ABO-NCLE Exam Dates and Registration
The ABO and NCLE certification exams are not held on a single national test day. ABO-NCLE runs them in four testing windows a year, and you choose your own test date within the window you registered for. In 2026 the windows are January 2–March 31, April 1–June 30, July 1–September 30 and October 1–December 21; registration for the October–December window closes November 15. What you cannot do is register late: every window has a fixed registration deadline.
This guide explains how the calendar works, lists the 2026 deadlines, and walks through registration, fees, transfers and retakes. Dates and fees change, so treat the official ABO-NCLE exam calendar as the final word and check it before you pay.
How the testing windows work
ABO-NCLE offers its exams year-round in four quarterly windows: January–March, April–June, July–September and October–December. The basic ABO exam (the NOCE), the basic NCLE contact lens exam (the CLRE), the advanced exams and the practical exams all run in these windows.
Registration for each window opens before testing starts and closes before the window ends. In 2026, registration closed on the 15th of the window's last month for the first three windows. The October–December window is shorter, ending December 21, and its registration closes on November 15. There are no late registrations.
Once you are registered, you schedule a specific date, time and location with Prometric, the testing company. You can test on any available date in your window, so registering early gives you more choice.
2026 testing windows and registration deadlines
January 2–March 31, 2026: registration opened December 1, 2025 and closed March 15, 2026.
April 1–June 30, 2026: registration opened March 16 and closed June 15.
July 1–September 30, 2026: registration opened June 16 and closed September 15.
October 1–December 21, 2026: registration opened September 16. Registration for this window closes November 15, 2026, with no late registration. Once you are registered, schedule your appointment promptly so you have a choice of dates and locations.
ABO-NCLE posts each year's windows on its exam calendar. For the January–March 2027 window and its registration deadline, check the calendar on abo-ncle.org; we will add the 2027 dates here once ABO-NCLE posts them.
How to register
1. Confirm which exam you need. If you are testing for a state license, check with your state board which exams it requires before you register. To sit the basic exams you must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or GED.
2. Register and pay on abo-ncle.org. Choose the exam and the testing window, and enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your government-issued photo ID, plus a personal phone number and an email address you check. Payment is by credit card.
3. Watch for your eligibility ID. ABO-NCLE emails an order confirmation, then a second email the same day with your eligibility ID and instructions for scheduling.
4. Schedule with Prometric. Use the eligibility ID to pick a location, date and time. The written exams can be taken at a Prometric test center or online through ProProctor remote proctoring, which needs a computer with a camera, microphone and internet connection. If you are testing for a state license, confirm that your board accepts a remotely proctored exam before choosing ProProctor. The practical exams must be taken at a test center.
Fees, transfers and refunds
The basic ABO and NCLE exams are $225 each. The combined ABO basic and practical exam, available for states that accept the combined format, is $250, and a standalone practical exam is $75. The ABO and NCLE advanced exams cost $275 for applications paid on or after October 1, 2026; before that the fee was $225. Check the current amount before registering for an advanced exam.
Exam fees are non-refundable. Changing your appointment's date, time or location costs $75, paid by calling the ABO-NCLE office. If you cannot test in your window, you can transfer to the next window for $75, but you must request the transfer before the last day of the window you registered for.
If you need to retake
You can retake an exam 14 days after the date you tested. After a third unsuccessful attempt you must wait 90 days before you are eligible to retake it. Every attempt needs a new registration and the full fee.
Registration deadlines still apply to retakes. If you tested on December 10, for example, the earliest retake date would be December 24, after the October–December window has closed, so your retake would go into the next window.
Pick your window, then study backward
Choose a window, register before its deadline and set a target test date. Then plan your study backward from that date. Aiming for the early or middle part of a window leaves room to reschedule within it if something comes up, although each change costs $75. Working opticians often find that optics math, prism and the ANSI standards need the most time. Our study plan guide lays out a schedule, and a free ABO practice test shows where you stand today.
Taking the contact lens exam too? The NCLE prep pages cover the CLRE.
Frequently asked questions
When are the ABO exam dates in 2026?
ABO-NCLE's 2026 testing windows are January 2–March 31, April 1–June 30, July 1–September 30 and October 1–December 21. Registration for the October–December window runs September 16 to November 15, with no late registration. Confirm the dates on the exam calendar at abo-ncle.org before you register.
Is there late registration for the ABO exam?
No. Each testing window has a fixed registration deadline, and ABO-NCLE does not accept late registrations. If you miss a deadline, register for the next window.
How do I register for the ABO exam?
Register and pay online at abo-ncle.org, using your full legal name as it appears on your photo ID. You then receive an eligibility ID by email, which you use to schedule a date, time and location with Prometric, either at a test center or through ProProctor remote proctoring. If you are testing for a state license, confirm first that your board accepts a remotely proctored exam.
How soon can I retake the ABO exam if I fail?
You can retake it 14 days after your test date. After three unsuccessful attempts you must wait 90 days. Each retake needs a new registration and the full exam fee, and registration deadlines still apply, so a retake may fall in the next testing window.
Can I change my ABO exam date or testing window?
Yes, for a fee. Changing the date, time or location of your appointment costs $75. Transferring to the next testing window also costs $75 and must be requested before the last day of your current window. Exam fees are non-refundable.
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