National Blindness Professional Certification Board

NOMC Certification

Examination Process

The NOMC examination is the final step in the process of earning National Orientation and Mobility Certification. Applicants who: (1) have successfully completed an immersion experience through an NBPCB approved agency; (2) have obtained either agency or university training in SDCT methods and principles; (3) have demonstrated competence in teaching SDCT methods and principles through successful completion of an internship; and (4) have completed all application procedures, are eligible to sit for the examination. It is a foundational tenant of the NBPCB that individuals holding NOMC designation possess strong personal ability to role model the nonvisual skills which they will be charged to convey to blind VR consumers and children. Consequently, the NOMC examination is comprised of a performance component designed to evaluate individual skill proficiency. It is also critical that an NOMC possess depth of knowledge in the methods and principles that underscore the SDCT scope of practice. The testing process therefore includes a written examination that tests an applicant's aptitude with respect to the SDCT body of professional knowledge.

Time and Place of Examinations

NOMC examinations may occur where one of the following situations is present:

Performance and written examinations will be offered at two scheduled events and anywhere that three NOMCTs are convened: (1) the annual professional development winter meeting, typically held in Washington , DC , during January or February; and (2) In conjunction with the National Rehabilitation and Orientation and Mobility summer Conference, held in conjunction with the NFB national convention typically during June-July.
Examinations may occur when sufficient justification exists for the Board to convene a panel in an appropriate city. Approval for these on-site examinations must be obtained by the NOMCT chairman at least thirty (30) days prior to the examination date.
All applicants are entirely responsible for their travel arrangements and expenses.

Note. The performance examination may be held at a different time and place than the written examination provided that they occur within thirty (30) days of each other and are approved by the NBPCB office.

Performance Examination

The Performance Examination is designed to test an applicant's ability to demonstrate mastery of nonvisual cane travel skills. By definition, Structured Discovery Cane Travel is rooted in the belief that an individual can travel safely and efficiently in all public environments with comfort and grace. Under SDCT methodology, rote memorization of a route is less important than the applicant's ability to: (1) travel safely and effectively with a long, white cane; (2) understand and follow an assigned route; and (3) problem solve through a novel route without disorientation or intervention.

The performance examination is broken into two separate components: (1) an indoor travel route consisting of approximately 300 meters in length, and (2) an outdoor travel assignment of approximately six (6) to eight (8) city blocks in length. Each section is designed to test an applicant's ability to use nonvisual travel techniques and knowledge of Orientation and Mobility. Based on SDCT methods and principles, the performance examination is conducted with the applicant using an appropriate long, white cane, and sleep shades (blindfolds) to occlude any residual vision. Please note that all applicants - including those reporting to be totally blind - will be expected to use sleep shades during the performance examination. This policy provides a uniform testing situation and removes any question related to the use of residual vision. Applicants are expected to come prepared with their own cane and sleep-shades, and the certification panel reserves the right to cancel the test if the applicant does not bring appropriate equipment.

Testing Locations
A performance examination may be conducted where all of the following are present: (1) three NOMCT are convened by arrangement; (2) in a medium to large-size city (I.E., 30,000 - 1,000,000 residents); (3) in a setting that contains commercial public facilities, including elevators and escalators; and (4) in a setting that contains urban traffic, including traffic lighted intersections and businesses.

All examinations are given in an environment that is unfamiliar to the person taking the exam which means that no applicant will be allowed to take a performance examination in the city where he or she lives. Applicants for NOMC are expected to be able to travel in inclement weather; however, the NOMCT panel will stop or reschedule the exam at their discretion if they deem the weather or other environmental factors too severe to permit fair testing conditions. Throughout the performance test, all efforts will be made to ensure fair and equitable testing conditions for all applicants.

Indoor Travel Section
The indoor travel section is designed to test the applicant's use of nonvisual indoor travel skills and knowledge of indoor travel. The test will be conducted while under sleep shades and while using the long white cane. The indoor travel section will consist of an indoor travel route assigned by the NOMCT panel. The route will include traveling in confined areas and using elevators and escalators. The applicant will have one (1) hour to complete the exam. The applicant will have no contact with the panel once the exam has begun unless the panel intervenes to stop the exam or the applicant does not wish to continue.

The indoor section of the certification examination can be stopped by the NOMCT panel or the applicant for the following reasons:

The one hour time limit is exceeded
The applicant is causing damage to private or public property
The applicant is not traveling safely and/or is in imminent danger
The panel deems that successful completion is impossible or unlikely
The applicant does not want to continue
The NOMCT panel determines that the applicant is overly stressed or overwhelmed to the point that it affects performance

If the test is stopped or canceled for any of the above reasons, the applicant may choose to reschedule the exam within six months of the initial test, or 18 months of the initial application date, whichever comes first. Retesting fees will be assessed accordingly (see Section 9.1). , If the test is stopped or canceled due to inclement weather or for any other reason, the exam may be rescheduled within the indicated timeframe at no additional cost to the applicant.

Outdoor Travel Section
The outdoor travel section is designed to test the applicant's nonvisual skills and knowledge of outdoor travel. The test will be conducted while the applicant is under sleep shades and using a long white cane. The outdoor travel section of the performance examination will consist of a travel route assigned to the applicant by the NOMCT panel. The route will be in an urban setting consisting of six (6) to eight (8) blocks. The applicant will have one (1) hour to complete the travel route after it is assigned. The applicant will have no contact with the panel once the examination has begun unless the panel intervenes to stop the examination or the applicant does not wish to continue.

The outdoor travel section of the performance examination can be stopped by the NOMCT panel or the applicant for the following reasons:

The one hour time limit is exceeded
The applicant is not traveling safely and/or is in imminent danger
The panel deems that successful completion is impossible or unlikely
Weather conditions deteriorate to the point that it prevents normal performance or evaluation
The applicant does not want to continue
The NOMCT panel feels that the applicant is overly stressed or overwhelmed to the point that it affects performance

Written Examination

The written examination consist of response-generated items which assess an applicant's aptitude in SDCT methods and principles. Different versions of the written examination will be administered to ensure integrity and confidentiality during each testing cycle.

Applicants will have one hour to complete the written examination.
The written examination will be available in print, Braille, or on computer
The exam will occur in a well-lighted and quiet location
All written examinations will be directly proctored by an NOMCT.
Written examinations will be scored by a three-NOMCT panel
The performance and written components of the examination will occur within thirty (30) calendar days of each other.

Grading of Performance Examinations

The grading of the performance examinations will be conducted by the NOMCT panel at the conclusion of each section of the examination.

Indoor Travel Section
The indoor examination is administered and graded by the NOMCT panel. The applicant will be graded on:

Ability to mental map
Cane technique (including the use of extended and pencil grip)
Ability to problem solve
Ability to avoid obstacles using the long white cane
Ability to identify texture changes
Ability to use echo location or sound cues
Ability to identify open and closed spaces
Use of elevators and escalators
Ability to gather and use information from the public efficiently
Demonstrated confidence
Overall ability to travel independently

Outdoor Travel Section
The applicant will be graded on:

Cane technique (including the use of the open-palm technique)
Ability to avoid obstacles using the long white cane
Demonstrated confidence
Ability to cross lighted and un-lighted intersections
Ability to problem solve
Ability to use environmental cues
Ability to travel safely and efficiently
Overall ability to travel independently

Reporting of Examination Scores

All examination scores will be turned into the NBPCB office by the NOMCT panel. Scores will then be mailed to the applicant within 30 days of completing all sections of the examination. If the applicant successfully passed all sections of the performance and written examination, he/she will receive his/her NOMC identification number and an original copy of the NOMC certificate. If the applicant fails to pass any section of the performance or written examination, he/she will be mailed a letter detailing which sections were failed and guidelines for retesting.

Retesting Procedures

If an applicant does not pass the certification examination on the first attempt, the applicant will be allowed to retake the examination. The applicant will only be required to retake the sections of the exam that he/she did not pass on the first attempt. The following guidelines apply to applicants who must retest:

Any portion of the test that is failed must be retaken within six months of the initial test, or 18 months from the application date, whichever comes first
A testing fee of $50 will be applied each time a NOMCT panel must be reconvened for retesting, and/or for each section of the exam
If any section of the examination is failed three (3) times, the applicant cannot apply for certification again until additional NBPCB approved training is received

The applicant will be notified of examination scores within thirty (30) days of taking the examination. If the applicant is notified that one or more sections of the test are failed, he or she must contact the NBPCB office to schedule a time to retake the examination. The NBPCB office will provide the applicant with a re-examination place and date after the appropriate fees are paid. Scores for the retesting will be mailed to the applicant within thirty (30) days after completion of the exam. All examination procedures will be the same as the original examination (see Section 5.0).