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Low National Board Pass Rate at Many OD Schools: Cause for Alarm?

A recent thread highlighted what looks like a serious problem at many optometry schools: some students aren’t passing their national boards. Many have to take the test multiple times before achieving a passing score, which can delay their ability to find a job post-graduation.

Even worse, the disparity between schools is large and has become larger over the years. The national boards are supposed to evaluate the minimal degree of competency required to obtain licensure; what does it say if so many struggle to meet the minimum requirement?

In this thread, we discuss the recent data and what some of the underlying causes for the problem might be. Is it the schools? The students? Or has the test itself changed over time?

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