Under a contract with the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress, the National Federation of the Blind offers a course in mathematics (Nemeth Code) Braille transcribing to teach students to transcribe print mathematics and science materials into Braille.
There is no tuition charge. Necessary instruction materials are provided free of charge by the National Federation of the Blind and can be downloaded from the website.
Students are eligible to take the UEB with Nemeth certification test upon successful completion of the course.
Eligibility
- United States citizenship or residency
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Knowledgeable in recommended braille formats prescribed in Braille Formats Principles of Print-to-Braille Transcription 2016
Prerequisite
- Library of Congress certification in literary Braille transcribing for a minimum of six months (If the Literary Braille Transcribing certificate carries a date earlier than January 1, 2016, the student must also have achieved a Letter of Proficiency in Unified English Braille).
Equipment Required
- A computer using direct input or a software program, or a Perkins Braillewriter
Some sources of manual Braillewriters include the NFB Independence Market, the American Printing House for the Blind, and Howe Press. Some sources of Braille paper (11 by 11 ½ inches, for those not submitting exercises via email) include the NFB Independence Market, the American Printing House for the Blind, Howe Press, and American Thermoform.
How the Course Works
- Instructional manuals can be downloaded from the NFB website.
- Students take the course by correspondence with the NFB. When submitting exercises, a line length of forty cells is to be used, regardless of method of production. Students are encouraged to submit their exercises on a regular basis (at least monthly) and may submit only one lesson at a time.
Certification Test
Final certification tests are sent upon request from the NFB and are evaluated by the NFB. A letter from the student's mathematics Braille instructor must be sent to the NFB attesting that the student has successfully completed the course. Candidates scoring eighty points or above will receive a Library of Congress certificate in Mathematics (Nemeth) transcribing.
How to Enroll
Applicants can enroll in the course in two ways.
Prospective students must submit this application before the course begins.
Or mail a complete print application (Word doc) to:
National Federation of the Blind
Braille Certification Training Program
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, MD 21230
Whether intending to take the course with a local teacher or through correspondence, prospective students must submit this application form before the course begins.
Instructional Manuals
Course Manual, 2025
The course manual has been updated to align with use of UEB with Nemeth. The course is based on The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation 2022, a publication of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA).
Lessons are available in printable PDF, PDF with links for use online, and BRF.
At this time, students are being enrolled in the new course based on the waiting list, and exercises are being provided to students once they have begun. Prospective students will be contacted when we are able to have them begin.
If you find any errors in this instruction manual, please contact us at [email protected].
Printable PDF
Errata (file uploaded January 15, 2026)
Revision Log of PDF Uploads (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Front Matter (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Preliminary Lesson (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 1 Introduction to Code Switching (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 2 More About Punctuation (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 3 Words (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 4 More About Letters (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 5 Signs of Operation, Cont. (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 6 Format (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 7 Displayed Formats (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 8 Introduction to Fractions (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 9 Arrows (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 10 Review of Format for Spatial Arrangements (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 11 Signs of Shape (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 12 Modifiers and Modified Expressions (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 13 Miscellaneous Symbols (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 14 Function Names and Their Abbreviated Forms (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 15 Mathematical Expressions Requiring Runovers (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 16 Spatial Arrangements of Fractions (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 17 System of Equations (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 18 Tables (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Final Lesson (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Addendum 1 (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Addendum 2 (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Addendum 3 (file uploaded September 10, 2025)
PDF With Links
Errata (file uploaded January 15, 2026)
Revision Log of PDF with Links Uploads (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Front Matter (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Preliminary Lesson (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 1 Introduction to Code Switching (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 2 More About Punctuation (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 3 Words (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 4 More About Letters (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 5 Signs of Operation, Cont. (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 6 Format (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 7 Displayed Formats (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 8 Introduction to Fractions (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 9 Arrows (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 10 Review of Format for Spatial Arrangements (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 11 Signs of Shape (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 12 Modifiers and Modified Expressions (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 13 Miscellaneous Symbols (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 14 Function Names and Their Abbreviated Forms (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 15 Mathematical Expressions Requiring Runovers (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 16 Spatial Arrangements of Fractions (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 17 System of Equations (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 18 Tables (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Final Lesson (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Addendum 1 (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Addendum 2 (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Addendum 3 (file uploaded September 10, 2025)
Braille-Ready Format (BRF)
Errata (file uploaded January 15, 2026)
Revision Log of BRF Uploads (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Front Matter (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Preliminary Lesson (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 1 Introduction to Code Switching (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 2 More About Punctuation (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 3 Words (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 4 More About Letters (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 5 Signs of Operation, Cont. (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 6 Format (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 7 Displayed Formats (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 8 Introduction to Fractions (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 9 Arrows (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 10 Review of Format for Spatial Arrangements (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 11 Signs of Shape (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 12 Modifiers and Modified Expressions (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 13 Miscellaneous Symbols (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 14 Function Names and Their Abbreviated Forms (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 15 Mathematical Expressions Requiring Runovers (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 16 Spatial Arrangements of Fractions (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 17 System of Equations (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Lesson 18 Tables (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Final Lesson (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Addendum 1 (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Addendum 2 (file uploaded May 28, 2025)
Addendum 3 (file uploaded September 10, 2025)
More Information
For more information, please email our braille certification training program at [email protected] or call us at 410-659-9314, extension 2510.