Exxat is a genuinely strong platform, and we'll say so plainly. Its compliance add-on, Exxat Approve, centralizes the collection, review, and approval of compliance documents — from flu shots to drug screens — backed by a dedicated team of licensed medical professionals. Exxat reports serving 1,300+ programs across 550+ academic institutions, announced its 500th program on Approve in June 2023, and in October 2024 was selected as the compliance and placement vendor by a consortium led by the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center spanning 30+ academic institutions and 50+ sites. The University of Florida College of Nursing directs students admitted beginning Spring 2024 to use Exxat APPROVE for health requirements — while PhD students, students admitted before Spring 2024, and international students continue on CastleBranch. If you want one ecosystem covering curriculum, placements, and compliance, Exxat belongs on your list.
So when is it the wrong fit?
- When you only need the compliance half. Approve is positioned as an add-on to Exxat Prism. If your placement scheduling already works, adopting an ecosystem to get document review is a large purchase for a specific problem.
- When you also need the screening performed, not just verified. Somebody still has to collect the urine, run the background check, and fit-test 60 students. We do all of it in-house — including on-site campus events — and verify it in the same portal.
- When you want to keep the tools you have. We're happy to be the compliance and screening layer under a placement platform you already like. No rip-and-replace required.
- When budget is the constraint. $30 per student, unlimited free administrator and faculty accounts, no long-term contract, and screening priced at $25–$40 per drug test and $35–$70 per background check.
Side by side, honestly
| Exxat (Prism + Approve) | Drug Free Schools | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Full ecosystem: curriculum, placements, evaluations, compliance add-on | Compliance verification + the screening itself |
| Document review | Delegated review by a team including licensed medical professionals | Trained staff, every document, within 24 hours, with specific fix-it notes |
| Performs the screening | Orders through integrated screening partners | We are the screening company — on-site events, Quest network, Checkr, N95 fit testing |
| Fits alongside your existing tools | Designed as a connected ecosystem | Yes — keep your placement platform, we handle compliance and screening |
| Ownership & scale | Ed-tech company, 400+ person support team, SOC 2 certified | Same family since 1995 — you get the owners |
The honest recommendation
If your institution wants one vendor for curriculum mapping, placements, evaluations, and compliance — and has budget for the suite — Exxat is a legitimate choice and we'd rather you hear that from us than discover it later. If you want compliance verification and screening done by people who answer the phone, at per-student pricing with no ecosystem commitment, get a quote from us and compare.
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
What is Exxat Approve?
A delegated compliance service offered as an add-on to Exxat's Prism platform. Exxat describes Approve as centralizing the collection, review, and approval of compliance documents — from flu shots to drug screens — supported by a dedicated team of licensed medical professionals.
Who uses Exxat?
Exxat reports 1,300+ programs across 550+ academic institutions. A consortium led by the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center selected Exxat in October 2024 across 30+ academic institutions and 50+ sites. The University of Florida College of Nursing directs students admitted beginning Spring 2024 to Exxat APPROVE, while PhD students, earlier cohorts, and international students remain on CastleBranch — a phased transition rather than a clean break.
Why would a program look for an alternative?
Usually because Approve is an add-on to a larger platform. If you already have placement scheduling you like — or you only need compliance verification and screening — buying into a full ecosystem to get document review can be more platform than the problem requires.
How is Drug Free Schools different?
We do compliance verification and the screening itself — drug testing, background checks, N95 fit testing — as one company. $30/student portal with unlimited free admin seats, human review within 24 hours, on-site campus collection events, no long-term contracts, and we're family-owned since 1995.
Can we run Drug Free Schools alongside our placement platform?
Yes. Many programs keep their scheduling or placement tool and use us for compliance verification and screening. We don't require you to replace systems that already work.
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.