Occupational Color Vision Test Requirements Database

📋 Notes & Caveats

• Data currency: This database was last updated October 9, 2026. Regulatory standards change — always verify with the official source.
• Employer vs. regulatory: The thresholds shown are regulatory minimums. Individual employers, departments, training programs, or unions may impose stricter requirements.
• State police variation: Each state sets its own standards — and many set none at all. We now document NY, MI, CA, PA, TX, FL, IL and OH. A 2024 MCOLES review of 50 state-level agencies found 33 had no colour-vision standard, 14 had one, and 3 did not respond. If your state isn’t listed, check your state POST website.
• Departments can be stricter than the state: Where a state sets no colour-vision standard (Texas, Florida, Illinois and Ohio, for example), the hiring agency very often fills the gap — common requirements include “no colour blindness” or “colour vision within normal ranges.” Always check the specific department, not just the state POST commission.
• Color-correcting lenses: Some regulatory bodies explicitly prohibit color-correcting glasses or contacts during testing (FAA: no X-Chrom; USCG: no color-sensing lenses). Consult your examiner before testing with any corrective device.
• About the FAA 2025 change: The Jan 1, 2025 mandate applies to new pilot applicants. Previously certified pilots are grandfathered. ATCS standards remain unchanged.
• Data quality: Some entries show specific, verified thresholds (e.g., “9/13” for NY police). Others show general guidance where no universal standard exists (e.g., “varies by employer”). We mark general entries as employer-dependent or state-specific.
• Medical field: Unlike other career categories, medical color vision requirements are enforced at the specialty/residency level rather than through a standardized test threshold. The information here is directional.
• FALANT retirement: The Farnsworth Lantern (FALANT) has been retired by the U.S. military — the Navy stopped accepting it for new applicants on 1 January 2017 and the other services have moved to computerized testing. It still appears in older documents and remains named in the USCG regulation at 46 CFR § 10.305, so treat any FALANT reference as legacy rather than current.
• NFPA 1582 at a glance: The standard asks for “sufficient colour perception to safely perform all essential job tasks.” Red-green deficiency is assessed case by case (Category B); only monochromatic vision that prevents use of imaging devices such as thermal cameras is a Category A disqualifier.
• Military standards: DoDI 6130.03-V1 sets no single color vision rule — it delegates to the individual service components (Change 6, February 3, 2026). Color vision deficiencies are waiverable in most branches under DoDMERB code D156.10; the Coast Guard has no waiver pathway.
• Railroad testing: FRA conductor color vision standards sit in 49 CFR § 242.117 with Appendix D. Failing the initial test is not necessarily final — § 242.117(j) allows further medical evaluation by the railroad’s medical examiner, who may still certify the person with restrictions.

What color vision test do I need to pass to become a pilot?

As of January 1, 2025, FAA pilot applicants must pass one of three computer-based tests: the CAD test (RG ≤1.7 for normal color vision), the Rabin Cone Contrast Test (score ≥55 for each color), or the Waggoner CCVT (General ≥21/25 + Tritan ≥10/12). The paper Ishihara test is no longer accepted for new pilot applicants. Existing pilots who previously passed any FAA-approved test are grandfathered. See the Aviation section above for full thresholds.

Can you be a nurse with color blindness?

Yes, in most cases. There is no universal ban on colorblind nurses in the US. Nursing schools evaluate on a case-by-case basis, and some hospitals may test. Color discrimination is important for medication identification, lab result interpretation, and skin assessment, but accommodations (labeling systems, color-assist tools, asking colleagues to verify) typically apply. The nursing color vision guide covers this in depth.

Can I be a police officer with color blindness?

It depends on your state — and many states set no colour-vision standard at all. New York requires a minimum of 9/13 correct on the Ishihara 24-plate (9 NYCRR § 6000.7) and Pennsylvania requires “normal depth and color perception” (37 Pa. Code § 203.11), while Texas, Florida, Illinois and Ohio leave it to the examining physician or the local agency. California POST typically requires 10/14 to 12/14 and Michigan MCOLES evaluates case by case. A 2024 review of 50 state-level agencies found 33 had no colour-vision standard. Where the state is silent, the hiring department usually fills the gap, so check both.

Can colorblind people become electricians?

Yes. OSHA has explicitly stated it has no color vision standard for electricians (2004 interpretation letter). Many colorblind electricians work successfully using practical accommodations: color filters, multimeters for verification, numbered ferrule systems, and documented wire labeling. Some JIB apprenticeship programs may test, but the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires reasonable accommodations.

Does the DOT have color vision requirements for CDL drivers?

The FMCSA requires commercial drivers to be able to distinguish red, green, and amber traffic signals (49 CFR § 391.41/§ 391.44). There is no fixed Ishihara number. If you cannot pass the color recognition screening, an FMCSA Vision Exemption is available — the process takes 180–240 days and the exemption is valid for 2 years with annual medical exams required. A minor 2026 rule change removed an obsolete grandfathering provision but did not change the current standard.

Is New York changing its police color vision requirements?

Not right now — the bill stalled. NY S04389 passed the Senate in May 2026 but was still sitting in the Assembly Governmental Employees Committee when the 2025–2026 session adjourned sine die. It did not become law, and New York bills do not carry over between two-year terms, so it would have to be reintroduced from scratch. The current standard therefore remains 9/13 on the Ishihara 24-plate. This was the second attempt — a similar 2024 bill (S6162) was vetoed by Gov. Hochul in November 2024.

What was the FAA 2025 color vision testing change?

Effective January 1, 2025, the FAA replaced the traditional paper Ishihara plate test with computer-based color vision testing (CAD, Rabin Cone Contrast Test, or Waggoner CCVT) for all new pilot applicants. This change was driven by concerns over test standardization, fading paper plates, memorization, and the increasing prevalence of color displays in cockpits. Previously certified pilots who passed any prior FAA-approved test are grandfathered and do not need to retest.

Which military branch is strictest about color blindness?

The Coast Guard is the strictest — any color vision deficiency is disqualifying for general enlistment, and there is no waiver pathway. The Army is the most flexible: combat arms roles require only red/green discrimination. The Air Force is strictest for aviation roles (pilots, navigators, ATC require normal color vision). Navy and Marine Corps fall in between. Since the retirement of the FALANT lantern test, secondary testing uses the Rabin Cone Contrast Test (≥55 per cone type) or Waggoner CCVT, and most colour vision deficiencies are waiverable — the Coast Guard being the exception.

Can you be a firefighter with color blindness?

Yes, in most cases. NFPA 1582 requires only “sufficient colour perception to safely perform all essential job tasks” and does not mandate a specific test or numeric pass mark. Red-green colour deficiency is not automatically disqualifying — it is assessed case by case against the 13 essential job tasks. Only monochromatic vision that prevents use of imaging devices such as thermal cameras is a Category A disqualifier. Departments commonly screen with Ishihara and fall back to the Farnsworth D-15 or Waggoner CCVT if it is failed; mild deficiencies that pass the D-15 are generally cleared. Note that individual departments set their own requirements, and military firefighter roles are stricter.