Essential Functions

The purpose of the essential functions list is to allow prospective students who are considering a career to be informed of the physical, emotional, and psychological demands related to training and employment in a field of study. These lists are provided to allow prospective students to make informed career choices by providing them with a summary of the physical abilities and personality traits that are generally required for the successful completion of a curriculum and result in employment in a field of study after graduation. For students to be successful in the Automotive Technology programs, they must be able to perform the following essential functions:

Ability to Use Senses.

• Visual: Acuity to identify numbers on tools, read fine print on equipment, or read service manuals.
• Hearing: Ability to hear sounds and emergency signals (with auditory aids or full-time interpreter for the hearing impaired) and to understand a normal speaking voice without direct access to the speaker's face.
• Tactile: Ability to feel heat/cold or pain and evaluate the possible danger of extreme temperatures.

Motor Ability.

• Physical ability to walk on concrete and stand for long periods of time; lift, move, and transfer equipment of at least 50 pounds; and maneuver in limited spaces.
• Ability to work while in hot/humid and/or cold conditions.
• Manual dexterity to efficiently and safely use equipment, power tools and hand tools, and other small and large equipment while wearing essential safety glasses and/or gloves and/or other necessary required safety gear.

Ability to Understand Need for a Safe Work Environment.

• Practical awareness of potential dangers while working with automobiles and automotive equipment.
• Ability to wear necessary safety gear.
• Ability to maintain safe environment at all times.

Ability to Communicate.

• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written forms to class partners and/or team and to instructors.
• Ability to write and perform routine mathematical calculations clearly and correctly.
• Basic proficiency in technology (computers and peripheral components) as the automotive industry requires.

Ability to Problem Solve.

• Intellectual and conceptual ability for measuring, calculating, reasoning, analyzing, and prioritizing daily functions in today's automotive shop.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a sense of urgency without jeopardizing safety.
• Ability to react and adjust as instructed by instructors during lab or shop instruction or based on customer's needs.

Ability to Maintain Emotional Stability.

• Ability to function safely under stress in today's workplace and adapt to changing staff and client/customer situations.
• Ability to maintain composure and professionalism at all times in labs and shop/work environment.