When ophthalmic technician Taylor Mendelson used to hear the doctors in her former practice talk about interesting cases or challenging contact lens fits, she was hooked on their every word. But more so, Taylor said she suffered from a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out) since, based on her training at the time, she had to sit on the sidelines instead of being directly involved in the exam room.
“I wanted to see it and be a part of it,” she remembers.
This catalyst to become more involved in advanced contact lens patient care led Taylor to the next step in her career: National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) certification.
“As an NCLE, I was able to then perform those fits instead of just hearing about them after the fact, which I loved,” Taylor says. “With certification, I was also able to have advanced conversations with patients about contact lenses and conditions. It gave me more credibility in what I was presenting.”
NCLE Benefits for the ECP
For clinicians, having an NCLE certified staff member in practice can elevate the patient experience, Taylor adds. Compared to the average technician, a credentialled staff member can speak with authority on contact lenses, including complex CL topics.
Additionally, an NCLE certified staff member can help boost a practice’s bottom line, Taylor continues.
“At some practices, it can be financially helpful if the NCLE is able to take on contact lens fits and follow-ups. In some cases, the ECP can delegate these visits to the NCLE and fill their own schedule with more revenue-producing types of appointments,” Taylor suggests.
NCLE Benefits for the Tech
Earning an NCLE certification can empower the staff member with a greater sense of commitment, responsibility, and practice loyalty, which can in turn help prevent staff turnover.
“For the NCLE, the benefit is taking a job and making it a career which leads to more self-satisfaction but also potentially more pay,” Taylor adds. “By making yourself an indispensable resource to the doctors, you set yourself up for a lot more success in your career.”
ABC’s of the NCLE Exam
In prepping for the exam, test takers should be prepared to answer basic anatomy questions, Taylor advises. Additionally, techs should have an understanding of the following:
- Corneal diseases and conditions that may affect a contact lens fit
- Tear film layers
- A good vs. poor contact lens fit (i.e. too steep, too flat, etc.)
Another piece of advice? Brush up on your math skills, Taylor says.
“The most surprising part of the test was the math involved,” she continues. “I thought that I’d need to know how to calculate vertex distance and transpose cylinder, but I didn’t expect to be calculating tear film and diopters to radius.”
Still, Taylor stresses that you shouldn’t be intimidated by the math questions on the exam.
“Don’t let the math scare you. Once you get a handle on the math, you’ll fully get it. And it makes practical sense, so you’ll be able to remember formulas more easily,” she says.
Tools and Tricks to Ace the NCLE Test
Flashcards can be your best friend in memorizing terminology for the test, Taylor adds.
“I had physical flashcards, but I also used Quizlet on my phone that I took everywhere with me. Every spare chance that I had, I was flipping through those flashcards and testing myself. And every so often, I’d write the prompt a little differently to enhance my recall,” she said.
Practice tests can also be a great resource since you can familiarize yourself with the types of questions that may be on the actual exam and their wording.
“I used the practice tests at the end of each chapter, but you can also go onto the NCLE website and pay to take a practice test to assess your readiness,” Taylor said.
Connect with Your Ophthalmic Network
Another suggestion: tap your resources, since most people studying for the NCLE test will already work with optometrists and ophthalmologists.
“When I studied for the exam, I’d ask each doctor in my practice to explain a concept because one of them would say just the right thing to make it stick,” she says.
Lastly, acronyms and other mnemonic devices can be priceless for memorization. For example, Taylor says she continued to mix up the words, “pterygium” and “pinguecula,” despite knowing the definitions.
The memory trick that finally stuck was when Taylor used other words that started with the same two letters as the two different conditions. Since pterygium is generally a more serious condition, Taylor created a memory prompt for herself by remembering that pterodactyls, which begins with the letters pt, are worse than pigeons, which begins with the letters pi.
“Any little silly thing to help you remember is worth learning,” she says.
Parting Advice from an NCLE Pro
Nailing the math ahead of the exam is a must, Taylor re-emphasizes.
“I’ve spoken to several people who skimmed the math portions and regretted it later,” she says.
Her next and final piece of advice is to choose a date to take the test, whether that’s in three months or six months or however long a period you think will be necessary to study.
“Schedule the exam and then prepare up to that date,” she says. “Don’t wait to schedule it after you feel you’re ready, because you probably won’t ever schedule it otherwise.”
