Verified October 10, 2026 against the practice act, board rules and sources cited below. The board decides every application. All states
What optometrists miss in North Carolina
- Withdrawing before the completion deadline refunds the fee minus $100; after it, nothing is refunded, and a no-show forfeits the fee.
- Working in North Carolina before licensure, as anything other than a technician, requires an intern permit.
How does an optometrist licensed elsewhere get a North Carolina license?
"To practice in North Carolina you must take and pass our licensing exam, we do not have a reciprocity/endorsement policy." Licensed optometrists sit the board's clinical-practicum exam like new graduates. Military members and spouses have a separate path under G.S. 93B-15.1.
- State exam required
- Board: North Carolina State Board of Examiners in Optometry
Citation: N.C. Gen. Stat. 90-118; board application pages
Which NBEO exams does North Carolina require?
Passing scores on Parts I, II and every Part III PEPS section, TMOD and the ISE. Earlier candidates need every part offered when they tested, plus the ISE.
- NBEO: I, II, III, TMOD
- ISE required
Does North Carolina give its own exam or interview?
Applications are due 60 days before the exam and files must be complete 30 days before. A winter exam with fewer than 10 eligible applicants is deferred to the next date.
- State exam required
- twice a year; 2027: Feb. 18-21 and Aug. 20-23
What does North Carolina say about telehealth eye care?
The board treats telehealth as practice at both the optometrist's and the patient's location, so a home office used for telehealth must be licensed as a main or branch office.
Citation: NCSBEO Telemedicine Position Statement; licensee FAQ
What does a North Carolina optometry license cost?
- Application: $1,000 exam application fee (as of Oct 2026)
Citation: Board applicant information page (G.S. 90-123)
Licensing in North Carolina?
North Carolina has no exam-free route, so an optometrist licensed elsewhere sits its exam. We prepare every supporting document and a question-by-question guide, order your verifications and NBEO scores, and track the file to a decision; you answer, sign, pay the board and sit every exam. A license is $699 per state, or $799 where the state gives its own exam or interview.