Examinations Information
How to Apply
Online Exam Booking User Guide
Online Exam Booking User Guide
Winter 2024 Exam Bookings
ABDO’s Winter 2024 Exam Session bookings are now CLOSED. The next available session to sit exams will be Summer 2025 and bookings will open in January 2025.
Unit 12 – FQE Practical Exam
To be eligible to book Unit 12 online, students must have previously submitted their Practice Visit Request form. Practice Visits should be successfully completed by the time of sitting the exam and completed PQP documents must be submitted by 31 October 2024.
Important Information regarding Exam Confirmation letter
All students will be emailed on how and where to locate their Exam Confirmation Letter which will outline the date and times of the exams applied for. The Examinations Dashboard does not refresh, therefore it is important to log out and log back in, so that individual details will show.
The practical exams are due to take place in January 2025.
If you have any issues with the process, please contact ABDO Examinations on 01227 732921.
2024 Examination Fees
Please see the PDF below for information on the current Dispensing and Contact Lens Examination Fees
2024 Examination Fee Structure
ABDO Dispensing Exams
Information for candidates sitting ABDO Dispensing practical examinations:
Information for Candidates sitting ABDO Dispensing Practical Examinations 2023
ABDO Contact Lens Exams
Reasonable Adjustments
Any student who believes they have particular needs requiring special arrangements (e.g. extra time, larger printing of papers, etc.) and wishes to be considered for additional examination support will be offered the opportunity to sit the theory/practical examinations with those particular requirements in place, (e.g. for those students with dyslexia, visual impairment, speech impairment, a physical disability).
Students should complete a Request for Reasonable Adjustments form, providing supporting evidence, and send it to ABDO Examinations and Registration together with the Exam Application form. Each application will be reviewed by the Head of Examinations and Registration and granted, if justifiable.
Dispensing and Contact Lens Practical Exams
These exams are held at ABDO’s National Resource Centre in Birmingham:
ABDO National Resource Centre, 4th Floor, Aqueous II, Aston Cross Business Park, Rocky Lane, Aston, Birmingham B6 5RQ
Directions and details of nearby accommodation can be found by downloading the pdf below:
ABDO National Resource Centre, Birmingham – Directions & Accommodation – 2020
Dispensing Theory Exams (ABDO College students only) and Contact Lens Theory Exams
These now take place online.
Please check your individual Exam Acknowledgement letter for confirmation.
If you have any queries regarding these exams, please contact ABDO Examinations and Registration.
Students can pay for their examinations by BACS using the following information:
Account Name: ABDO (Association of British Dispensing Opticians)
Bank: Barclays
Account No: 00972967
Sort Code: 20-03-79
When making payments, please quote your ABDO membership number followed by the word EXAMS. Also, clearly indicate ‘BACS payment’ in the payment section of the exam application form and attach a copy of the payment confirmation from the bank to the application form. Failure to provide complete information may delay the processing of exam application form.
ABDO Examinations and Registration do not send out receipts for any payments made. Receipts will be available to print off under the student’s own log in from the Members Area on the ABDO website usually within 10 days of any fees being processed.
Students who are unable to attend exams should complete a withdrawal form and send to ABDO Examinations and Registration. To view ABDO’s withdrawal policy click on the relevant link below. The policy is the last page of each withdrawal form.
Dispensing Examinations Withdrawal Forms:
2015 Syllabus – Withdrawal from Examinations Form – 2015 Syllabus ONLY Nov 24
2023 Syllabus – Withdrawal from Examinations Form – 2023 Syllabus ONLY Nov 24
Contact Lens Withdrawal Form –Withdrawal Form Contact Lens Examinations
ABDO Theory Examinations – Overseas
All Dispensing theory exams now take place online.
ABDO Practical Examinations
ABDO College students who reside outside of the UK (excluding Malaysia) are advised that all ABDO practical examinations will take place in the UK only.
Students must make provision to visit the UK at least twice throughout their course of study. Once, for the Preliminary Qualifying practical examination and again at the end of their course to complete the Final Qualifying examination. Additional visits to the UK may be required if elements of the practical examination(s) are unsuccessful. Please be aware that the PQE must be successfully completed before attempting FQE practical examination, they cannot be taken together.
Malaysian students are required to take their theory and practical examinations at our approved venue in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian students residing outside of KL, may opt to take their theory examinations at a British Council near to them, by prior arrangement only.
For further information or enquiries regarding the above, please contact ABDO Examinations and Registration or email examinations@abdo.org.uk.