In order to attain a belt in Shao-Lin, one must learn a pre-determined amount of material, and perform it at a test. 
Techniques range from short and long forms to sparring techniques and self-defense techniques.
Sash ranking is as follows: white, yellow, blue, green, brown (3 degrees) , black (up to 10 degrees).

SASH RANKING

White Sash to Yellow Sash
Self Defense 1-24
Short Forms 1-10
Sparring Techniques 1-10

Yellow Sash to Blue Sash
Short Forms 11-15
Ippon Kumite - One Step Sparring 1-9
Bo Techniques 1-4
Se Mong Tau Lie - Four Door Way Break
Fei Foo Tzu Tung - Flying Tiger Came Out of Cave

Blue Sash to Green Sash
Short Forms 16-22
Sparring Techniques 11-15
Street Fighting Techniques 1-10
Numchaku Techniques -1-12
Tai Pang Sin Kune - Big Bird Spreads its Wings
Se Pa Pang - First Level Bo Kata

Green Sash to 3rd Brown Sash
Short Forms 23-30
Sparring Technique 16-20
Numchaku Techniques 9-16
Lo Han Chien - Fist of Lo Han (Praying Mantis)
Pei Huang Chi Kai Pang - Short Stick of the Northern Beggar

3rd Brown Sash to 2nd Brown Sash
Bai Hur Chon Su - White crane Flips the Wings
Bai Hur Chuan Sip - White Crane Circles the Wings
Bai Hur Chua Chou - White Crane Flips the Legs
San Nije - Iron Man
Je Chan Pa Fang Dao - Night Battle Broadsword

2nd Brown Sash to 1st Brown Sash
Tai Cha - Sai
Se Pa Kuen - 4-8 Staff
Lo Tien - Descent fron Heaven
Chan Ie - Spread the Feathers
Yen Hur - Performing Dove

1st Brown Sash to 1st Black Sash
Ching Kang Foo Hoo Chien - Golden Mountain Tiger Trap
Lien U Chang - Five Directional Palm
Chie Chien - Interconnecting Fist
Hai Loong Chang - Sea Dragon Cane
Kwang Kung Tao - General Kwang's Knife