Technical Standards

NBSS faculty have determined that in order to successfully complete our programs, students must have and demonstrate the following physical and cognitive skills and abilities, with or without reasonable accommodation.

NBSS is a welcoming community committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and our alumni have successful careers at many levels of ability. The standards outlined here are meant as a guideline so that you understand the commitment to training at NBSS, as well as industry standards.

For those who self-identify as having a disability, NBSS provides reasonable accommodations. We will work with you individually to determine whether reasonable accommodations can be provided through our 504 Coordinator. To learn more, please contact NBSS Admissions at admissions@nbss.edu.

Cognitive Abilities

To process, synthesize, organize and learn new material.
To plan a variety of activities and projects.
To obtain information for processing through primary senses.
To solve problems independently.
To utilize basic math concepts for measurement and construction & repair tasks.
To imitate or mimic role modeling.
To follow written, verbal, and demonstrated instructions in English.
To visualize three dimensional objects.

Communications Skills

To communicate effectively with faculty, staff and other professionals.
To orally report observations.
To read English sufficiently to understand and comprehend technical books, written protocols, and plans.
To write English sufficiently to record notes legibly.
To express thoughts clearly.

Adaptive Skills

To maintain a professional attitude during all work performance.
To work individually and as part of a team.
To adjust to changes in scheduling and flexibility to meet department or faculty needs.
To identify one’s own strengths and weaknesses and to request assistance when needed.
To respect and work with fellow students, staff, faculty, clients and employers.
To maintain emotional stability and the maturity necessary to interact with other members of the faculty, students and professionals in a responsible manner.

Physical Abilities

(See also program-specific requirements below)

To stoop to adjust tools and materials.
To kneel to adjust tools and materials.
To crouch to adjust tools and materials.
To crawl to adjust tools and materials.
To reach to obtain items overhead.
To be mobile within the work facility and on site.
To climb, balance, and work on a step stool, ladder, and scaffolding.
To move from sitting to standing.
To work an 8-10 hour day with reasonable breaks, sitting and standing at a workbench.

Manual Abilities

(See also program-specific requirements below)

To manipulate fine motor tasks.
To locate and examine materials.
To use assistive technology, computer, typing, writing for documentation.
Gross and fine motor skills to manipulate tools and materials.
Sufficient manual dexterity and mobility to manipulate tools and materials.

Sensory Abilities

(See also program-specific requirements below)

Visual
- To observe projects and demonstrations.
- Ability to see fine detail up close.
Auditory
- To receive verbal directions in English.
- To be aware of activity in a shop or on site.
Tactile
- To identify touch, pressure, temperature, and texture.

Additional Program-Specific Technical Standards

Physical Abilities

To lift to carry or maneuver tools and materials weighing up to 25 lbs.

Sensory Abilities

Visual: Ability to color match.

Physical Abilities

To lift to carry or maneuver tools and materials weighing up to 50 lbs.

Physical Abilities

To lift to carry or maneuver tools and materials weighing up to 60 lbs.
To work an 8-10 hour day with reasonable breaks on a jobsite, indoors and outdoors in all seasons.

Physical Abilities

To lift to carry or maneuver tools and materials weighing up to 15 lbs.

Physical Abilities

To lift to carry or maneuver tools and materials weighing up to 50 lbs.
To work an 8-10 hour day with reasonable breaks on a jobsite, indoors and outdoors in all seasons.

Physical Abilities

To lift to carry or maneuver tools and materials weighing up to 45 lbs., using both hands to hold the item in front of you and able to walk across the room with the item being carried.
To move from sitting to standing repetitively with ease.

Manual Abilities

Each hand should be able to span a minimum of 7” when outstretched, from tip of thumb to tip of pinky finger. Needed to play an octave, which is required for aural tuning.

Sensory Abilities

Auditory
- Hearing test recommended. Program is based on aural tuning.
- The ability to hear frequencies in the range of 25 hz to 4000 hz with or without assistive devices.
- The ability to discern tone quality and range in an acoustic, musical instrument.

Physical Abilities

To lift to carry or maneuver tools and materials weighing up to 60 lbs.
To work an 8-10 hour day with reasonable breaks on a jobsite, indoors and outdoors in all seasons.

Sensory Abilities

Auditory
- The ability to discern tone quality and range in an acoustic, musical instrument.
- The ability to hear and distinguish sounds at low volumes.

For questions, please contact NBSS Admissions at admissions@nbss.edu.

Technical Standards