NCLE Contact Lens Registry Exam (CLRE) Exam Guide

The CLRE knowledge test is organized into eight content domains, weighted from ocular anatomy through regulatory and administrative topics. Dispensing and follow-up carry the heaviest weight, together making up 40% of the scored questions.

• Domain I. Ocular Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology — 12 questions
• Domain II. Refractive Errors — 5 questions
• Domain III. Instrumentation for Measurement and Observation — 12 questions
• Domain IV. Prefitting — 15 questions
• Domain V. Diagnostic Fitting — 11 questions
• Domain VI. Dispensing — 20 questions
• Domain VII. Follow-Up — 20 questions
• Domain VIII. Regulatory and Administrative — 5 questions

The CLRE costs $225, payable by credit card at the time of online registration. If you request an appeal to verify your exam result, that carries an additional $75 fee, and rescheduling or transferring your appointment has its own $75 fee. For any other fees or the most current pricing, confirm with the official ABO-NCLE Exam Handbook.

Candidates are delivered 125 multiple-choice questions, of which 85-100 are scored — the remainder are unscored pilot items used to evaluate future questions. The exam has a 2-hour time limit. Arrive at the testing center at least 30 minutes before your appointment; arriving 15 minutes or more after your scheduled time is considered tardy and can cost you your seat.

The CLRE is a criterion-referenced exam: instead of a fixed passing percentage, ABO-NCLE sets the minimum passing score using the Modified Angoff Method, with a panel of subject matter experts reviewing every item. Consult the official ABO-NCLE Exam Handbook for the current scoring methodology.