School physicals
Book your school physicals today
Now is the time to schedule your child’s back-to-school physical. Make an appointment with your primary care provider today.
Who needs a school physical?
- Children who are new to the state of Illinois: Regardless of age, if your child will be attending school in Illinois for the first time they must turn in a physical exam before entering school for the first time.
- Children entering these grades: Early childhood, kindergarten or first grade (if the first year in school), sixth grade, and ninth grade.
Please be aware that a child's athletic physical exam does not meet the sixth- or ninth-grade physical exam requirements. If your child will participate in a school sporting event, have your doctor complete a sports physical at the same time as your child's physical exam.
When is the deadline for my child’s physical?
The deadline for physicals varies by each school district. Check with your child’s school, especially if you are new to the district or state.
State law requires students who do not have either the health exam or required vaccines to be excluded from school until all vaccines and the health exam are completed. Please check with your district for deadlines.
If your child has had a physical recently, check with your pediatrician’s office for the right forms. The exam must be completed no earlier than a year (365 days) before the start of attendance at an Illinois school.
Where can we get school physicals?
Make an appointment with your child's health care provider. If you don't have a provider, SIU Medicine can schedule you with a physician who can complete the physicals.
Community groups also offer clinics for back-to-school-related health care during the summer.
Helpful links
Children entering kindergarten, 6th grade and 9th grade are required to have updated immunizations and a school physical. Below is the form from IDPH:
Students who participate in sports at the middle or high school level must have a sports physical exam. The exam is vailed for one year and cannot expire during the child's time in a sport. Below are the forms from IDPH:
For children entering kindergarten, 2nd grade and 6th grade, a school dental exam/waiver is required. See more below to complete the forms:
If your child is entering kindergarten a vision exams/waivers is required.