ABO National Opticianry Competency Exam (NOCE) Exam Guide

The NOCE tests knowledge across six content domains that span optics theory, anatomy, products, instruments, dispensing, and regulation.

• Ophthalmic Optics — 25 questions
• Ocular Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, and Refraction — 10 questions
• Ophthalmic Products — 20 questions
• Instrumentation — 15 questions
• Dispensing Procedures — 20 questions
• Laws, Regulations, and Standards — 10 questions

Unlike some licensing tests, the NOCE does not carve out a separate identification or signage section — every domain is tested together within the single scored exam.

The NOCE costs $225 to register for on its own, or $250 if you register for the NOCE and the CLRE (contact lens) exam together. Candidates who receive a non-passing result may request a score verification for a $75 fee, and rescheduling or transferring a registration near a testing window can carry a $75 fee as well. For the current, complete fee schedule, consult the official ABO-NCLE fee schedule.

The NOCE delivers 125 multiple-choice questions within a 2-hour time limit, though only 100 of those questions count toward your score — the remainder are unscored pretest items. The exam is graded pass/fail using the Modified Angoff Method, a criterion-referenced standard, rather than a published scaled cut score. Candidates who don't pass can retake the exam after a 14-day wait, for up to three attempts, before facing a 90-day wait.