What is a College Physical Exam?
College physical is a special-purpose medical exam that is routinely performed prior to admission to certain schools. College physical exam differs from a yearly medical exam because it is typically designed to confirm that you meet the college standards, both physically and medically, to participate in specific activities.
Why do I Need a College Physical Exam?
Some universities and colleges require students to complete a physical exam before they can start their program.
What Happens During a College Physical Exam?
Depending on the requirements set out by your institution, the college physical will typically include the following:
- Review of the required paperwork
- Review of your medical history
- Verification of your immunization records
- Physical exam
- Tuberculosis screening
- Additional testing and/or diagnostics
Your medical history and all documents will be reviewed prior to the physical exam. Additional tests and diagnostics might be recommended following an exam, if necessary.
Do I Need to Bring any Documents for a College Physical?
You should bring all required documents, including properly completed health forms provided by your college or university, immunization records, your primary care physician’s name and contact information, and any relevant health and medical history information with current list of medications used, allergies, and existing medical conditions.
Your immunization records should be accurately documented and should include:
1. History of all the vaccines received up to date
2. The dates the vaccines administered
3. The name, address, and title of the healthcare provider or organization who administered the vaccine
Your information and documents will be reviewed and verified during your college physical exam.
What if I do not have adequate documentation of vaccinations?
Per the CDC’s recommendations, the only acceptable evidence of vaccination is a written and dated record that contains the dates the immunizations were administered as well as the the name and address of the healthcare provider who administered them.
Self-reported doses of vaccine without written documentation will not be generally acceptable, with an exception of influenza and pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23) vaccines.
Therefore, you should attempt to locate your missing vaccination records by contacting your previous healthcare providers, immunization programs at your state or health department where you resided at the time of vaccinations.
In case records cannot be located and will not be available at the time of your appointment, then either an age-appropriate vaccination should be started or, as an alternative, a serologic (blood) testing for immunity for certain antigens (ex. Measles, mumps, rubella) can be performed.
What happens after a college physical exam?
Following your exam, your healthcare provider will fill out the required medical forms with the details of the physical assessment and email to you.
