Guides / The NBEO Boards Explained
The NBEO Boards Explained
Every optometry student faces the National Board of Examiners in Optometry exams near the end of school. Here's what the parts are, what the 2026 fees are and how to use pass rates when choosing a school.
Last checked Nov 2, 2026.
The Short Answer
The NBEO runs a three-part core exam sequence for optometry students. BLS notes that state licensing is required and that some states add exams of their own. Nationally, 82.5% of graduates tested between Oct 1, 2024 and Sep 30, 2025 passed all three parts. You take the boards while you're in school, so they don't affect your application, but a school's pass rate is one of its few published outcomes.
The Three Core Parts
| Part | What it tests (NBEO) | Fee, exams from August 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Part I, ABS | Scientific foundations of optometry, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology and optics, applied to clinical problem-solving | $1,490 |
| Part II, PAM | Clinical decision-making and diagnostic reasoning through patient-based scenarios | $1,490 |
| Part III, PEPS | Case analysis, critical thinking and essential skills in a simulated-live patient encounter; the final part of the core sequence | $1,490 |
The three core fees add up to $4,470. NBEO's fee page does not list retake fees, and it lists a $400 non-refundable late registration fee. Fees and exam names change, so confirm on NBEO's site before you register.
Other NBEO Exams You May See
- TMOD is listed with Part II and priced separately at $630.
- ISE (injections skills exam) is $350 and assesses safe and proper injection administration.
- LSPE assesses knowledge of common laser and minor surgical procedures. Its laser section and its surgical section are $1,270 each.
- OSLE is a $45 online exam on state-specific optometry law.
- ACMO is an advanced exam on managing ocular disease that board certification in medical optometry requires.
Which of these your state requires is set by its licensing board. NBEO's pages don't say, so check your state board.
Reading a School's Pass Rate
- Ultimate pass rate is the share of a school's tested graduates who passed all three parts. Part I first-attempt pass rate is a separate number. Nationally it was 66.8%.
- Small classes swing. A school that tested 40 graduates can move several points on a few students. Check how many were tested.
- Pass rates measure the school's graduates, not you. They don't predict your result and they are not an admissions or quality ranking.
23 schools have 2024–25 results, from Western U at 47.4% to Ohio State at 98.3%. The full table with the number tested is in board pass rates by school, and the sortable schools table carries them too.
Where This Fits
The boards sit between graduation and your license in the path laid out in how to become an optometrist. When you compare schools, weigh pass rates with cost, class size and location. Since boards fees are paid by students, keep them in mind when you plan borrowing with the cost calculator.
Sources
- NBEO, exams
- NBEO, exam fees (rates for exams administered beginning August 2026)
- ASCO, NBEO Institutional Yearly Performance Report, graduates tested Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Optometrists
Requirements and dates change each cycle. Always confirm with each school before you apply.
Get FutureOD Updates
Deadlines, new school data and application tips, once or twice a month. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Keep Reading
- The OAT, ExplainedWhat's on the Optometry Admission Test, how it's scored, what it costs and the rules for retaking it.
- What's a Good OAT Score?Entering-class OAT averages for every school, and what score to aim for.
- Which OAT Prep?The main OAT prep options side by side, what they cost, and which one fits your budget and study style.
- OAT Study PlanFree 8-week and 12-week OAT schedules, week by week, with what to study for each section.