Connecticut opticianry board debates temporary switch to ABO virtual practical; motion dies for lack of second

The Connecticut Board of Examiners for Opticians heard more than an hour of testimony on a proposal to temporarily adopt the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) practical exam in place of the state'administered in-person eyewear practical while the board conducts a comprehensive review.

Board member Minerva proposed the temporary adoption, saying the measure would "give us basically time to really take apart this exam piece by piece," and asked the board to approve the ABO practical for a minimum of one year. Minerva said the national ABO practical is regularly updated, offered year-round through Prometric centers and would reduce scheduling and proctoring burdens while the board revises its in-person test.

The motion drew sustained pushback from several industry representatives and board members who said Connecticut'''s longstanding in-person practical tests a hands-on assessment that apprentices and classroom instruction cannot fully replace. Randall Smith, director of examinations and chief psychometrician for the American Board of Opticianry and the National Contact Lens Examiners, described how the ABO/NCLE systems operate and how Prometric delivers the practicals. Dorothy,…