This is the checklist we wish every incoming clinical student received on day one — built from the requirements we verify across health science programs every day, and from the rejection reasons we see most often. Print it, adapt it, put your program's name on it. No email gate.
1. Immunizations and titers
- MMR — two documented doses or positive IgG titers.
- Hepatitis B — completed series or positive titer. A series in progress is not a completed series.
- Varicella — two documented doses or positive IgG titer. Childhood chickenpox history alone is usually not accepted.
- Tdap — within the window your program specifies.
- Influenza — annually, usually with a hard seasonal deadline set by clinical sites.
- Trap to avoid: submitting an IgM titer where IgG is required. Full titer guide.
2. TB screening
- Confirm which pathway your program requires: 2-step PPD, QuantiFERON/IGRA blood test, or chest X-ray follow-up. They are not interchangeable at every school.
- Budget 2–4 weeks for a 2-step; an IGRA is one visit.
- Trap to avoid: uploading the placement without the read. Full TB guide.
3. Drug screening
- Typically a 10-panel urine screen before clinicals, sometimes repeated per rotation or randomly.
- Lab-based, chain-of-custody results — retail dip kits are not accepted.
- Order early; results take a few business days, longer if confirmation is needed. Order a $40 screen or read the full guide.
4. Background check
- Confirm the tier: national criminal, sex offender registry, watchlist, and SSN trace at minimum — plus county criminal and FACIS Level 3 where hospitals require healthcare sanctions screening.
- Allow 3–5 business days, longer for some county courts — and note that Mercy College of Health Sciences warns its students a CastleBranch review can take up to 45 days if a conviction is found. What's actually searched.
5. N95 fit testing
- Required before initial respirator use and at least annually under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134, plus whenever the model or size changes.
- Students must be clean-shaven along the seal area — facial hair is a leading failure reason. On-site fit testing.
6. CPR and the rest
- CPR — many programs accept American Heart Association certification only. Track the expiration; lapsed cards pull students from clinicals mid-term.
- Health insurance proof, physical exam, and site-specific forms — each clinical partner may add its own.
Want this tracked automatically instead of on paper?
That's our whole business. $30 per student, unlimited free administrator and faculty accounts, trained staff reviewing every document within 24 hours with specific fix-it notes, automatic email and SMS reminders for expirations, and screening — drug testing, background checks, N95 fit testing — run by the same team through the same portal. Live in 24–48 hours, no long-term contract, family-owned since 1995.
Get a quote or a 20-minute demo — from a human
Every inquiry goes straight to the owners. No ticket queue, no call center, no "your request has been received."
Prefer to talk? Call or text (901) 517-7450 · josh.smith@drugfreeschools.net
Frequently asked questions
Is the checklist really free?
Yes — download the PDF, print it, and hand it to students. No form required, no email gate. If you want help implementing it, the form on this page reaches us directly.
Can we put our program's name on it?
Use it however helps. Programs adapt it into orientation packets and handbooks all the time; requirements vary by school and clinical site, so edit it to match your actual rules.
What are the most common reasons student documents get rejected?
Partial uploads (page 2 of a lab report missing), IgM titers submitted where IgG is required, a TB placement uploaded without the matching read, expired CPR cards, and fit tests older than a year.
How far ahead should students start?
Six to eight weeks before clinicals at minimum. Two-step TB testing alone can take 2–4 weeks, and an equivocal titer requiring a booster and repeat draw can add several more.
Does Drug Free Schools track all of this automatically?
Yes — $30 per student, unlimited free administrator and faculty accounts, with trained staff reviewing every document within 24 hours and automatic reminders for expirations.
CastleBranch, DISA, DISA Healthcare, Complio, American DataBank, Bridges, Verified Credentials, Viewpoint Screening, Med+Proctor, Magnus Health, Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, and Checkr are trademarks of their respective owners. Drug Free Schools is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by these companies. Third-party prices, policies, and events referenced on this page come from public announcements and published school and vendor materials as of July 2026 and may have changed; verify current terms with the vendor. Nothing on this page is legal or medical advice.