Main Menu
Admissions
Arts Center
College Info
New Students
Current Students
On-Line Services
Student Services
Activities/Athletics
Contact Information
Website Info
Main Menu above

Prospective Students

Welcome to the Disability/Special Needs Support Services at Northwest Florida State College.  We hope the information you find on this page will assist you in your future academic endeavors. 

The requirements for admissions for students with special needs are no different from any other person applying to Northwest Florida State College.  The College does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to any of its programs or activities; therefore, the admission process is the same for all students.

Step-by-Step Guide to Starting College at Northwest Florida State College

  1. Complete the Application for Admission and the Residency forms which are available at all six Northwest Florida State College locations or download the forms from the website at www.nwfsc.edu/Admissions/. On-line submission of the forms is also available.  There is no cost to apply for admissions to Northwest Florida State College.  Submit the completed forms in person to any Northwest Florida State College site, or by mail or fax.  Fax #: (850) 729-5323.  Mail:  Northwest Florida State College Admissions, 100 College Boulevard, Niceville, FL  32578-1295. 

  2. Request Official Transcripts – Request appropriate official transcripts and have these sent to Northwest Florida State College.  Depending on your educational background, these may include:  high school transcript, GED diploma, Home Educated Affidavit, official college and/or university transcripts from any previous college attended, and official score reports from CLEP, DANTES, AP or IB.  Official transcripts should be sent to:  Admissions Office, Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Boulevard, Niceville, FL  32578. 

  3. Take a Placement Test – First-time-in-college students (those with no prior college credit) must take the Florida College Placement Test (PERT).  Test scores assist Northwest Florida State College to place students in appropriate level classes based on their academic skills.  Scores are not used to determine admission.  The PERT if offered at all Northwest Florida State College locations and is free of charge.  Call any site for a testing appointment.  Should you need accommodations for the PERT, you need to contact the Counselor for Disability Services at 729-6079. Test scores from the ACT, SAT or other approved placement tests may be accepted in place of the PERT if the scores are no more than two years old and meet the established cut-offs.  Those student who have a bachelor’s degree or transfer students who have satisfactorily completed college English, Humanities, and Math courses are not required to take the placement test and must have official college transcripts on file at Northwest Florida State College.  For more information and a study guide for the placement testing, go to the testing website at www.nwfsc.edu/Testing/ 

  4. Complete an Orientation – New Student Orientation is required, whether you are new to college or a transfer student.  You may meet this requirement by participating in a computerized New Student Orientation, which is available at the college website at www.nwfsc.edu/orientation. 

  5. Meet with a Northwest Florida State College Advisor - All new students who test into one or more preparatory courses are required to meet with an educational advisor/counselor before they can register for classes.  To schedule an appointment with an advisor contact Northwest Florida State College in Niceville (729-6922, Fort Walton 863-6508, Eglin AFB 678-1717, Hurlburt Field 884-6296, Crestview 689-7911, or DeFuniak Springs 892-8100.

  6. Register for Classes and Pay Fees.

Step-by-Step Guide for Self-identifying at Northwest Florida State College

  1. Several months before the first day of class, complete the Disablilty/Special Needs Support Services Application form which can be found under Forms on this web site.

  2. Submit written documentation of your disability to the Disability Office at least 10 days before making an intake interview appointment with the Counselor, Disability Services. See the link under Documentation Guidelines for appropriate documentation.  The written report must be current and provided by a qualified professional such as a physician, audiologist, psychologist, psychiatrist, learning disability specialist, VA counselor or counselor for the Division of Blind Services.  This information will assist the college in determining adequate, appropriate and reasonable accommodations.

  3. The documentation must state:
    • Diagnosis with specific evidence of a disability and suggested accommodations to validate the request for academic and co-curricular accommodations
    • Test scores which support a cognitive or learning disability
    • Medications and any adverse side effects
    • IEP alone and doctor's notes on a prescription ARE NOT acceptable forms of documentation. See Documentation Guidelines.

  4. Provisional accommodations might be offered in the interim, but a final determination of accommodations will not be complete until your documentation is complete.


  5. Call 729-6079 to schedule an intake appointment after the submitted documentation is received by the Disability Service Office.

Step-by-Step Guide for Receiving Accommodations in the Classroom

  1. If you wish to receive support services in one or all of your classes, complete the Request for Accommodations form each term in which services are needed and submit it to Disability Support Services.   These forms are located in the Student Services area of each Northwest Florida State College site and on this website under Forms.  Remember that the accommodations must be appropriate for the disability.
  1. It is important that you request accomodations at the time of registration and when you make any schedule changes, when classes are cancelled, etc. At least ten (10) working days are needed for accomodations to be made; longer time may be required if personnel such as American Sign Languauge Interpreters are to be hired by the college. You may request accomodations at any point during the semester. However, to increase your chances for success, please make requests at the time of registration.
  1. Contact the Counselor for Disability Services prior to the beginning of each term in order to discuss any necessary changes in your schedule or your accommodations.
  1. In the event you encounter any difficulty or other concern regarding your accommodations, contact the Counselor for Disability Services immediately.