4.1 Introduction

Technical assistance manual on the employment provisions (Title I) of the Americans With Disabilities Act

IV. ESTABLISHING NONDISCRIMINATORY QUALIFICATION STANDARDS AND SELECTION CRITERIA

The ADA does not prohibit an employer from establishing job–related qualification standards, including education skills, work experience, and physical and mental standards necessary for job performance, health and safety.

The Act does not interfere with an employer’s authority to establish appropriate job qualifications to hire people who can perform jobs effectively and safely, and to hire the best qualified person for a job. ADA requirements are designed to assure that people with disabilities are not excluded from jobs that they can perform.

ADA requirements apply to all selection standards and procedures, including, but not limited to:

• education and work experience requirements;
• physical and mental requirements;
• safety requirements;
• paper and pencil tests;
• physical or psychological tests;
• interview questions; and
• rating systems.