Anyone take the ABO or NCLE?

[axomich8481]

Has anyone taken the Abo or Ncle? I just took mine. What did you think about the test? Has anyone taken the advance opticianary test? what is that like?

[sharon m./ aboc]

I Took The Abo In Nov 2004, And The Ncle In Nov 2005. I Passed Them Both But I Did Better On The Ncle. How About You?

[axomich8481]

HI. When did you get your results? I am still waiting??? I am getting crazy. Please let me know when you got yours. Thanks.

[sharon m./ aboc]

Just Yesterday 01-08-06. Yours will be in soon. Last year when I was waiting for the ABOC results they came on 01-10-05. Good Luck, I know it's so nerve-racking....I could hardly enjoy Christmas or Thanksgiving. Did you take them both on the same day?

[William Walker]

I took the ABO back in '99, and passed with no problem. The NCLE took two tries, and I had to study my butt off (the day before the exam!) to pass, finally in '03. The ABOA took two tries, and I just passed that (I took mine last Nov in Macon). You'll have to wait three years to take the ABOA, if that'a what you plan on doing, and study like crazy (or get lots of varied experience).

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[sharon m./ aboc]

I thought the aboc was more difficult than the ncle, but the ncle had a lot of Rigid Gas Permeable questions that I'm not sure I will ever have a chance to put to practical use. I had to take the ABO/NCLE because I work for Costco in an unlicensed state and Costco requires all opticians to be certified in unlicensed states. Don't get me wrong I think it's a GOOD idea. Customers don't like to see their opticians cashiering one week and dispensing their glasses the next.

[Nettie]

I thought the aboc was more difficult than the ncle, but the ncle had a lot of Rigid Gas Permeable questions that I'm not sure I will ever have a chance to put to practical use. I had to take the ABO/NCLE because I work for Costco in an unlicensed state and Costco requires all opticians to be certified in unlicensed states. Don't get me wrong I think it's a GOOD idea. Customers don't like to see their opticians cashiering one week and dispensing their glasses the next.

I work for Costco too! Let me know what your results are....I am eagerly waiting for mine as well. Good luck!

[William Walker]

Costco people unite! I'm at store 357.

[SarahMP584]

I just got my results today!
I passed the NCLE with an 81! I am so thrilled...I take the ABO in may.

[sharon m./ aboc]

Congratulations!!! Sarahmp584 and William of costco 357. This calls for a celebration. I am going to have a drink. Good Luck Nettie: I made a 77 on the ABOC and an 85 on the NCLE. I was thrilled I tell you.

[rolandclaur]

Hey all you fellow Costco optical employees!! Congrats on you guys and your scores, especially you William for passing the ABO advanced certification. I took the ABO in Nov 2004 and got a 93 and then the NCLE in May 2005 and got a 95. Only reason i think I did so well on the NCLE is because I worked for a contact lens distributor/ rgp lab for 8 years!. Been doing opticianary for about a year and a half now and will take my COA in June.

Hey william you'll have to tutor me for the math section of the ABOA. I hate math!

[Nettie]

Congrats to all who passed! I still have no results...maybe today. I really dont think I passed cause I didn't study much. I was in the middle of opening a brand new warehouse ( 735) and cracked a book twice. But I have two more chances and all of you for my inspiration for next time.;)

[eg31486]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum. It's been quite interesting reading!!

I work at the dreaded LensCrafters as an ABO Certified Optician (Maryland is not a licensed state), and after working for 20 years I've come to the conclusion that virtually all businesses are alike, they are after their bottom dollar. If they weren't, they wouldn't be in business. A big part of watching the bottom line is to pay someone as little as you can. I drove a hard bargin, I make $16.00/hr, plus about an additional $2.50 an hour on average with my spiffs. However, I live in the DC area, and as we all know, it's one of the most expensive areas in the country in which to live. In fact, I could not now buy my condo that I bought 5 years ago for $60K. It was recently appraised at $185K. Gas averages $2.45/gal in Montgomery County, MD.

But I've come to terms with the fact that I can't change things, so I might as well just accept them as they are. I've gone down the route of trying to change things at jobs, and I've worked at big chains and at independents. It doesn't work, no matter what you do because either people in management are incompetent managers (getting promoted when they don't deserve it), or they're afraid to rock the boat, or they're afraid of a lawsuit if they fire someone, or they're too busy, or whatever reason you can come up with. The reality is that it just doesn't work, at least never where I have worked. So I just try to accept the things I cannot change, and focus on what can be changed in myself and in changing my attitude towards the situation. And it sure helps alot. I'm happier that I ever have been in 20 years of working (8 of those as an optician, so you can see it's the same across all industries. We're dealing with the imperfect human species :)

Anyway, that's not why I'm writing. My general manager (yes, incompetent, with only 2 years experience and not ABO or Final Inspector certified and he has tried to hit on me, and I've told him twice to stop it, my next call is to the sexual harassment hotline and to my attorney) is trying to get rid of our new Assistant Retail Manager. She's only been in the business less than a year, and I think she's done a great job of picking up on the optical piece, as well as the management side; she has been been in retail management for four years. He wants her to be ABO Certified by this June. She wants to get ABO certified, but I know that somewhere, I've seen it written that you need a minimum to two years practical experience before you take the ABO. I think it's completely unreasonable that he expects her to be ABO Certified after 1 year. Cause she's not just learning the optical, she's learning how management works (and as you can see, not very well in my store!) Has anyone seen anything in writing on the 2-year practical experience requirement before taking the ABO from either the ABO or NAO? Or from another source? I just want to give her this info so she can present it to him and say, "It's from the XXX organization and here is where it says it should take 2 yrs. b-4 taking the test."

Thanks for your help! I hope you have a terrific rest of the week!

EG

[William Walker]

(Copied from the board's website abo-ncle.org):

"Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to sit for the exams who is at least 18 years of age and has a high school diploma or GED. (In states with conflicting regulations, the state licensing board regulations are followed.) While no experience is required, candidates with two to three years hands-on experience or completion of an optical school program are more successful in passing the exams."

I took mine after only being in the industry for 6 months. I was soaking it up like a spomge, because I love the physics of light, so it can be done.

[Ed_Optician]

If you have to do it solo no formal classes, you can get away with the TOPS book and Brooks& Boorish System for Ophthalmic Dispensing. If you need help with the formulas and how they work Optical Formulas Tutorial is a fantastic text. I suggest getting personal copies of these books and keep them as pat of your personal library

By the way how many of you have exceeded 96 on the ABO?

Ed

[optimanj]

Hello all,
Just want to know if anyone in Co. got any scores yet.

[Ed_Optician]

Why not give them a call it has been 7 almost 8 weeks since the exam

# is 1-800-296-1379

Ed

[Snitgirl]

If you have to do it solo no formal classes, you can get away with the TOPS book and Brooks& Boorish System for Ophthalmic Dispensing. If you need help with the formulas and how they work Optical Formulas Tutorial is a fantastic text. I suggest getting personal copies of these books and keep them as pat of your personal library

By the way how many of you have exceeded 96 on the ABO?

Ed

Anyone needing the tops book I have one that is for sale...

Ed: You going to bye that person lunch that exceeded 96? lol

[sharon m./ aboc]

Hello all,
Just want to know if anyone in Co. got any scores yet.

I did. See above.

[rj_gonzales]

By the way how many of you have exceeded 96 on the ABO?

Ed

Close.... I scored a 92 in 1998.

[sharon m./ aboc]

I did. See above.

OH, I mean I got my test results and I live in Colorado. ( I did not make a 96 or above) but I am pleased none the less.

[optimanj]

when?

[Ed_Optician]

When I teach formal ABO prep classes I have a standing bet with my students. If you beat my score on hte ABO, I buy you lunch.
As it stands now I have had a few students close but not beat my score. I have always put that challenge in front of my students just to make things interesting.
I do tutor for the ABO exam

Ed

[optimanj]

I got my results yesterday. I passed! uhh, not too near a 96 though. Let the party begin! yay!

[sharon m./ aboc]

I got my results yesterday. I passed! uhh, not too near a 96 though. Let the party begin! yay!

good for you!!!! congratulations.