The National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) has opened its new National Center of Clinical Testing in Optometry (NCCTO) in Charlotte, NC. The facility, unveiled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, will serve as the primary site for several of NBEO’s clinical licensure exams, which are required for optometry candidates nationwide.

The new center doubles previous testing capacity and features expanded space for candidates and standardized patients, upgraded IT infrastructure, and proximity to Charlotte Douglas International Airport to accommodate travel from the country’s 25 optometry schools and colleges.

Exams administered at the NCCTO include the Part III Patient Encounters and Performance Skills exam, the Injections Skill Examination, and the Laser and Surgical Procedures Examination. The exams are part of NBEO’s three-part licensure process that evaluates the knowledge and skills needed for clinical practice.

Speakers at the opening included NBEO leadership, the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry, and local officials. North Carolina Reps. Brandon Lofton and Terry Brown, along with Charlotte City Councilmember LaWana Mayfield, attended the event.

“NBEO remains committed to providing high-quality, standardized testing environments for optometry candidates,” says Michael Ohlson, OD, president of NBEO’s board of directors. “This new testing center does just that, along with simulating real-life patient encounters during the Part III exam.”

The Charlotte facility is expected to host thousands of candidates annually as they complete the requirements for optometry licensure.