NationalCommissionofStateOpticianryRegulatoryBoards
2025WoodlaneDrive
St.Paul,MN55125
Tel855.208.9349
Fax651.731.0410
www.NCSORB.org
info@ncsorb.com
NATIONALOPTICIAN’S
PRACTICALEXAMINATION
CANDIDATEHANDBOOK
FY2013
TABLEOFCONTENTS
Contents NationalOptician’sPracticalExamination
CandidateHandbookandExaminationOverview Registration&Payment
ExaminationEligibility RegistrationProcessing RegistrationFees
PaymentProcessing
ExaminationPoliciesandProcedures
ExaminationChecklistOverview ExaminationTutorialOverview ExaminationBlueprint ▪MultipleChoice
▪SkillExamination
SpecialAccommodationsfortheExamination
StatementofNon‐Discrimination
HowtoScheduleYourExaminationAppointment EligibilityExtensions,AppointmentChangesandFeeRefunds
ExaminationConfidentiality
Computer‐BasedSkillExaminationDisclaimerandWaiver ExaminationSiteRequirements&Instructions
ProhibitedfromtheTestingCenter
TerminationofExaminationAdministration/GroundsforDismissal
ExaminationScoring
ExaminationResults
RetakingoftheExamination
Appeals
TestAdministrator
OverviewoftheExaminationProcess
NationalOptician’sPracticalExaminationRoleDelineation(JobTaskAnalysis)
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1 CANDIDATEHANDBOOK
NATIONALOPTICIAN’SPRACTICALEXAMINATIONCANDIDATEHANDBOOK
TheNationalOptician’sPracticalExaminationCandidateHandbookcoversboththeSpectaclesandContact
LensNationalOptician’sPracticalExaminations.Thepurposeofthishandbookistoprovidethecandidate
withtheproceduralinformationthatwillassistintakingtheSpectacles,ortheSpectaclesandContactLens
Examination(s).Theexaminationhastwodistinctsectionsamultiple‐choiceandcomputerbasedskill
examinationforbothSpectaclesandContactLenses.AllNationalOptician’sPracticalExaminationcandidates
arerequiredtoreadthishandbook.
ABOUTTHENATIONALOPTICIAN’SPRACTICALEXAMINATION
TheNationalCommissionofStateOpticianryRegulatoryBoards(NCSORB®)whichisanon‐profit
organizationrepresentingStateLicensingBoardsworkedcollaborativelytodevelopthecomputer‐based
NationalOptician’sPracticalExamination.Theexaminationisasignificantchangeinexamination
modalitiespreviouslyusedandreplacesthecurrentstatepracticalhands‐onexaminations.Themembersof
NCSORBhaveoneimportantgoalforthisexamination:toprotectthepublicbyassessingtheknowledgeand
skillsofopticiansinaccuratelyperformingthetasksrequiredinaprofessional,standardized,
simulatedenvironment.
NCSORBfollowsstricteducationalandpsychologicaltestingprinciplesasdefinedbytheStandardsfor
EducationalandPsychologicalTestingoftheAmericanEducationalResearchAssociation,American
PsychologicalAssociation,andNationalCouncilonMeasurementinEducation.Thelicensingexamination
teststheminimumknowledgeandskillsofopticiansforqualificationoflicensure.Theexamcontentisbased
oncommonindustrypracticesandtasksperformedbylicensedopticiansasresearchdatashowedina
nationaljobanalysis.
CONTACTINFORMATION
NationalCommissionofStateOpticianryRegulatoryBoards(NCSORB®)
2025WoodlaneDrive
St.Paul,MN55125
Phone(855)208.9349
Fax(651)731‐0410
E‐mail:info@ncsorb.org
Website:www.ncsorb.org 2 REGISTRATION&PAYMENT
EXAMINATIONELIGIBILITY
CandidateswhoaresittingfortheNationalOptician’sPracticalExaminationmustmeettheStateeligibility
requirementsfortheStatewheretheyareseekingopticianryemployment.Ifacandidateisseeking
employmentinaStatethatdoesnotrequireopticianrylicensure,pleasecontactNCSORBforfurther
information.
OncetheStateboard(ifapplicable)orthecandidatehassenttheappropriatedocumentationtothetest
administrator,thecandidateisdeemedeligibletotaketheNationalOptician’sPracticalExamination.Thetest
administratorwillsendthecandidateanemailauthorizationletterconfirmingacceptancetotakethe
examination.Theauthorizationletterwillprovideinformationonhowtoregisterfortheexaminationwith
thetestingfacility,accesstothecandidatetutorial,handbookandchecklist,aswellasthestartandenddates
fortheexaminationeligibilityperiod(theperiodoftimethatcandidatesareabletoviewthetutorialand
scheduletheexamination)whichis90‐days.
REGISTRATIONPROCESSING
CandidatesmustcompletetheNationalOptician’sPracticalExaminationregistrationformandincludeallof
thefollowinginformation:FirstandLastName,Address,City,State,Zip,Phone,E‐MailandSocialSecurity
Number.
Registrationformswillnotbeprocessedwithoutavalide‐mailaddress.
REGISTRATIONFEES
ExaminationfeescanbeobtainedfromtheStateorwillbeincludedontheregistrationform.
PAYMENTPROCESSING
CandidateswhoaresubmittingregistrationformsfromStatesthatrequirelicensure:
UnlessotherwisedirectedbytheStateboard,completedregistrationformsandpaymentaretobesubmitted
directlytotheStateorNCSORBforprocessing.
CandidateswhoaresubmittingregistrationformsfromStatesthatdoNOTrequirelicensure:
CandidateswhoareemployedinaStatethatdoesnotrequireopticianrylicensurearetosubmitcompleted
registrationformsandpaymenttotheaddressindicatedontheregistrationform.
3 EXAMINATIONPOLICIES&PROCEDURES
EXAMINATIONCHECKLIST
CandidateswillbeprovidedachecklistthatoutlinestheexpectationsofeachtaskwithintheSpectaclesand
ContactLensSkillExaminations.Itishighlyrecommendedthatcandidatesread,understandandcommitto
memorytheinformationprovidedinthecandidatechecklist.
EXAMINATIONTUTORIAL
Thetutorialdemonstrateshowtonavigatewithintasks;openandclosetaskwindows;usetherequired
instrumentstoperformeachopticianrytask,recordandsubmitresponses;restartandexitatask.
EXAMINATIONBLUEPRINT
Theexaminationwasdevelopedbasedontheexaminationblueprintcontentandtaskareas.Theexamination
blueprintdetailsthepercentageofquestionscontainedineachcontentandtaskarea.
NATIONALOPTICIAN’SPRACTICALEXAMINATIONCONTENTAREAS
Spectacles:Multiple‐ChoiceExamination
Domain
PercentageofQuestions
AnalyzeandInterpret
46%
FitandDispense
38%
ProduceEyewear
11%
GeneralKnowledge
5%
Total
100%
NATIONALOPTICIAN’SPRACTICALEXAMINATIONCONTENTAREAS
ContactLens:Multiple‐ChoiceExamination
Domain
PercentageofQuestions
FitandDispenseContactLenses
100%
Total
100%
Eachmultiple‐choiceexaminationisatotalof75questions,10areconsideredpretestquestions.Pretest
questionsdonotaffectthecandidate’sscoreandareusedinexaminationsasaneffectiveandlegitimateway
totestthevalidityoffutureexaminationquestions.Allpretestquestionsarerandomlyplacedthroughoutthe
examination.
NUMBEROF
SCOREDQUESTIONS
Spectacles65
ContactLens65
NUMBEROFPRETEST
(UNSCORED)QUESTIONS
TOTALEXAMINATON
QUESTIONS
10
10
75
75
4 EXAMINATIONPOLICIES&PROCEDURES
SkillExamination
Theskillexaminationsectionsarecomprisedofthefollowingtaskareas:
Spectacles–60Minutes
▪
MeasurementofPupillaryDistanceandSegmentHeight
Task: Measurepupillarydistanceandsegmentheightandrecordtheresults
▪
NeutralizationofSpectacles
Task: Neutralizelensesontwosetsofspectacles;identifyprismineachlens(ifpresent),record
resultsinminuscylinderform.Ifprismispresent,prismwillbeverticalonly.
ContactLens–60Minutes
▪
ContactLensImages&ConditionsoftheEye
Task: Identifyimagescommontoopticianry
▪
CornealCurvatureMeasurement
Task: Measurecornealcurvatureonamanualkeratometerandrecordtheresults.
▪
SlitLampOperation
Task: Adjustslitlamptodisplayvariouspathologiesandilluminationsusingaslitlamp
▪
EvaluationofaContactLensUsingaSlitLamp Task: Identifythefitofdifferentcontactlensesviewedthroughaslitlamp. Thetotalallottedtimetocompletethemultiple‐choiceandskillexaminationsisasfollows:
EXAMINATION
ALLOTEDEXAMINATIONTIME
Spectacles&ContactLenses
SpectaclesOnly
ContactLensesOnly
240Minutes–4Hours
120Minutes–2Hours
120Minutes–2Hours
Examinationtimeincludescandidateinstructions,reviewandacceptanceoftheexaminationdisclaimer,as
wellasthereviewandacceptanceofthedisclaimeroutliningthecandidatetutorial,handbookandchecklist
review.Thereisatimerintheupperrighthandcornerofthecomputermonitorforcandidatestochecktheir
time,allowingcandidatestoplanaccordinglywhentakingtheexamination.Itmaytakesomecandidatesless
thantheallottedtimeprovidedtocompletetheexamination(s).
CandidateswhoaretakingboththeSpectacles&ContactLensexaminationswillhavea15minutebreak
betweenthe2examinations.
Forallothercandidatestherearenoscheduledbreaksduringtheexamination.Ifabreakisneededduring
theexamination,theexaminationclockwillcontinuetocountdown.
5 EXAMINATIONPOLICIES&PROCEDURES
Themultiple‐choiceexaminationisaseriesofstatementsorquestionsfollowedbyfourpossibleanswers.One
answeristhesingle‐bestresponse;theothersaredistractors.
Thenumber75inthelensprescription‐5.00+1.50X75isthe
A. powerofthesphere.
B. axisofthecylinder.
C. interpupillarydistance.
D. vertexdistance.
Answer:B
SPECIALACCOMMODATIONS
IncompliancewiththeAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct(ADA)thetestadministratorwillprovidereasonable
accommodationsforpersonwithdisabilities.Ifyoubelievethatyourequiresuchaccommodation,please
contactthetestadministratortoreceiveaspecialaccommodationsquestionnaire.Returnthecompleted
questionnairewithyourapplicationandincludedocumentationofyourdisabilityfromaqualified healthcareprovider.
STATEMENTOFNON‐DISCRIMINATION
Thetestadministratorshalladmitcandidateswithoutregardtoage,sex,color,nationalorigin,disability,
religion,sexualorientation,ormaritalstatustoallrights,privileges,programsandexaminations.Itshallnot
discriminateonthebasisofage,sex,color,nationalorigin,disability,religion,sexualorientation,ormarital
statusintheadministrationoflicensure.
HOWTOSCHEDULEANEXAMINATIONAPPOINTMENT
ExaminationsaregiventhroughPearsonVUEtestcenters.PearsonVUEdeliversmillionsofhigh‐stakestests
annuallyworldwideforclientsinthelicensure,certification,academicadmissions,regulatory,and
governmenttestingservicemarkets.Ithasoneoftheworld'slargesttestcenternetworks,withover5,000
testcentersin165countries,230ofwhicharefully‐ownedand‐operatedPearsonProfessionalCenters.
PearsonProfessionalCentersutilizeapatent‐winningdesign,whichwascreatedspecificallyforhigh‐stakes
testingandoffersacarefullycontrolled,securedtestingenvironment.
Thetestadministratorwillprovidethecandidatewithanauthorizationnumberthatmustbepresentedwhen
thecandidatearrivesatthetestcenterthedayoftheexamination.Candidatescannotschedulean
examinationappointmentwithPearsonVUEuntilthetestadministratorhasreceivedtheappropriate
documentationandfees.
Toavoidschedulingcomplications,schedulingofexaminationsshouldbedoneshortlyafterthecandidatehas
receivedtheirauthorizationletter.
6 EXAMINATIONPOLICIES&PROCEDURES
ELIGIBILITYEXTENSIONS,APPOINTMENTCHANGESANDFEEREFUNDS
Thepoliciesregardingscheduling,canceling,andchangingappointmentsare:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Ifthecandidatefailstoscheduleanappointmentwithinthe90‐dayeligibilityperiodindicatedinthe
confirmationletter,thecandidatewillforfeittheirexaminationregistrationfee.Anewapplication
andexaminationfeeisrequiredtoreapplyfortheexamination.
Requeststocancelaregistrationform,beforethecandidatehasscheduledanappointmentwiththe
testingservice,mustbereceivedinwritingbeforetheendofthe90‐dayeligibilityperiod.A
processingfeeof$95.00isretained.
Tocancelascheduledexaminationappointmentwithoutafee,thecandidatemustcallPearsonVUE
atthetoll‐freetelephonenumberthatwasincludedinthecandidate’sacceptanceletteratleast30
dayspriortotheirscheduledappointmentdate.Iftheappointmentiscancelled5‐29daysbeforethe
scheduleddate,PearsonVUEwillcollecta$25.00processingfee.Cancellationlessthanfivedays
beforethetestdatewillresultina$95.00cancellationfeewhichmustbepaidpriortorescheduling
thecandidate’sexamination.
Ifcancellationoccurswithintheallowedtimeperiod,candidatesmayeitherreschedulewithPearson
VUEorrequestarefundinwritingfromthetestadministrator.Allrequestsforrefundsmustbe
receivedbeforetheendofthe90dayeligibilityperiodandaprocessingfeeof$95.00isretained.No
refundswillbeissuedforcancellationsthatdonotconformtotheabovepolicy.
Ifthecandidatefailstoappearfortheexaminationorarrivesatthetestcentermorethan15minutes
latefortheappointment,theabsenceisconsidereda“no‐show”andthecandidatewillnotbetested.
Thecandidatewillberequiredtopaya“no‐show”feeof$95.00tothetestadministratorpriorto
reschedulingtheexamination.
Ifthecandidateisnotadmittedtothetestcenterforfailuretoprovideproperidentification,the
candidatewillbechargeda$95.00“no‐show”feethatmustbepaidpriortoreschedulingtheir
examination.
Ifthecandidateisunabletotaketheexaminationwithintheeligibilityperiodindicatedinthe
acceptanceletter,thecandidatemayapplyforaone‐time,30‐dayeligibilityextensionbysubmittinga
writtenrequestandpayingtheextensionfeeof$50.00.Thewrittenrequestmustbereceivedbythe
endofthe90‐dayeligibilityperiod.
EXAMINATIONCONFIDENTIALITY
TheNationalOptician’sPracticalExaminationisproprietaryandconfidential.Theexaminationisavailableto
thecandidatesolelyforthepurposeofassessingthecandidate’sproficiencylevelinthecontentareas
referencedintheexaminationforwhichthecandidateiseligible.Thecandidateisexpresslyprohibitedfrom
disclosing,publishing,reproducing,ortransmittingtheexamination(s)inwholeorinpart,inanyformorby
anymeansverbalorwritten,electronicormechanical,foranypurpose.Candidateswillbeaskedtoaccept
thisdisclosurestatementpriortobeginningtheexamination(s)atthetestcenter.Ifthecandidatedoesnot
agreetothedisclosurestatement,thecandidatewillnotbeabletotaketheNationalOptician’sPractical
Examination.Allexaminationcontentandmaterialsarestrictlyconfidentialandwillnotbereleasedto
anyoneexceptthoseinvolvedinthedevelopmentandadministrationoftheexamination.
7 EXAMINATIONPOLICIES&PROCEDURES
Officialexaminationresultsaresentviasecuredserverorregisteredmailtothecandidate(non‐licensed
State)orthecandidate’srespectiveStatelicensingboard.(Noexceptions).
COMPUTER–BASEDSKILLEXAMINATIONDISCLAIMERANDWAIVER
NationalOptician’sPracticalExaminationcandidatesareprovidedwithatutorial,checklistandhandbookto
assistwiththeirunderstandingregardingtheuseofthecontrolsandnavigationwithinthecomputer‐based
examination.Alsoincludedisanoutlineofthecontentareasonthemultiple‐choiceexamination(s),anoutline
ofthespecifictaskswithintheskillexamination(s),thepercentagepassratesforthemultiple‐choiceandskill
examination(s),andthetolerancerangesasrequiredforthespecificskillexaminationtasks.
Candidateswillberequiredtoacknowledgethattheywereprovidedwithtimelyandsufficientadvancenotice
bythetestadministratorthattheexaminationtheywillbetakingforlicensurewasadministeredbycomputer
simulation,receivedadequatenoticepriortotakingtheexaminationofatutorialthatprovidesanoverviewof
thecomputersimulation,andallowedthecandidatetopracticethecomputersimulationtechniques
necessaryfortheexamination.
Candidateswillberequiredtoacknowledgereceivingnoticepriortotakingtheexaminationthattheyhad
accesstoachecklistoutliningthestandardizedmethodsandskilltaskordertobetestedbythecomputer
simulationexamination.
Candidateswillberequiredtoacknowledgethattheyhadanadequateopportunitytoadvisethetest
administratorofanymedical,physicalormentalconditionthatmightpreventorinhibitthecandidatefrom
completingthecomputer‐basedsimulatedexaminationproperly.Thecandidatewillacknowledgethatany
suchmedical,physicalormentalconditionhasbeenidentifiedtothetestadministratorandthatthetest
administratorhasprovidedadequateandreasonableaccommodationtopermitthecandidatetotakethe
examinationwithoutinfluenceorhindrancefromthemedical,physicalormentalconditionidentified.
Thecandidatereleasesthetestadministratorandwillholdharmlessfrominjuryorharmofanytype,beit
physical,mental,personaloreconomic,asaresultoftakingthisexaminationand/ornotreceivinga passingscore.
Candidateswillbeaskedtoacceptthiscomputer‐basedskillexaminationdisclaimerandwaiverpriorto
beginningtheirexamination(s)atthetestcenter.Ifthecandidatedoesnotagreetothecomputer‐based
skillexaminationdisclaimerandwaiverthecandidatewillnotbeabletotaketheNationalOptician’sPractical
Examination.
8 EXAMINATIONPOLICIES&PROCEDURES
EXAMINATIONSITEREQUIREMENTSANDINSTRUCTIONS
Admittancetothetestcenterrequiresacandidateauthorizationletterandtwoformsofidentification.One
formmustbeavalidgovernmentissuedIDcontainingboththecandidate’spictureandsignature(driver’s
license,passport,governmentidentificationcard,etc.).ThesecondformofIDmustcontainatleastthe
candidate’ssignatureandbeinanon‐paperformat(credit‐card,ATMcard,etc.).Thenameonthetwoforms
ofIDmustmatchthenameonthecandidate’sauthorizationletterandappointmentregistrationexactly.The
followingareNOTacceptableformsofidentification:socialsecuritycardsandlibrarycards.
1.
Afteridentificationhasbeenconfirmed,thecandidatewillbeescortedintothetestingroomand
assignedatestingstation.Candidatesmaynotbringanypersonalitemswiththemintothetesting
room.AvirtualtourshowingcandidateswhattoexpectuponarrivalatthePearsonVUEtestcenter
canbeviewedathttp://www.pearsonvue.com/ppc/
2. Thetestcenterproctorwillprovidecandidateswithawhiteboardforuseduringtesting.Thewhite
boardmustbereturnedtothetestproctoruponcompletionoftheexamination.
3. Ifthecandidatehasanycomputer‐relatedquestionsorconcernsduringtheexamination,testcenter
proctorsareavailableforassistance.
4. Testcenterproctorswillnotanswerquestionsrelatedtotheexaminationcontentareas,specific
items,ortaskswithintheskillexaminations.
5. Onequestionatatimewillappearonthecomputerscreenduringthemultiple‐choiceexamination.
Candidateswillhavetheoptiontoanswerthequestionormarkthequestionforreview.
6. Attheendofthemultiple‐choiceexamination,candidatesmayreturntotheexaminationitemsthat
weremarkedforreviewprovidedthereistimeremaining.
7. Candidatesmustfinishtheexaminationwithinthetimeallowed.Anonscreentimerwilldisplayin
theupperrightcorneroftheexaminationandanon‐screenwarningwillappearwhenthereisfive
minutesremainingforeachtaskoftheskillexamination.
8. Aftercompletingtheexamination,candidateswillbeaskedtocompleteashortonlinesurveyabout
theirtestingexperience.Commentsareroutinelyreviewedinanefforttocontinuouslyimprovethe
examinationprocess.
9. Thetestadministratorwillnotanswerspecificquestionsregardingexaminationcontent.
10. Resultswillbeprovidedtothecandidate2–4weeksafterthecompletionoftheexamination.
PROHIBITEDFROMTHETESTINGCENTER
CandidatesmayNOTbringanythingoranyoneintothetestingareaortothedeskwherethecandidateis
takingtheexamination.Thisincludes:
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
Food Coats Calculators
CellularPhones
Watches
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
Beverages
HoodedClothing
EyeglassCases TapeRecorders Wallets ▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
BookBags
Luggage
Pagers
Dictionaries
PersonalItems 9 EXAMINATIONPOLICIES&PROCEDURES
TERMINATIONOFEXAMINATIONADMINISTRATION/GROUNDSFORDISMISSAL
Candidatesareexpectedtoconductthemselvesinaprofessionalmanneratalltimesatthetestingcenter.Any
personwhoviolatestheExaminationConfidentialityPolicywillbesubjecttoreviewandpossibledisciplinary
action(s).
Thetestcenterproctorisauthorizedtodismisscandidatesfromanexaminationadministrationandthe
candidate’sresultsmaybecanceled,orotherappropriateactionwillbetaken,whenthereisareasonable
basisforconcludingthatthecandidatehasengagedinanyofthefollowingconduct:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Usingorattemptingtousesomeoneelsetotaketheexamination
Failingtoprovideacceptablepersonalidentification
Havingaccesstoorusingnotesoranyprohibitedaidrelatedtotheexamination
Creatingadisturbance(disruptivebehaviorinanyformwillnotbetolerated;thetestcenterproctor
hassolediscretionindeterminingwhetherspecificconductconstitutesdisruptivebehavior)
5. Communicating,inanymanner,withanotherpersonotherthanthetestcenterproctoraboutthe
examinationduringtheadministration,includingattemptingtogiveorreceiveassistance
6. Attemptingtoremoveanyitemsfromthetestingroom
7. Eatingordrinkinginthetestingroom
8. Leavingthetestingroomortestcentervicinitywithoutpermission
9. Removingorattemptingtoremove,examination‐relatedmaterial,orportionsofatestinanyformat
fromthetestingroom
10. Attemptingtotamperwithacomputer
11. Engaginginoranydishonestorunethicalconduct
12. FailingtofollowanyexaminationadministrationregulationssetforthinthisNationalOptician’s
PracticalExaminationCandidateHandbook,instructionsgivenbythetestcenterproctor,orspecified
inanyexaminationmaterials.
10 EXAMINATIONPOLICIES&PROCEDURES
EXAMINATIONSCORING
Thepassingscoreforeachmultiple‐choiceexamination,aswellasallthetaskswithintheskillexamination
is70%.
Tolerancerangeshavebeenestablishedforthespecifictaskswithintheskillexaminations:
SpectacleSkillExamination
MeasurePupillaryDistanceandSegmentHeight
PupillaryDistance:
InterpupillaryDistance +/‐0.50mm
SegmentHeight: Progressive
+/‐1.0mm
Bifocal +/‐1.5mm
Trifocal
+/‐1.5mm
NeutralizeSpectacles:
Sphere +/‐0.25D
Cylinder
+/‐0.25D
BifocalAdd
+/‐0.25D
Prism +/‐0.25D
Axis
+/‐3degrees
ContactLensExamination
CornealCurvatureMeasurement:
HorizontalPower
+/‐0.25D
VerticalPower +/‐0.25D
HorizontalAxis +/‐5degrees
VerticalAxis +/‐5degrees
WhentakingtheSkillExaminationbeawareofenteringthecorrectvaluesintheappropriatefields.
11 EXAMINATIONPOLICIES&PROCEDURES
EXAMINATIONRESULTS
Examinationresultswillbesentuponcompletionoftheexamination.Theexaminationresultswillinclude
pass/failforthemultiple‐choiceexaminationaswellaspass/failforeachtaskwithintheskillexamination.
RETAKINGTHEEXAMINATION
ThenumberoftimescandidatestestingforlicensureareeligibletoretaketheNationalOptician’sPractical
ExaminationiscontingentonspecificStaterequirements.Ifthecandidateisnottestingforlicensure,
candidatesmayretaketheexamination2timeswithinaone‐yearperiod.
StateofFloridacandidatesmustwait60daysbetweentheinitialexaminationandanyretakesoftheNational
Optician’sPracticalExamination.
Oncetheretestregistrationformisprocessed,candidateshave90daystoscheduleandcompletethe
examination.Ifthecandidatedecidesnottoapplytoretestwithinthe12monthsoftheinitialexaminationor
failstocompletetheexaminationwithinthe90‐dayeligibilityperiod,theinitialapplicationprocessbegins
again.
APPEALS
Anycandidatemayappealdeterminationsrelatedtoexaminationresults.Theappealmustbeinwritingand
receivedwithin30‐daysofbeingnotifiedofexaminationresults.Theappealmustbeaddressedtothetest
administratorandinclude:adetailedwrittenexplanationofthegroundsfortheappeal,anyevidenceor
documentationtosupportthereasonadecisionshouldbeoverturned,andtheappealfeeof$50.00.The
burdenofproofistheresponsibilityoftheapplicant.Writtennotificationofthedecisionregardingtheappeal
willbemailedwithinfourtosixweeksafterreceivingtheappeal.Decisionsregardingappealswillbefinal
andbinding.Nocandidateappealdetailswillbediscussedbytelephone.
ThisappealsprocessistheonlymethodtoreviewalldecisionsmadebytheNationalCommissionofState
OpticianryRegulatoryBoardsregardingapplications,examinations,testadministration,resultsand/or
challengesorcomplaints.
TestAdministrator
NationalCommissionofStateOpticianryRegulatoryBoards
2025WoodlaneDrive
St.Paul,MN55125
info@ncsorb.org
Tel855.208.9349
Fax651.731.0410
www.NCSORB.org
12 OVERVIEWOFEXAMINATIONDEVELOPMENT
NATIONALOPTICIAN’SPRACTICALEXAMINATIONROLEDELINEATION(JOBANALYSIS)
NationalJobTaskAnalysisandTestDevelopment
NCSORBfollowsstricteducationalandpsychologicaltestingprinciplesasdefinedbytheStandardsfor
EducationalandPsychologicalTestingoftheAmericanEducationalResearchAssociation,American
PsychologicalAssociation,andNationalCouncilonMeasurementinEducation.Thelicensingexamination
teststheminimumknowledgeandskillsofopticiansforqualificationoflicensure.
ThedevelopmentoftheNationalOptician’sPracticalExaminationisbasedontheresultsofanational“Job
TaskAnalysis”onlinesurveywhichwasdistributedtolicenseddispensingopticiansthroughstatelicensing
boardsandnon‐licensedopticiansinnon‐licensingstates.TheexaminationwasdesignedbyNCSORBwiththe
psychometricconsultingservicesofProfessionalCredentialingServices,Inc.Thesurveywasconducted
consistentwithgenerallyacceptedpsychometricprinciples.Thedatawasanalyzedtodeterminethe
assessmentinstrumentstobeusedandthatthemostcommonknowledgeandskillsassociatedwiththe
performancedomainsandtaskswerevalid,reliableandspecificallymeasuredactualopticianjob
performance.
Thejobtaskanalysisdatadeterminedthefivecorecontentdomainsandsixtasksmostcommonlyperformed
byopticiansforthespectacleandcontactlensexaminations.Subjectmatterexpertsidentifiedperformance
standardsanddevelopedtestitemsandtheskillsimulationexaminationusinggenerallyacceptedwritten
examdevelopmentprocessesasidentifiedintheStandardsforEducationalandPsychologicalTesting.The
relativeweightassignedtoeachmajorcontentdomainwasassignedbytheNCSORBExamination
DevelopmentCommitteebasedupontheimportancerankingsoftheessentialtaskswithinthedomains.
NCSORBhasawideconstituencyofsubjectmatterexpertswithinitsmembershipofstatelicensingboards.
Licensedopticiansandsubjectmatterexpertsdevelopedandestablishedtheexaminationsandscoring
protocolswiththeguidanceofapsychometricconsultant.Allexaminationdevelopment,administration,
policies,andscoringproceduressupportthepurposeofstatelicensingofopticians.Subjectmatterexperts
involvedinthedevelopmentandfeedbackprocessrepresentedlicensingboardsandlicensedopticiansfrom
Arkansas,Connecticut,Florida,Kentucky,Massachusetts,Tennessee,Virginia,amongothers.
NCSORBusescriterion‐referencedtestdevelopment,suchasoutlinedbyShrock&Coscarelli(1996)aswellas
Educational&PsychologicalStandardsbytheAmericanEducationalResearchAssociation,American
PsychologicalAssociation,andtheNationalCouncilonMeasurementinEducation(1999).Thetest
developmentprocessincluded,butwasnotlimitedto,thefollowing;
▪ ▪
▪
▪
JobTaskAnalysis
Minimalcompetencyofopticiansidentifiedthroughconsensus
Researchontestingmodalities
Testitemdevelopment
13 OVERVIEWOFEXAMINATIONDEVELOPMENT
▪
▪ ▪
▪
▪
Standardsettingandcutscoresetting
SkillSimulationexaminationdevelopment
Establishedscoringprotocols
Teststatisticsreviewandevaluation
Researchoncomputertestcenterandvendordelivery
AmodifiedAngoffmethodwasusedtoestablisheachtestquestion(item)passingscoreandtheexamination
cutscore.Inthiscommonlyacceptedpsychometricprocedure,contentexpertsestimatetheprobabilityof
eachquestionbeingansweredcorrectlybyapersonwhomeetstheminimumeligibilityrequirements.Forthe
skillsimulationexamination,thereliabilityofeachoftheseparateskilltestswasdeterminedthroughan
inter‐raterreliabilityprocedure.Theexaminationwaspilotedwithlicensedopticiansacrossthecountry.The
researchshowedthattheskillsimulationexaminationisvalidandreliable.
ResultsReportingandDataAnalysis
Candidatesaresentfeedbackreportsafterthecompletionoftheirexamination.Thesefeedbackreports
provideinformationonthecontentdomainareasmissedforfuturestudyandfutureexampreparation(if
necessary)bythecandidate.AtechnicalreportoftheexaminationstatisticsisprovidedannuallytoNCSORB’s
BoardofDirectorswithsuchdataasthenumberofitemsineachtest,thenumberwhotookthetest,the
numberthatpassed,thepercentagethatpassed,themeanpassingscorewithstandarddeviation,thetest
reliability,andthestandarderrorofmeasurement.
UseofComputersforCertificationandLicensingExaminationsandbyOpticians
Performancetestingisanacceptedmethodofmeasuringtheknowledgeandskillsofcandidatesfor
certificationand/orlicensure.“Licensureprogramshaveusedperformance‐typeassessmentsintheir
licensuretestsfordecades”(Impara,1993,p.215;Yang,Buckendahl,Juszkiewica,&Bhola,2002;Williamson,
Bejar,&Mislevy,2006;Knapp,Anderson,&Wild,2009)andtheuseoftechnologyinperformancetestingisa
growingdeliverymethodandinstrumenttool.
Thereareandalwayshavebeenvariousformsof“simulated”skillexaminations(e.g.clinicalhands‐on,
practicalorobservedtechniques).Methodofdeliveryandformatusingtechnologyischangingfor
performance‐basedexaminations.Manymedicalfieldsuseperformance‐basedtestingtomeasurethe
knowledgeandskillsofcandidates.Forexample,theMedicalBoardofExaminersusesacomprehensive
performance‐basedsimulationtomeasuretheknowledgeandskillsofinternalmedicinephysiciansforBoard
examination,whichmaybeacceptedforphysicianlicensureattheprerogativeofthestateLicensingBoard.
Examplesofotherorganizationsusingperformance‐basedsimulationsincludethenationalCPAexamination,
athletictrainers,massagetherapyandcraneoperators.
14 OVERVIEWOFEXAMINATIONDEVELOPMENT
NCSORBconductedacomprehensivestudyontheusabilityofacomputerandsimulatedequipmentduring
thedevelopmentprocess.Allofthisisdoneforthepurposeofreducingtheuseofacomputerasavariable
affectingtheresultsofthesimulationtest. ComparisonofHands‐onPracticalExaminationswithSimulations
Researchandliteratureshowsthatdeliveryofexaminationsbycomputerarevalidandreliablemethodsof
testingtheknowledgeandskillsofcandidatesinthehealthcareprofessions.Additionally,thereisahighlevel
ofcorrespondencebetweenhumanscoringandcomputer‐automatedscoring(Yang,etal,2002).NCSORB
conductedacomprehensivecomputerusabilitystudywithlicensedopticians.AdditionalresearchbyNCSORB
andotherorganizationsthathaveperformance‐basedexaminationsusingcomputer‐basedtestinghave
shownthattheexaminations:
▪ Providesgreaterstandardizationofthetesting&evaluation
▪
Validatesexaminationreliability
▪
Eliminatestheneedfortrainingofevaluators&models/patients
▪
Reducesevaluationbias
Candidateerrorsinthecomputer‐basedsimulationcorrespondtosimilarerrorsinpreviousexamination
formatswithcandidateshavingthefollowingissues,butnotlimitedto:
▪ Testanxiety
▪
Notproperlypreparingtotaketheexaminationbystudyingandreviewingmaterials
▪
Failingtoreadtheinstructions
▪
Transposingorenteringdataincorrectly(forexample:enterthesphereasthecylinder)
▪
Leavingblanksintheexaminationbynotenteringaresponse
▪
Guessingtheanswerbyselectingthesameresponseforthedifferentitems
Tolerances
Resulttolerancerangesareestablishedbasedonacceptedtolerancesforopticianrytasksconductedonthe
job.Tolerancerangesweredeterminedbasedonresearchthatcorrespondstotolerancesinstatelicensing
examinationsasdeterminedbytheBoardsandotheracceptednationalstandards.
SkillsandTasksPerformance ThesimulationportionoftheNationalOptician’sPracticalExaminationdoesnotmeasureanoptician’s
techniqueinperformingaskilltask,onlytheinterpretationandaccuracyofrecordingresults.Valid
psychometricprinciples,testdevelopmentmethods,standardsettingprotocols,andevaluationmethodsare
usedtoensureareliableinterpretationoftestscoresandteststatisticsforperformance‐basedtesting.
15 OVERVIEWOFEXAMINATIONDEVELOPMENT
Withinputfrommultiplesubjectmatterexpertswhoarelicensedopticiansandmanyofthemonstate
licensingboards,theskillexaminationsweredevelopedbasedonbestpractices,usingcommonequipment
andinstruments.
Allskilltasksweredevelopedwithinspecifictolerancestoaccommodateforreal‐worldversusthesimulated
environment.Theskillexaminationrequirescandidateswithintheirscopeofpracticetoidentifyandrecord
resultstobeawardedlicensurebytheirState.Thisexaminationdoesnotrequireopticiancandidatesto
diagnoseortreat.
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