A. What is this Ethics Policy?

The National Board of Examiners in Optometry, Inc. (“NBEO®”) develops, administers, scores, and reports results of valid examinations that assess competency in optometry. In order to provide such services and protect the integrity, validity, and confidentiality of NBEO Examinations (as defined below) and NBEO Content (as defined below) (collectively, “NBEO Services”), NBEO maintains the following ethics policy (“Ethics Policy”). NBEO may update this Ethics Policy from time to time in order to best preserve the integrity, validity and confidentiality of NBEO Services. Persons to whom this Ethics Policy applies must regularly check this Ethics Policy for any updates.

B. Who does the apply to?

The Ethics Policy applies to any current, existing or past candidate who applied or will apply to take an NBEO Examination as well as any individual’s or entity’s use of any NBEO Content at any time. This Ethics Policy also applies to everyone who participates in NBEO Examinations process, including, without limitation, students, professors, universities, exam administrators, and commercial exam preparation entities. Each person to whom this Ethics Policy applies has an affirmative responsibility to avoid Improper Conduct or any inducement of Improper Conduct. All persons consent to the terms of this Ethics Policy when they register for an NBEO Examination or otherwise access or use NBEO Content.

C. What are the terms of this Ethics Policy?

NBEO does not tolerate improper, irregular, unethical, or illegal conduct or any unauthorized use or any misuse of NBEO Content. Section 3 below provides a non-exhaustive list and description of Improper Conduct which is prohibited under this Ethics Policy. Violation of this Ethics Policy may lead to certain consequences depending on the circumstances of the individual case, as further described in the Candidate Agreement (“Candidate Agreement”) and/or other policies and procedures provided by NBEO. For the avoidance of doubt, any violation of this Ethics Policy shall also be a violation of the Candidate Agreement and any other terms and conditions which govern any person’s or entity’s use of NBEO Content, participation in NBEO Examinations, or relationship with NBEO. If any person or entity is aware of any violation of this Ethics Policy by another person or entity, such person has an obligation to report such violation pursuant to the instructions set forth in Section 6 below.

2. NBEO Examination and NBEO Content

A primary concern of the Ethics Policy is the integrity, validity, and security of the (1) NBEO Examinations and (2) NBEO Content.

• “NBEO Examination(s)” means the NBEO Part I ABS®, Part II PAM®, Part III PEPS®, TMOD®, ISE®, LSPE®, ACMO® and any other written or skills examination that may be provided by NBEO from time to time. The NBEO Part I ABS, Part II PAM, and Part III PEPS shall be referred to herein as “NBEO Entry-into-the-Profession Examinations”. Additional information about each exam is located on the NBEO website: www.optometry.org


• “NBEO Content” means any (a) NBEO Examination items such as questions, answers, case scenarios, images, standardized patient data, scripts, or other materials contained in past, current, or future NBEO Examinations, (b) exam content under any stage of development by NBEO, including without limitation any question or stem, in whole or in part; any answer option; any case scenario; any image; and any Part III PEPS data scripts, case scenario or other scoreable material, (c) any item in the NBEO Part I ABS Practice Items Databank, any item in the NBEO Part II PAM Practice Items Databank, or any item released by NBEO prior to the establishment of NBEO’s item database in 1981, (d) examination forms, examination booklets, answer sheets, examination materials, grading materials, unpublished clinical skills exam materials, and all processes used in the NBEO Examinations, (e) items and materials including test questions and documents provided by a proctor during the administration of such NBEO Examination (“Exam Items”), and (f) content that NBEO makes available to candidates on the NBEO website, including exam content outlines, an exam content matrices, sample exam items, and candidate guides (items listed in this subsection (f) shall be referred to herein as “NBEO Public Content”).

Preservation of examination integrity is of the utmost importance, as NBEO strives to fulfill its primary mission, which is to protect the public by developing, administering, scoring, and reporting results of valid examinations that assess competence in optometry. There is a direct link between NBEO scores and the protection of public health and safety. NBEO strives to ensure that each candidate’s exam score accurately reflects the candidate’s actual knowledge base and competence, and it is crucial to the validity and integrity of NBEO exams to ensure that each successful candidate passes the exam based on the candidate’s own merit and without improper assistance or unfair advantage.

For these reasons, all NBEO Content is copyrighted and proprietary material owned and controlled by NBEO, and all NBEO Content (except for NBEO Public Content) is strictly confidential and may not be obtained, reviewed, copied, shared, or used by anyone for any purpose whatsoever. Nothing in this Ethics Policy shall be interpreted to give any third party any rights in and to NBEO Content other than the limited right to use NBEO Public Content, subject to the restrictions and obligations set forth herein. Candidates may only access and use NBEO Content in accordance with the following:

• Access to Exam Items is limited to the time a candidate is actually taking such NBEO Examination and is otherwise considered confidential and may not be accessed or used in any manner for any purpose whatsoever.
• NBEO Public Content is proprietary to NBEO but is not confidential. A candidate may use such materials solely to prepare for NBEO Examinations.

Without limiting the foregoing, NBEO Content may not be used for prohibited purposes, including, without limitation, the following:

• For a candidate’s own preparation for taking of any current or future NBEO Examination (except for NBEO Public Content).
• For use by any other candidates in preparation for or taking of any current or future NBEO Examination (except for NBEO Public Content).
• For use by anyone else for the instruction or preparation of any candidate for any current or future NBEO Examination (except for NBEO Public Content).
• For purchase, sale, or other direct or indirect financial gain of a candidate or anyone else, or for any offer for or attempt at such purchase, sale, or other financial gain.
• For use during an NBEO Examination (other than the Exam Items provided by a proctor during the administration of such NBEO Examination).
  

The prohibited purposes applies to exam candidates, board preparation course instructors, publishers of study guides and other study materials, optometry school faculty and administration, and anyone else; it applies at all phases of the NBEO Examination process, whether occurring before, during or after an NBEO Examination.

3. Improper Conduct

Candidates are required to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner in regard to each and every aspect of NBEO Examination, whether it is before, during, or after an NBEO Examination.

Each of the following acts or omissions by a candidate or anyone else (including without limitation by other candidates, optometry school educators, exam study course instructors and agents, or anyone involved in the preparation of candidates for an NBEO Examination), is contrary to the principles of the Ethics Policy and a violation of this Ethics Policy.

Improper Conduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Any irregular, improper, disruptive, unethical, unprofessional, or illegal behavior or security violation that could compromise the validity, integrity or security of the NBEO Examination process or as otherwise part of the registration or administration of an NBEO Examination.


• Any receipt, acceptance or obtaining of, or access or exposure to, or review, use, copying, reproduction, reconstruction (whether by memory or otherwise), compilation, publication, sharing, distribution, disclosure, or discussion of confidential NBEO Content or other Exam Items or other insider information concerning Exam Items, regardless of the means by which it occurs. This includes, without limitation, whether written or oral, and whether in person or via internet, intranet, chat room, message board, social media, lectures, class notes, exam review course materials, email, text, phone, electronic, mechanical or other means or forums. This also includes disclosure to other candidates, optometry school faculty or administration, commercial exam preparation entities or other persons or entities. This also includes forwarding, re-posting, hosting, or otherwise advancing, on the internet or by other means, the distribution of Exam Items that others have disclosed.


• Any conduct contrary to the requirement that a candidate must pass the exam based on the candidate’s own merit and without improper assistance or unfair advantage including:
  
  • Copying answers from another candidate.
  • Permitting another candidate to copy answers from oneself.
  • Communicating with any other person for the purpose of giving or receiving any prohibited assistance.
  • Obtaining outside assistance during the exam instead of working entirely independently on the exam.
  • Use of any software, technology, tools, devices or other assistance to give an unfair advantage in connection with an NBEO Examination.
  • Taking the examination while impersonating a candidate or permitting or requesting an impersonator to take the examination on a candidate’s behalf.
  
  
  • Possession of or access to prohibited materials or property including:
  • Use of NBEO Content outside of the permitted purpose or for any prohibited purpose as described in Section 2 above
  
  
  • Use of copyrighted NBEO Content (other than NBEO Public Content) or Exam Items in lectures, classes, coursework, study guides, teaching notes, or other settings in optometry schools/colleges.
  
  
  • Providing any false, forged or misleading information or documentation in connection with registration for or administration of any exam or procurement of score reports, transcripts, or any certificates issued by NBEO.
  
  
  • Misrepresenting or altering examination scores or outcomes.
  
  
  • Taking any NBEO Entry-Into-the-Profession Examination for a purpose other than the test taker’s own licensure or taking any other NBEO Examination for a purpose other than the purpose(s) for which such exam is administered, including taking an NBEO Examination to familiarize oneself with the examination format but not primarily to pass.
  
  
  • Enrollment in, participation in, or use of any exam preparation program or service that distributes, provides access to, or uses NBEO Content or provides a forum for others to share such information.
  
  
  • Submitting any NBEO Content to software or programs utilizing artificial intelligence or other technology.
  • Any anomalous performance or unusual testing history which raises concerns about the validity or integrity of the NBEO Examination or scores, including any statistical anomalies or improbabilities in scoring outcomes.
  
  
  • Verbally or physically abusing or harming, or threatening to abuse or harm, or otherwise addressing a proctor, another candidate, test center employees, NBEO personnel, NBEO officers, NBEO board members, or their agents or representatives, including without limitation in telephone or written communications regarding registration, scheduling, exam administration, scores, or score reporting.
  
  
  • Discussing or describing NBEO Examination agents (e.g., proctors), NBEO employees, officers, board members, personnel, independent contractors or other representatives aggressively, with hostility, threateningly, flirtatiously, disparagingly, inappropriately, improperly, or with any demeanor other than respectful and appropriate, whether in person, in a publication, over the telephone or other communication device, or via the internet, intranet, chat room, message board, social media, lectures, email, text, phone, electronic, mechanical or other means or forums.
  
  
  • Any act, omission or statement that, in the sole discretion of NBEO, might injure, tarnish, damage or otherwise negatively reflect upon or affect the reputation, goodwill or standing of NBEO or its personnel.
  
  
  • Failure to comply with this Ethics Policy, Candidate Agreement, NBEO Examination Rules described in Section 4 below, and any other NBEO policies, procedures and instructions in effect with respect to the NBEO Examination and NBEO Content.
  
  
  • Any attempt to commit any Improper Conduct.
  
  
  • Collaborating with or aiding or abetting others in Improper Conduct.
  
  
  • Failure to promptly report to NBEO any Improper Conduct, or threatened Improper Conduct, after learning of or having reason to believe that such conduct has occurred or is threatened.
  
  
  • Failure to cooperate and participate fully and truthfully in any investigation or review of alleged or suspected Improper Conduct by NBEO.
  • Any attempt to commit any Improper Conduct.
  
  
  • Collaborating with or aiding or abetting others in Improper Conduct.
  
  
  • Failure to promptly report to NBEO any Improper Conduct, or threatened Improper Conduct, after learning of or having reason to believe that such conduct has occurred or is threatened.
  
  
  • Failure to cooperate and participate fully and truthfully in any investigation or review of alleged or suspected Improper Conduct by NBEO.
  For the avoidance of doubt, Improper Conduct does not include a candidate’s (1) access or exposure to Exam Items while taking the exam itself for the purpose of passing the exam, which is permissible for the sole purpose of such candidate taking that administration of the exam and (2) permitted use of NBEO Public Content as described in Section 2.
  
  

  4. NBEO Examination Rules

  NBEO and any applicable administrator of NBEO Examinations may have additional policies, procedures, rules or instructions. Such additional terms are incorporated herein and any violation of such terms shall be deemed Improper Conduct hereunder. The following section includes a nonexhaustive list of NBEO Examination Rules that apply throughout the timeline of the NBEO Examination process.

  A. Candidate conduct prior to or after any NBEO Examination

  As emphasized above, candidates should be aware that all exam items, case scenarios, answer sheets, examination materials, grading materials, unpublished clinical skills exam materials, and all processes used in the NBEO Examinations are the proprietary and confidential property of NBEO and are protected by United States copyright laws

  As emphasized above, candidates should be aware that all exam items, case scenarios, answer sheets, examination materials, grading materials, unpublished clinical skills exam materials, and all processes used in the NBEO Examinations are the proprietary and confidential property of NBEO and are protected by United States copyright laws

  Candidates are prohibited from engaging in any reproduction or distribution of NBEO Content among other candidates, for study or any other purposes, at their home optometry schools/colleges, or other schools/colleges of optometry, or anywhere else. Candidates are prohibited from reading, studying from, or using in any other manner, previously reproduced NBEO Content that is provided to them by other candidates, instructors, teachers, or any faculty members at their home schools/colleges of optometry, or from other candidates or faculty members at other schools/colleges of optometry, or from anyone else. It is improper for candidates to review, study from, or be exposed to courses, materials, or lectures offered by any such educator or institution if such courses, materials, or lectures contain or purport to contain NBEO Exam Items or NBEO Content. It is also improper for candidates or anyone else to provide NBEO Exam Items or NBEO Content or materials to any such educator or institution. Candidates who choose to engage in such proven disallowed activities will be deemed Improper Conduct and subject to consequences hereunder. Further, candidates shall understand that if any institution, educator, or anyone else claims to be providing NBEO Content or any other material that is held out to be, or under the circumstances is likely to be understood by the recipient, as inside information on NBEO Examinations, such institution or person is acting contrary to this Ethics Policy and in violation of NBEO’s proprietary rights.

  Candidates have no right to any access to any NBEO Content (other than NBEO Public Content) as they study for NBEO Examinations, even if such exposure is endorsed, encouraged, or committed by optometry school/college instructors, professors, faculty, administration, other authority figures, or anyone else.

  School-wide pre-examination exposure to previously copied and reproduced exam items gives those candidates with access to such materials an unfair advantage over candidates from other schools that lack the opportunity to study this unauthorized exam material. For example, if an institution or an instructor improperly provides confidential NBEO Exam Items to students on a widespread basis that will create substantial doubt as to whether the collective school-wide examination scores accurately reflect that school’s candidates’ knowledge base. A school-wide pre-examination exposure might also occur without the involvement of school personnel, such as by private collaboration of students. In deference to the concerns of the various licensing boards of optometry as they evaluate optometric licensure requirements for the protection of the public health and safety, the potential disparity between candidates’ knowledge levels and their scores, following group exposure to stolen exam material, must be considered.

  In the event of widespread exposure to improperly obtained NBEO Exam Items, NBEO may determine that the integrity of the affected NBEO Examination as a whole is compromised, thereby rendering the resulting scores unreliable. In such a case, NBEO may review such Improper Conduct and all the scores affected thereby and take whatever action NBEO determines, in its sole discretion, is appropriate, including but not limited to, cancelling all scores affected by the Improper Conduct.

  In the event of widespread exposure to improperly obtained NBEO Exam Items, NBEO may determine that the integrity of the affected NBEO Examination as a whole is compromised, thereby rendering the resulting scores unreliable. In such a case, NBEO may review such Improper Conduct and all the scores affected thereby and take whatever action NBEO determines, in its sole discretion, is appropriate, including but not limited to, cancelling all scores affected by the Improper Conduct.

  Other than TestRun, NBEO has no affiliation with any commercial entity that claims to provide any NBEO test preparation courses or materials. Except for the practice items databanks administered by TestRun, NBEO does not sanction, endorse, or approve of any such program or information. It is Improper Conduct for candidates to review, study from, or be exposed to courses, materials or lectures offered by any such commercial entity if such courses, materials, or lectures contain or purport to contain NBEO Content. Candidates or anyone else may not provide NBEO Content to any such commercial test preparation entity. Any activity by any commercial entity offering or claiming to offer NBEO Content must be reported to NBEO so that action may be taken by NBEO to prevent further unauthorized use of NBEO’s intellectual property.

  B. Candidate conduct during any NBEO Examination

  Candidates are expected to know and observe the following basic NBEO Examination Rules and information applicable to all time spent in NBEO Examination facilities. NBEO and other third-party administrators may provide additional instructions which are incorporated herein. Non-compliance with any of these rules may be considered Improper Conduct.

  • Candidates should arrive at the test center 30 minutes before any NBEO Examination’s posted start time.
    • For exams administered at the National Center of Clinical Testing in Optometry (the “NCCTO”), candidates who arrive late, but before the conclusion of the candidate orientation, and sign the appropriate waiver will be admitted at the discretion of the NCCTO staff.
    • For computer-based exams, rules regarding late arrival are established by the Pearson VUE Test Centers and are available online.
    
    
  • Two forms of identification must be presented at check-in prior to the start of the exam. No admittance will be permitted without the proper identification. Both forms of identification must be current (expired IDs are not acceptable) and signed. One form of identification must include a recent photograph, and the name on it must be identical to the name used to register. NBEO also reserves the right to take such other measures as it deems appropriate in any particular circumstances to verify the identity of a candidate.
  
  
  • The provision by the candidate of false or forged information during examination admittance on the day of the NBEO Examination is prohibited.
  • At Pearson VUE centers, if a candidate must leave the testing room for any reason (e.g., to use the restroom), the candidate may be required to re-verify their identity prior to re-entering the test room.
  
  
  • Candidates will be observed at all times while taking examinations and during all breaks. Observation will be achieved through direct monitoring by the test center proctors as well as video recordings of examination sessions.
  
  
  • Food and drink are not permitted in the exam room but may be consumed during breaks. Candidates with special dietary or nutritional needs relating to a medical condition (e.g., diabetes) should request accommodations in accordance with the NBEO Test Accommodations Policy.
    • For exams administered at the NCCTO, food and drink (including bottled water) may be kept in lockers in the NCCTO. There are hallway water fountains for use by NCCTO candidates during the exam.
    • For computer-based exams, rules regarding food and drink are established by the Pearson VUE Test Centers and are available online.
    
    
  • Smoking is not permitted in the test center at any time.
  
  
  • Laptops, mobile phones, smart watches, and other electronic communication devices are not permitted inside a test center including any examination room or restroom. Such devices cannot be used during restroom or other types of breaks, or at any time while the NBEO Examination is ongoing; provided, however, candidates may use mobile devices during scheduled breaks at Pearson Vue Test Centers, if allowed by the test center rules.
  
  
  • Improper Conduct, communication with other candidates, and/or other disruptive behavior during an examination or inside the test center are strictly prohibited.
  
  
  • In order to attain optimal test administration conditions, proctors may change, at their discretion, any candidate’s seat in order to minimize or eliminate environmental disruptions or annoyances including, but not limited to noise, ineffective lighting, and potential collaboration.
  
  
  • Candidates who are easily distracted by noise may request earplugs from the test proctor; personal earplugs and/or headphones are not permitted in the testing center
  
  
  • No books, pens, pencils, cell phones, cameras, recording devices, coats, wallets, purses, watches, firearms or other weapons, or other personal items are permitted in the Pearson VUE testing room.
  
  
  • Sweaters or light jackets will be inspected before being allowed into the testing room. Candidates may be requested to turn pockets inside out to show they are empty before entering the exam room, at check-in and after all breaks.
  
  
  • Candidates may not bring paper into any NBEO Examinations. Scratch paper is provided during exams that require its use and is collected at the end of the exams. All study notes are prohibited from test sites (including in bathrooms).
  
  
  • Guests will not be permitted to wait in the test center or to contact candidates while they are taking exams (except that candidates may communicate with guests outside the Pearson Vue Test Center during a scheduled break).
  
  
  • Candidates are prohibited from addressing NBEO exam agents (e.g., proctors) and NBEO employees, officers, board members, personnel, independent contractors or other representatives aggressively, with hostility, threateningly, flirtatiously, disparagingly, or with any demeanor other than respectful and appropriate for professional board exam test-taking.

  5. Consequences of Improper Conduct

  Any Improper Conduct, as described above or as defined in the Candidate Agreement, or any other violation of any rules provided herein, in a Candidate Agreement, or by an exam administrator, is considered a violation of this Ethics Policy. A violation of this Ethics Policy may subject candidates and other persons involved in such violations to certain consequences as explained in more detail in the Candidate Agreement.

  6. Report a Violation

  NBEO maintains a confidential process to report suspected or actual violations of Improper Conduct and such information can submitted at www.optometry.org under the tab, Policies, and sub-section Ethics Policy, and Report an Ethics Violation. In the event that NBEO discovers Improper Conduct of a candidate, candidates who have failed to inform the NBEO of said activities may be subject to consequences for such failure to report, as well as for their own exposure to NBEO Content, if applicable.

  7. Miscellaneous

  
  You may contact us with any questions or comments at nbeo@optometry.org.
  
  Helpful Links
  Candidate Agreement
  Report an Ethics Violation