The TSA color vision test belongs to the medical-evaluation stage of Transportation Security Officer hiring. It is not the same thing as the earlier computer-based assessment for image-interpretation aptitude.
TSA’s current TSO hiring page says the medical evaluation includes, but is not limited to, a physical exam, color-vision test, distance-vision test, and hearing exam. The detailed TSA Medical & Psychological Guidelines then provide the current vision standards used for Transportation Security Officer medical review.
This page summarizes those public guidelines. It does not diagnose a vision condition or predict an individual medical decision.
For a TSA-only medical-stage walkthrough that connects vision requirements with SOMQ preparation, appointment documents and the rest of Step 6, use our specialist TSA Career medical-evaluation guide. TSA Career is part of our own network; the official TSA medical documents remain controlling.
Where color vision fits in the hiring process
TSA currently places the medical evaluation at Step 6 of the TSO process, after the Airport Assessment and before the background check.
The earlier computer-based assessment and the later medical vision checks have different purposes:
| Stage | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Computer-based assessment | TSA currently describes this as evaluating image-interpretation aptitude |
| Medical vision evaluation | Determines whether the applicant meets TSO medical standards for vision and related job functions |
Practising visual-comparison questions cannot substitute for medical qualification.
Current TSA visual-acuity standards
The current TSO Medical Guidelines state the following visual-acuity standards, corrected or uncorrected:
- Distant visual acuity: 20/20 or better binocularly.
- Intermediate visual acuity: 20/20 or better binocularly at 26 to 32 inches.
- Near visual acuity: 20/20 or better binocularly at 16 inches.
The guidelines also address field of vision and other eye conditions.
Because the official document is medical guidance and can be updated, always review the current TSA PDF linked below rather than relying on a copied number from an older preparation page.
Current color-vision standard
The current TSO Medical Guidelines state that restrictions are provided for errors on moderate or severe classification plates using the Hardy-Rand-Rittler pseudoisochromatic plates, 4th edition.
The same guidelines state that tinted lenses are not allowed to meet the color-vision standard.
That is more precise than saying TSA simply uses a generic “color-blindness test.” The official medical process uses a defined clinical standard.
Field of vision
The current TSA guidelines state that restrictions are provided if the horizontal meridian is less than 120 degrees binocularly.
The document also contains additional guidance for monocular vision and formal perimetry when applicable.
If you have a known field-of-vision condition, use the official guidelines with your treating eye-care professional rather than relying on a web quiz.
What to bring to the medical appointment
TSA’s current medical checklist says candidates should:
- bring glasses or contact lenses with an up-to-date prescription if they use them;
- consider bringing results of a recent eye exam, especially if they have not had one in the last 12 months;
- bring the completed SOMQ and requested medical documentation;
- bring two valid forms of identification, including a government-issued photo ID;
- bring the sealed TSA Medical Kit and not open or tamper with it.
For the full medical-stage checklist, use the TSA Medical Evaluation guide.
Can you practise for the TSA color vision test?
Commercial color-plate quizzes may help someone understand what pseudoisochromatic testing looks like in general, but they are not an authoritative way to predict TSA medical qualification.
Screen calibration, brightness, device color reproduction, and non-clinical test materials make browser-based color quizzes unsuitable as a substitute for the official medical evaluation.
If you know you have a color-vision condition or uncertainty about your eyesight, a current clinical eye examination is more useful than repeatedly taking online color plates.
What if you do not meet an initial medical standard?
TSA’s current Medical Guidelines describe an individualized medical-assessment process and state that candidates who are medically disqualified are informed of the determination and may appeal by notifying the evaluating physician and providing supporting documentation.
An outside preparation site cannot determine whether an appeal will succeed.
Follow the instructions in the medical determination you receive and provide relevant documentation through the official channel.
Color vision vs TSA CBT image interpretation
Candidates often mix these two topics because both involve vision.
Computer-based assessment
TSA’s current TSO page says qualified applicants may be invited to a computer-based test that evaluates image interpretation aptitude.
That is an employment assessment.
Color-vision medical screening
Color vision is evaluated later as part of the medical stage under TSA medical standards.
That is a fitness-for-duty medical evaluation.
Use the TSA CBT guide for the computer-based assessment and this page only for medical vision requirements.
Official sources checked for this update
- TSA Transportation Security Officer / Security Support Assistant page — current hiring sequence and medical-stage summary.
- What to Expect During Your Medical Evaluation — current candidate preparation checklist.
- TSA Medical & Psychological Guidelines for Transportation Security Officers — current detailed vision and color-vision standards.
Related pages
FAQ
Is the TSA color vision test part of the CBT?
No. TSA currently lists color-vision testing under the later medical-evaluation stage.
What color test do the current TSA guidelines name?
The current TSO Medical Guidelines refer to the Hardy-Rand-Rittler pseudoisochromatic plates, 4th edition.
Can tinted lenses be used to meet the color-vision standard?
The current guidelines state that tinted lenses are not allowed to meet the color-vision standard.
What visual acuity does TSA currently publish for TSO medical review?
The current guidelines state 20/20 or better binocularly for distant, intermediate, and near visual acuity, corrected or uncorrected, with the specified testing distances for intermediate and near vision.
Can I use an online color test to know if I will pass?
No. Browser-based color tests are not substitutes for the official medical evaluation or a clinical eye examination.