Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

These topics will assist in answering the most frequently asked questions. However if you don't find your answers here please feel free to contact us.

On this page:

Admission procedures and enrollment
The guide to admission includes such topics as eligibility requirements, application for enrollment and foreign student enrollment.
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Accommodations and housing assistance
The guide to accommodations and housing provides assistance and options on places to stay near the school.
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Applied general education (defined)
Applied general education is defined as courses directly applicable to a specific occupational cluster in related natural and physical sciences; social and behavioral sciences; technology; and humanities and fine arts. Examples of the school’s applied general education courses are drafting and lofting.
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Associate Degree of Occupational Studies (AOS)
The AOS degree program includes such topics as general requirements, credit transfers, accumulative credit and course upgrades.
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Books and recommended reading
The icon PDFbooks/reading list provides a selection of reading materials recommended by the school. Additionally the school library houses over 1,200 volumes on a wide variety of maritime subjects and several collections of periodicals. The library is open in the evenings four nights a week.
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Cancellation, termination and refund policies
The guide to cancellation and refund policies includes such topics as cancellations by the school, readmission, refunds and student withdrawals.
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Clock hours and credits (defined)
A clock hour is defined as 50 minutes of instruction in a one-hour period. 20 clock hours of shop-based instruction equals one quarter-credit. 10 clock hours of classroom-based instruction equals one quarter-credit.
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Communications
Personal mail may be sent to the school. It will be placed in your individual message box in the classroom area. A phone is available for local calls out. Students should purchase phone cards in order to make long distance calls. Faxes may be sent for a small fee. A computer station in our library provides student access to the World Wide Web and personal email accounts.
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Financial aid
The guide to financial aid includes information for veterans, Canadian residents and student loan programs.
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General education credits (defined)
General education is defined as courses which are designed to develop essential basic academic skills. General education courses are not offered at the boat school. Students without the required general education credits may elect to take evening courses at iconPeninsula College in Port Townsend or iconWashington State University Learning Center in Port Hadlock.
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Job placement and advisory
The school is in contact with potential employers across the country and around the world. We post incoming notices of employment opportunities on our Student Notices board. We also maintain a database of employers who have inquired of the school and this information is available in a three-ring binder in the library. The school tracks graduates and keeps a record of their work and boatbuilding histories.
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Prerequisites for courses
Prerequisites are listed with each course description and successful completion of a prerequisite course is required before a student can move ahead.
Students with prior and documented education or skills training from other schools or institutions may submit transcripts, certificates and course outlines to the Chief Instructor who will determine if such training is the equivalent of the boat school’s.
Occasionally, students will have skills and expertise they’ve developed as professional or amateur woodworkers that will qualify them for upper level courses. Such applicants will be asked to submit a resume, photographs of their work, employer references and other material to the Chief Instructor for evaluation.
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Recreation and entertainment
The guide to recreation and entertainment includes programs through the school and other local resources.
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Risk and insurance
Many of our courses involve some level of risk. Enrollees assume full responsibility for their safety and must provide their own health and accident insurance. Before a course begins you will be required to sign health/risk and hold harmless waivers as part of the registration process.
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Standards of conduct
The guide to standards of conduct includes information on policies regarding smoking, alcohol and drugs, safety rules, pets and personal projects.
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Student body - your fellow students
The only recognizable common thread within the goals expressed by the people who come here is an affinity for wood, boats and fine craftsmanship. You will find that your fellow students are of all ages and come from all walks of life. Students include recent high school graduates, middle-aged workers and professionals making a career change, and retirees learning new skills. Most of our students have vocational goals, while some simply express personal or avocational reasons for attending.
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Tools and course materials
Full-time programs: A guide to required tools is mailed with each student’s enrollment confirmation packet. Most tools can be ordered through the school and can be picked up on the first day of class.
Workshops and Supplemental Courses: Some courses require you bring tools or equipment. A complete tool list will be mailed to you with your registration packet. Materials are included in the tuition cost unless otherwise noted in the course description. In some cases materials cost may change with market conditions.
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Training standards and satisfactory progress
The guide to training standards and satisfactory progress policies provides information on attendance requirements, the school grading system and graduation standards.
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Transcripts and student records
Student records are kept for a minimum of fifty years from the date of each student's enrollment. A request for a copy of your academic transcripts must be made in writing to:

Student Services Administrator
Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding
42 N. Water Street
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
(360) 385-4948
General info:  info@nwboatschool.org
Enrollment:  enrollment@nwboatschool.org
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Tuition and program costs
The icon PDFcurrent tuition scale for our vocational degree program includes current tuition costs, clock hours and credits by program.
Tuition costs for supplemental programs and summer workshops are listed with each course description.
Net Price Calculator (estimate your financial assistance)
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Work and study at the school
You will typically spend two to three hours per day, three to four days per week attending lectures for up to 50 students in the main classroom. Instructors conduct demonstrations, educational meetings and field trips for smaller groups.
The school is open according to posted school hours and students generally attend school for seven clock hours per day. There is one coffee break in the morning, a lunch break and one afternoon break.
After classes, everyone cleans up assigned areas around the campus. The work shops and the library remain open after school hours several days per week.
Much of your day will be spent within a work group of 8 to 12 students assigned to an instructor doing hands-on activities on the shop floors, working on bench projects, drafting, lofting and building vessels.
Besides your regular woodworking and boatbuilding study and practice, you will also participate in aspects of the work of a boatshop, which include sorting, selecting and milling lumber, blocking up and moving boats, sanding, painting and varnishing, and adjusting and servicing tools.
You will find the environment here rich in learning experiences and you will have the opportunity to help the instructors shape your individual boatbuilding education.
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Source: Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding • http://www.nwboatschool.org
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