Key takeaways:
- The primary-time move price for the primary a part of the NBEO examination fell from 76.9% in 2015 to 66.71% in 2024.
- The examination’s common first-time move price was the bottom of all comparable exams.
MINNEAPOLIS — College students move the Nationwide Board of Examiners in Optometry examination at a “notably decrease” price than comparable exams in different areas of well being care, based on a poster introduced at Optometry’s Assembly.
The findings come from analysis that Jeffrey L. Weaver, OD, MBA, MS, FAAO, Dipl AAO, carried out as interim dean at Pennsylvania School of Optometry, the place he famous that college students aren’t “performing as we’d like them to” on board exams.
“There was a decline within the efficiency of optometry college students on the nationwide board examinations,” Weaver mentioned in a video presentation. “One of many issues that I wished to place out right here for the occupation to check out, maybe, is how can we differ in comparison with our compatriots, the opposite well being care professions on the market, by way of our board scores.”
Nationally, among the many three Nationwide Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examinations, the primary examination has seen the largest lower in first-time move charges, falling from 76.9% in 2015 to 66.71% in 2024, based on Weaver. The second half has seen a “very modest decline,” whereas the third half has been “pretty regular,” hovering round 80% from 2017 to 2024.
Weaver in contrast the first-time move price of the primary NBEO examination to these of the primary elements of different medical examinations, together with these for MDs, doctor assistants, dentists and others, courting again at the very least to 2015. The NBEO’s first-time move price was beneath these of all different exams in all however 1 yr from 2015 to 2024, based on the information.
The primary NBEO examination had the bottom common move price of all of the exams at 74%. The following lowest was the PRAXIS examination, at 81%, and the best was United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1, at 95%. The Complete Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination Stage 1 averaged a 93% move price.
Weaver explored potential causes behind the disparity.
“Right here at Drexel, they’re able to settle for solely about 10% of all of the candidates to the medical faculty, whereas [in the] optometry faculty, we’ve to just accept a a lot increased share of people who apply,” he mentioned. “So, we have to give attention to recruiting high-quality candidates, be certain we get one of the best college students on the market, however have a look at the requirements for entry-level competence in optometry. Is it too excessive, or why do we’ve these ongoing challenges?”
Weaver additionally prompt that as a result of optometrists’ scope of apply has “enhanced and grown through the years,” it’s probably not ultimate for all of it to be included in a 4-year curriculum.
“Possibly we’re making an attempt to place out consultants in all these subspecialties, however we have to put out normal optometrist that’s going to be secure to the general public,” he mentioned. “If people need to have some extra materials to grow to be skilled in subspecialty areas like neuro-optometry — one in all our large ones that actually drains our college students — then possibly we will try this as micro-credentials or one thing like that. But it surely shouldn’t be within the normal curriculum, maybe.”
Sources/Disclosures
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Supply:
Weaver JL. Comparability of first-time move price of healthcare skilled board examinations. Offered at: Optometry’s Assembly; June 25-28, 2025; Minneapolis.
Disclosures:
Weaver stories being the interim dean at Pennsylvania School of Optometry.
