration pages) (opens in a new tab)
Official sources
- ABO-NCLE — Basic Exam overview (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE Exam Handbooks page: Basic Exam Handbook (October 2026 edition, linked from the Oct–Dec 2026 registration pages) (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE — NCLE Basic Examination, Oct–Dec 2026 registration (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed . Requirements, fees, and dates change — always confirm with the official source before you register or apply. ABO-NCLE and IJCAHPO are the only authorities for their own exam facts, so those facts rest on a single source.