NBEO February Newsletter
Published on February 23, 2026
Innovation at NBEO
The National Board of Examiners in Optometry® (NBEO®) is launching a new State Board Portal in March 2026. This secure platform will provide authorized state board representatives with streamlined access to NBEO Official Score Report data.
Implementation Timeline
- Target Launch Date: March 30, 2026
- Board Staff Live Training Session (Microsoft Teams): Monday, March 23, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. EST.
- Access Credentials Issued: Following completion and approval of required form submission
Once we receive the form, a calendar invitation for the training will be distributed.
Portal Preview
To see the new system, NBEO has developed a Figma prototype demonstrating the portal’s interface and core functionality.
Please note that this prototype reflects the primary design and workflow; minor enhancements may be made before the final release.
Required Action – Access and Licensure Configuration Form
To ensure accurate configuration and secure access, each jurisdiction is required to complete the form linked above. Please be prepared to:
- Designate authorized users (name, title, official board email)
- Confirm jurisdiction-specific licensure criteria, including required NBEO examinations (Part I, Part II, Part III, and any additional exams such as TMOD, ISE, LSPE).
This information allows NBEO to align portal access with each jurisdiction’s regulatory requirements and candidate score release authorization. Access credentials will be issued once submissions have been reviewed and approved.
Mythbusters!
We occasionally hear the rumor that NBEO Staff creates the exam content. NBEO does not create the exam content. NBEO collaborates extensively with subject matter experts or SMEs (licensed, practicing ODs) who:
- Author exam items and cases.
- Review content for accuracy (in line with the most current standard of optometric care), clinical relevance and item writing flaws that may lead to ambiguity in order to ensure fairness.
- Review objective statistical data – how items performed in past administrations. This review process occurs at multiple levels. We have various review groups involved in the exam development process such as Disease and Refractive Committees, and Councils.
- Revise items and edit items as needed and ultimately approve for use on exams.
What is the role of staff in this process?
Staff oversee the exam development process, facilitate the work of SMEs, and ensure that material tested conforms to our exam blueprints/content outlines (not a particular textbook or curriculum). From that standpoint, our SME groups are intentionally diverse to eliminate potential bias when creating exams.
Additionally, NBEO staff manage our content databanks and safeguard content to deliver consistent and reliable results to our state boards to make licensure decisions.
Item Writing
Watch this short video to gain an inside look at how the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) designs its examinations to ensure new optometrists are prepared for independent practice. From research-based job analyses to rigorous item review by diverse panels of licensed optometrists, the video highlights NBEO’s meticulous exam development process that ensures fairness, accuracy, and clinical relevance.
Board Member Updates
NBEO is thankful for the contributions of our outgoing board members, Dr. Michael Ohlson and Dr. Joshua Baker. NBEO’s Board of Directors has been updated with new members who bring valuable expertise and perspective to our work.
View the full Board Member update here.
We value our work with state boards and look forward to continuing our shared mission of safeguarding the public.
Come See Our Work In Action
NBEO was pleased to welcome Dr. John Godfrey, Chairperson of the Pennsylvania State Board of Optometry, to our offices in Charlotte. During his visit, Dr. Godfrey met with NBEO Executive Director Dr. Jill Bryant and Senior Director of Clinical Examination Development & Administration Dr. Nicole Jerge to discuss exam development processes and ongoing collaboration in support of optometric licensure and public protection.
Announcing State Board Day
We are excited to invite all state board members and staff to our Charlotte, North Carolina, headquarters for State Board Day on August 8. This event offers an inside look at NBEO’s testing facility, an overview of our examination development process, and opportunities to meet with leadership and staff. We welcome your questions and look forward to open discussions about how NBEO supports licensing boards and the profession. If you plan to attend, RSVP at nbeo@optometry.org or reply to this email.
Licensure News
NBEO recently issued a formal statement in response to the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners’ emergency regulatory actions regarding licensure exam requirements. In this communication, NBEO commends steps toward restoring full NBEO exam requirements while also outlining concerns about public protection, transparency, and the use of alternative pathways and waivers that do not align with established national competency standards. State boards are encouraged to review the Kentucky licensure section of our website for more information.
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