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What is a B.C.O.
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BOARD CERTIFIED
OCULARIST (B.C.O.)
Accreditation
The National Examining Board of Ocularists has achieved the
distinction of being an Accredited Certification
 Organization.
NEBO is a fully accredited member of The
National
Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). The certifying body 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.
The National Examining Board of Ocularists (NEBO)
was chartered in November 1980. NEBO currently operates as an independent agency
whose primary function is the assessment of competence of ocularists or the
professionals who fit and fabricate ocular prostheses (artificial eyes).
Candidates, who wish to be awarded the credential B.C.O., must first
successfully pass a four-part examination. The NEBO board of directors is
comprised of ocularists, members of related professions including ophthalmology,
and a member of the public community.
Our Mission The National Examining Board of Ocularists
(NEBO) is chartered to develop, maintain, and administer a certification
examination as a means of attesting to the competency of the ocularist. In
addition, NEBO issues renewable and dated certificates, and maintains a registry
or list of those who are currently certified.
What is an Ocularist? An ocularist is a carefully trained
professional skilled in the science and art of fitting, fabricating and painting
ophthalmic prostheses (artificial eyes). In addition to creating it, the
ocularist shows the patient how to handle and care for the prosthesis, and
provides long-term care through periodic examinations and replacements.
The Title B.C.O.
Those ocularists that have achieved and maintained
certification are designated as Board Certified Ocularists, B.C.O. It is the
intent of NEBO to provide a national standard that can be used as a measure of
competence by interested agencies, groups and individuals.
When deciding who is qualified to serve the patients’ needs,
the B.C.O. indicates experience, training, competence and generally many years
of experience helping patients or constituents
The Examination 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 certified ocularists carried out such a study to define precise
content areas that are important, critical and relevant to the profession. The
results of this Role Delineation study are included in a set of specifications
for the test. The exam consists of the following two parts:
1. Written The written section of the Certification
Examination consists of l50 multiple choice questions.
2. Fabrication This part of the examination requires that
the examinee demonstrate his/her ability to fabricate the two most commonly
encountered types of prostheses: the conventional prosthesis and the scleral
shell prosthesis.
Registration All Board Certified Ocularists, (B.C.O.)
must register three years after the date of certification and/or
recertification. 50 continuing education credits must be earned four (4) years
prior to registration.
Recertification The Board Certified Ocularist, (B.C.O.)
must recertify every six years. The recertification process may take one of the
two following forms:
Process I Accumulate 100 Continuing Education credits.
This includes 34 credits (Attending continuing education courses) and also pass the Recertification Examination. The credits must be
earned within a period of seven (7) years prior to July in the year of
Recertification.
Process II Accumulate 300 Continuing Education credits earned within a period of seven (7) years prior to
July in the year of Recertification.
The National Examining Board of Ocularists shall not
discriminate against applicants on the basis of age, sex, color, religion, or
national origin, and shall include a statement of this non-discrimination policy
on the application and other publications. The responsibility for professional
integrity and excellence remains with the ocularist.
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