Covid-19 Updates
March 2021 Part I ABS Administration and Pearson VUE Seating
Released: February 26, 2021
NBEO is aware that some candidates scheduled for the Part I ABS® March 2021 administration have been impacted by COVID capacity restrictions.NBEO has added an additional testing date of March 23, 2021 for any candidate who has received a cancellation notice from Pearson VUE. This additional date is available only to those candidates receiving a cancellation notice. Please note that if cancelled, you may reschedule within the planned testing window of March 16-19 or use this additional date of March 23, 2021.
NBEO remains focused on ensuring that our candidates maintain access to the examinations.
Released: March 3, 2021
NBEO has been in continued contact with Pearson VUE regarding the impact of COVID restrictions and social distancing protocols in certain locations for our candidates scheduled for the Part I ABS examination March 16-19, 2021.We are aware that some NBEO candidates scheduled for March 16th received cancellation notices from Pearson VUE last week. Upon receiving information of this issue, NBEO opened an alternate date of March 23rd to any candidate receiving this cancellation notice. Upon further discussions with Pearson VUE, if COVID restrictions in some areas are not lifted prior to March 15th, then we have additional candidates scheduled between March 17-19 that may lose their seat.
NBEO has now been able to obtain a list of candidates that are in danger of losing their seat if restrictions are not lifted before March 15th. We are communicating with those candidates directly. If candidates do not receive a direct notification from NBEO, then NBEO is not aware of any potential issues with their scheduled seat.
You might ask why this is an issue when restrictions in most places have been loosened or removed. It is because appointments made prior to any COVID restrictions are only cancelled close to the exam date by Pearson VUE if the restriction is still in place at that time. Because Pearson VUE has been managing capacity in their testing centers based on local restrictions, the situation has been constantly changing and they have tried to keep their centers as full as possible.
NBEO will continue to communicate information that we have from Pearson VUE. At the moment, we are directly contacting candidates that we have learned are in danger of losing their seat. We will continue to monitor this situation and will work to ensure that all candidates have access to the examination.
If you have any questions, please click here to contact NBEO.
January 2021
Additional Part II PAM and TMOD Testing in April
Released: January 21, 2021
NBEO has continued to work with Pearson VUE to identify more opportunities for our examinations administered at Pearson Professional Centers. We would like to inform you that the Part II Patient Assessment & Management (PAM) exam and the Treatment & Management of Ocular Disease (TMOD) exam will additionally be offered April 8, 2021. This provides an additional day beyond the previously announced date of April 6, 2021. As a reminder, registration for the Part II PAM exam and TMOD exam is currently open.Candidates are encouraged to register and select their seat at a Pearson Professional Center as soon as possible.
If you have any questions, please click here to contact NBEO.
Click here to register.
December 2020
Updated: December 9th, 2020
NBEO would like to thank you for your continued patience. We have now finalized an alternate examination window for our November 30 - December 3, 2020 displaced candidates within Pearson VUE. The alternate dates for the Part II PAM /TMOD examination will be February 15 – 20, 2021.
Candidates who were registered for the November 30 - December 3, 2020 administration and missed the examination due to governmental restrictions or COVID related quarantining are eligible for these February dates. Eligible candidates will be able to select seats beginning today with Pearson VUE.
If you have any questions, please click here to contact NBEO.
If you have any questions, please click here to contact NBEO.
November 2020
NBEO has learned that beginning Wednesday, December 2nd appointment capacity in Pearson VUE testing centers in St. Louis, Missouri will be reduced to 25%. Affected candidates will be receiving a notification directly from Pearson VUE. NBEO is continuing to actively work with Pearson VUE to find alternative dates for all candidates impacted by new governmental restrictions. We will continue to communicate information as it becomes available.
As new information becomes available, we will keep you posted. If you have any questions, please click here to contact NBEO.
Pearson VUE has informed NBEO that due to increased numbers of COVID-19 cases and changing governmental restrictions, seating capacity in several states is being restricted.
- Colorado – reduced to 50% capacity
- New Mexico – reduced to 25% capacity beginning November 25th and limited to essential services only
- Washington – reduced to 25% capacity beginning November 25th through December 14th
- California – reduced to 25% or 50% capacity based on county beginning November 25th
- Michigan – reduced to 30% capacity beginning November 25th
- Illinois – reduced to 50% capacity beginning November 30th and limited to essential services only
Note: NBEO candidates are considered essential services within Pearson VUE. However, this classification is not a guarantee to maintain your seat due to seating capacity restrictions.
Our understanding at this time is that some candidates scheduled for the November 30 through December 3, 2020 Part II PAM and TMOD examinations will be impacted by these new restrictions. Candidates impacted by these seating limitations will receive an email directly from Pearson VUE notifying them of the change. If you receive a notification from Pearson VUE, then you are encouraged to look for an opening within the testing window. However, NBEO is working with Pearson VUE leadership to schedule alternative dates for affected candidates. Once these dates are finalized, NBEO will both email affected candidates directly and post the dates on our website.
Additionally, if you are COVID positive, have a known exposure to someone with COVID, or have COVID symptoms, then you should contact NBEO immediately. With documentation, NBEO will allow you to test during the alternative testing window described above.
We will continue to keep you informed as we have additional information. If you have any questions, please click here to contact NBEO.
October 2020
Safety at the National Center of Clinical Testing in Optometry
Released: October 29, 2020
NBEO is committed to the safety of our candidates and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consistent with that commitment, NBEO worked with EBI Consulting, Inc., an experienced consulting firm providing environmental risk and compliance management services, to review NBEO’s COVID-19 processes, protocols, and mitigation efforts. EBI Consulting’s services included a comprehensive assessment of the National Center of Clinical Testing in Optometry (NCCTO®) in Charlotte, NC.NBEO is pleased to share the results of EBI Consulting’s assessment with you below.
NBEO COVID-19 Assessment