Certification, Registration and
Recertification (CRR2011)
CURRENT EXAM INFORMATION 1
Introduction
2
Examination 4
Validity of
Scores 5
Eligibility
Criteria -
CERTIFICATION
Examination 6
REGISTRATION
7
Registration
Requirements 7
RECERTIFICATION 8
Recertification Requirements 8
Certification
Expiration:
What it means
9
Application
Deadline 9
Examination
Schedule 10
National
Registry 10
Examination
Results 10
Re-Examination Provisions 10
Offsite
MAKEUP Exam 10
Offsite
RETAKE Exam 11
Fees 11
Fees for
Re-Examination 12
Photographs
12
Admission
Forms 12
Withdrawals,
Cancellations
and Refunds
12
Appeals 13
Applications
are available 14
CRR2011- Certification. Registration and Recertification
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EXAMINATION INFORMATION
The Certification Examination for Ocularists will be
Tuesday afternoon, 1 pm to 5 pm, October 19, 2010, administered and
processed by CASTLE Worldwide, Inc. of Raleigh, NC and offered at the
Chicago Marriott®
Downtown Magnificent Mile,
540 North Michigan Avenue, (Driveway Entrance on 541 North Rush Street)
Chicago, Illinois 60611 USA. Phone: 1-312-836-0100 Fax : 1-312-836-6139
Toll-free: 1-800-228-9290 The exam room is "Streeterville".
Please
confirm the exam room when you arrive.
**The Exam is only available in English.**
"Translators and/or dictionaries are not allowed"
Application Deadline – Monday, July 25, 2011
A $200 processing charge for all rejected applications.
Four (4) passport type photographs
One (1) Digital Photo emailed to
nebo@neboboard.org
Eligibility Criteria Deadline –
October 19, 2011
(Refer: Alternate Pathways I and II, page 7)
The Fabrication (FAB) Portion of the examination must
commence by December 1, 2010.
Certification Examination Fee = $1100.00
Re-examine Fees:
Written = $400.00 FAB =
$700.00
Both sections = $1100.00
Recertification Fee Process I / Process II = $450.00 --
Late fee + $200.
Registration Fee = $300.00 -- Late Fee + $200.
OFFSITE MAKUP EXAM
Within 60 days after scheduled exam-- notify 1 week
before exam)
Written $1300.00 + $400.00 = $1700.00
Recertification MAKEUP $1300.00 + $450.00 = $1750.00
OFFSITE RETAKE EXAM
After 6 months from scheduled exam—apply March
Written $1300.00 + $400.00 = $1700.00
Recertification RETAKE $1300.00 + $450.00 = $1750.00
Examination Schedule: Tuesday afternoon, October
19, 2010
1:00 PM Soft Drinks
1:00 PM - Registration
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM = Written/Recertification Examination
CRR2011- Certification. Registration and Recertification
2
Introduction
The National Examining Board of Ocularists
Certification Examination for ocularists is designed to assess the
competence of the ocularist in performing the variety of health care and
related functions and tasks normally encountered in the fitting and
fabrication of ophthalmic prosthetics.
The National Examining Board of Ocularists, NEBO, is
an independent board consisting of ocularists and members of related
professions, including ophthalmology, orthotics and prosthetics and a
public member.
The certification examination was designed by
studying the work that ocularists do and the knowledge they rely on to
perform their work competently. A nationally representative committee of
highly qualified and certified ocularists carried out such a study to
define precise content areas that are important, critical, and relevant
to the profession. The results of the Role Delineation study included a
set of specifications for the test.
Committees of highly qualified and certified
ocularists then wrote and repeatedly reviewed the test questions.
Psychometric procedures were applied in constructing the test to ensure
that it is thoroughly representative of the domains against which the
test is validated. The passing point was determined using the Angoff
Modified Technique, a widely accepted criterion-referenced strategy for
determining passing points. Thus, the expert judgment of professionals
determined the content of the test and psychometric expertise ensured
that the test questions measure what they are intended to assess.
CRR2011 3
Security is of the utmost importance throughout the
test development and administration process. Examination materials are
locked in a secure place before and following the test administration.
During the administration of the tests, monitors supervise the testing
conditions and examinees' behavior and note any irregularities. The
performance of the examinees may also be analyzed statistically for the
purpose of detecting and verifying fraud. Individuals who remove or
attempt to remove examination material from the test site will be
prosecuted. Examinations will not be processed for examinees who violate
security.
Each item, on the written examinations, is worth one
point. Candidates are advised to answer every question, since the final
score is determined by the number of questions answered correctly. There
is no penalty for guessing.
CASTLE Worldwide Services, Inc. (CASTLE) used a
combination of advanced technology and a high degree of human expertise
to produce accurate and reliable scores. Prior to scanning, answer
sheets are reviewed individually for accuracy of name and I.D.,
bubbling, and for possible scanning difficulties (i.e., incomplete
erasures, light bubbling, etc.). Examination sheets then go through
double scanning and scan checking to detect possible errors in the
scanning process. In addition to the computer scoring, some candidate
sheets are manually scored and compared to the computer results
(approximately 4% random check) for statistical verification.
Candidates are notified in writing regarding whether
they have passed or failed the examination. Test scores are
confidential, and will be disclosed to no one via phone or facsimile.
Test score reports may be released to individuals other than authorized
NEBO personnel only with written request by the candidate.
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Certification. Registration and Recertification
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Examination
The National Examining Board of Ocularists
Certification Examination (offered in English only) is divided into two
(2) parts (A and B).
Part A.....The Written Section of the
Certification Examination is a l50 question multiple choice examination.
Questions are contained in a Question Booklet--answers are recorded on a
separate Answer Sheet. The examination is criterion referenced, i.e.,
every effort has been made to assure that all questions in the
examination relate to tasks performed or knowledge and skills needed to
perform as a fitter and fabricator of ophthalmic prosthetics.
Example: Which of the following professional
titles refers to the fitter and fabricator of ophthalmic prosthetics?
a) optometrist b) optician
c) ocularist d) oculist
Answer: c) ocularist
The Written Examination will, therefore, include
questions from four general categories. 31.94 (%) percent of the
examination will relate to the fitting of ophthalmic prosthetics, 35.20
(%) percent to the fabrication of ophthalmic prosthetics, l6.72 (%)
percent to evaluation and the remaining 16.14 (%) percent to questions
related to general care and hygiene. Three (3) hours and thirty (30)
minutes are allowed for the completion of the exam.
Proctors will assure the absolute integrity of the
examination. Seating will be predetermined by committee.
Part B..... The Fabrication Section or practical
part of the Certification Examination requires that the examinee
demonstrate his/her ability to fabricate (from specifications
CRR2011 5
in a fabrication kit) the two most commonly
encountered types of prostheses, i.e., the conventional prosthesis
(thick) and the scleral shell prosthesis (thin).
Examinees are given up to ten (l0) days to complete
fabrication of both the conventional and scleral shell prostheses. All
work is done in the laboratory of the examinee by the examinee. The
painting of iris, vascularization, tinting, and finishing of the scleral
shell are carefully monitored by a proctor appointed by the National
Examining Board of Ocularists.
Validity of Scores
The integrity of the scores awarded examinees for
their performance on NEBO examinations is protected by every means
available. All possible efforts are expended to assure that the tests
are administered under standard conditions and in conformity with the
principles on which the test and its scoring are founded. These efforts
are made to assure that no examinee or group of examinees receives,
either advertently or inadvertently, unfair advantages in the test.
Any score that the National Examining Board of
Ocularists determines does not represent a reasonable assessment of the
examinee's knowledge or competence, sampled by the examination, shall be
deemed irregular. The answer sheets of all examinees are monitored and
may be analyzed statistically for purposes of detecting irregular
scores.
Any inappropriate behavior during the administration
of an examination, such as giving or obtaining unauthorized information
or aid, as evidenced by observation or statistical analysis of answer
sheets, constitutes sufficient cause to invalidate an examinee's score
and/or terminate his
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or her participation in the examination and/or take
other appropriate action.
Eligibility Criteria -
CERTIFICATION Examination -
ALTERNATIVE I
The applicant must have completed the education
program of the American Society of Ocularists to be eligible to sit for
this years examination. An individual may also sit for this years
examination when it can be reasonably determined that he/she will have
completed all required training and/or experience before the offering of
next years examination. (Approximately one calendar year.) (See insert
-Eligibility Criteria Deadline, page 1)
ALTERNATIVE II
- Applicants must
have a high school diploma or equivalent. The applicant must also have
(or will have) completed 10,000 hours (40 hours/week maximum) of
training and/or experience in the fitting and fabrication of ophthalmic
prostheses (artificial eyes) to be eligible to sit for this examination.
The 10,000 hours must begin with 4,000 hours of supervision by a board
certified ocularist. Applicants who have not or are unable to verify
such supervision would require an additional 4,000 hours of experience
for a total of 14,000 hours. An individual may also sit for this years
examination when it can be reasonably determined that he/she will have
completed all required training and/or experience before the offering of
next years examination. (Approximately one calendar year.) (See insert-
Eligibility Criteria Deadline, page 1)
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Certification
will be awarded to
candidates qualifying under Alternatives I and II after:
a) achieving a passing grade in both Parts A and B of
the examination,
b) completion of all the required education, training
and/or experience requirements,
c) paying the required examination fees.
All requirements must be fulfilled before
certificates are awarded.
REGISTRATION
All Board Certified Ocularists must register
three years after date of certification and/or recertification.
Failure to Register or allowing his/her Certificate to
expire will result in Certification expiration (loss of BCO
designation.).
Registration Requirements
a) 50 NEBO approved continuing education credits.
(Credits must be earned during a period of four (4) years prior to July
in the year of Registration). Example: If your Certificate expires June,
2011, you must Register in the Fall, 2010. Credits are valid from July,
2006 - July, 2010.
b) Payment of required fee.
Failure to Register or allowing his/her Certificate
to expire will result in Certification expiration (loss of BCO
designation-see Certification Expiration, page 9).
A new certificate will be issued upon completion of
registration requirements.
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Certification. Registration and Recertification
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RECERTIFICATION
Board Certified Ocularists must recertify every six
years. (Recertification year is the last 2 digits of your ID# on your
certificate or in the National Registry Listings.)
Failure to Recertify or allowing his/her Certificate to
expire will result in Certification expiration (loss of BCO
designation-see Certification Expiration, page 9).
Recertification Requirements
Process I
a) accumulate 100 NEBO approved CE credits including
80 category A or B and 20 category A, B and/or C credits (Credits must
be earned during a period of seven (7) years prior to July in the year
of Recertification). Example: If your Certificate expires June, 2011,
you must Recertify in the Fall, 2010. Credits are valid from July, 2003
- July, 2010.
b) pay the recertification examination fee.
b) achieve a passing grade in the continuing
competence assessment (Part A, Written) examination
c) pay the recertification examination fee.
Process II
a) accumulate 300 NEBO approved CE credits including
240 category A or B and 60 category A, B and/or C credits. (Credits must
be earned during a period of seven (7) years prior to July in the year
of Recertification). Example: If your Certificate expires June, 2011,
you must Recertify in the Fall, 2010. Credits are valid from July,
2003-July, 2010.
b) pay the recertification examination fee.
Failure to Recertify or allowing his/her Certificate
to expire will result in Certification expiration (loss of BCO
designation-see Certification Expiration, page 9)
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Certification Expiration: What it means.
When your Certificate expires as a result of your
failure to Register or Recertify, you must remove any mention implied or
written of NEBO Board Certification (BCO) in any form [3rd party payers
(insurance, Medicare, etc.), telephone advertising, literature,
stationary, presentations, digital graphics, slides, books, etc.] as
soon as possible. Failure to comply may result in legal action due to
misrepresentation of qualifications to both professional and public
concerns.
You will lose your privileges and will no longer be
Board Certified. You will not be reissued a certificate and your name
will not be listed in the National Registry.
You can recertify by either 1) submit 100 approved CE
Credits (80 A or B and 20 A, B and/or C) and achieve a passing grade in
the next Recertification Exam (Process I) or 2) submit 300 approved CE
Credits (240 A or B and 60 A, B and/or C)(Process II). A fee is also
required regardless of the process used to accomplished recertification.
See insert-page 1
Application Deadline
All applications for Certification and
Recertification must be submitted approximately 90 days prior to
Examination date. (See insert -Application Deadline, page 1)
Applications received after the due date will not be
processed for the current examination
and will be
returned.
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Examination Schedule
Test Day
1:00 PM Soft Drinks
1:00 PM - Registration
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM = Written/Recertification Examination
Fabrication will be conducted at the laboratory
of the examinee. Arrangements for time and location
must
be made
immediately after receipt and approval of application.
National Registry
An official listing of all Board Certified Ocularists
in good standing will be printed and published by NEBO annually.
Examination Results
Examination results will be mailed approximately four
(4) months after ALL applicants have completed all sections of
the examination.
Re-Examination Provisions
The examination consists of 2 sections, Written (MCQ)
and the Fabrication (FAB). Any section an examinee passes will be valid
for six (6) years. If certification is not completed within that six (6)
year period, the previously passed section will have to be retaken and
passed. There will be a waiting period of six (6) months before the
Written section may be retaken following the annual examination. The
Fabrication section is only offered annually as a retake.
Offsite MAKEUP Exams
The Offsite MAKEUP MCQ exam must be administered
within 60 days following the Fall scheduled exam. NEBO must be
contacted at least one (1) week prior to the
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scheduled exam. Permission is granted on an
individual and as needed basis.
Offsite RETAKE
Exams
Offsite Retake MCQ exam will be available following a
waiting period of six (6) months after the scheduled Fall exam.
(The fees for Offsite MAKEUP and Retake exams reflect
additional administrative cost incurred by the Testing Service and NEBO
for offsite and individual testing. )
Fees
Certification See insert-page 1.
Registration See insert-page 1.
Recertification See insert-page 1.
(The fees for Offsite MakeUp and Retake exams reflect
additional administrative cost incurred by the Testing Service and NEBO
for offsite and individual testing.)
OFFSITE MAKEUP EXAM
MCQ See insert-page 1.
OFFSITE Recertification MAKUP EXAM
Offsite Retake MCQ exam will be available following a
waiting period of six (6) months after the scheduled Fall exam.
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OFFSITE RETAKE EXAM
MCQ See insert-page 1.
In Canada, ADD See insert-page 1.
A processing fee will be charged for all rejected
applications. See insert-page 1.
Fees for Re-Examination
Part A, Written See insert-page 1.
Part B, Fabrication See insert-page 1.
Both sections See insert-page 1
Photographs
Four (4) passport type photographs of the applicant
must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the application for
application approval.
One (1) Digital Photo emailed to
nebo@neboboard.org
with "picture" in
the subject line
Admission Forms
Admission Forms will be mailed to eligible applicants
approximately three (3) weeks prior to the examination date.
Withdrawals, Cancellations and Refunds
Applicants who are registered for the examination and
who fail to appear forfeit their entire examination fee.
CRR2011 13
Applicants who voluntarily withdraw, in writing and
received by NEBO fifteen (15) days or more prior to the examination,
will receive a full refund, less a processing fee. If applicant
withdraws within fifteen (15) days of the examination, the examinee will
receive a fifty (50%) percent refund. Any other refund will be at the
discretion of the National Examining Board of Ocularists.
Appeals
A. Any individual, whose application for examination
has been refused or returned, shall have the right to a written
statement concerning the basis for refusing or returning the application
which states the deficiency or deficiencies contained therein. A refund
of all fees minus any administrative costs are to be refunded. The
Examining Board may refuse an application for reasons including, but not
limited to the following: false and misleading written statements
concerning certification, accreditation, designation, and or education.
B. Due to deadlines for the examination applications
a timely and prompt appeal and response is necessary so that in the
event the applicant is found eligible to take the certification exam,
there will be time to coordinate the exam for them. An applicant who is
determined to be ineligible for the certification exam has up to 14 days
to appeal the decision. This must be in writing and directed to the
executive director. The executive director will then have up to 14 days
to respond to the applicant with a decision following the receipt of the
written appeal. Criteria for eligibility are forwarded to the executive
committee along with the appeal and the appeal is voted upon.
C. If you believe that a discrepancy exists in the
scoring or reporting of your test results, you may request re-scoring of
the written or fitting portion of the examination. Your examination will
be inspected and re-scored upon receipt of
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the hand-scoring request form and the applicable fee.
Requests for re-scoring answer sheets must be received by CASTLE no
later than 30 days following release of the examination results.
Requests beyond this time period will not be processed.
D. An Individual who is determined not to be
certified has up to 30 days to appeal the decision. This must be in
writing and directed to the executive director. The executive director
will then have up to 30 days to respond to the applicant with a decision
following the receipt of the written appeal. Necessary information is
forwarded to the executive committee along with the appeal and the
appeal is voted upon.
Applications are available from:
http://www.neboboard.org/exam_applications.htm
or
David M. Bulgarelli, Executive Director
National Examining Board of Ocularists, Inc.
625 First Avenue, Suite 220
Coralville, IA 52241-2101
(319) 339-1125—(319) 354-3465 fax
Applicants to this examination shall be considered
without discrimination as to age, sex, race, religion, national origin,
handicap or marital status.
The National Examining Board of Ocularists has achieved the
distinction of being an Accredited Certification Organization and Full
Member of The National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). The
accrediting body for NOCA is The National Commission for Certifying
Agencies (NCCA). Accreditation and membership in NOCA are reserved for
only those organizations that meet the most rigid standards of
excellence in test development and administration in health care
certification.
Welcome to NEBO,
