Education Law Article 19 and Regulations of the Commissioner of Education (8 NYCRR) require physical examinations of public school students:
1. Entering the school district for the first time, and entering grades pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11; and at any grade level by school administration, in their discretion to promote the educational interests of the student.
Explanation: Any new student must provide a physical within 30 days of entering the district and the physical must have been done within one calendar year of the date of entrance.
Students entering pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 must have a physical on file at the school within 30 days of the start of the year in which it is required and the physical must have been done within one calendar year of the date that school started. We use September 1st as the day school every year for simplicity. The state gives the parent the entire year before the physical is required to obtain one. For example if your student is entering 5th grade, any physical done from September 1st of their 4th grade year until September 30th of their 5th grade year will meet the requirement.
2. In order to participate in strenuous physical activity, such as interscholastic athletics. Please note Quest participants need a current physical on file too.
Explanation: A physical done for sports/quest is valid for 12 continuous months and through the last day of the month in which the exam was completed. The physical remains valid until the end of the current sports/quest season. For example if your student had their physical August 1, 2016 and wants to participate in a fall sport starting August 11, 2017 the physical would be good. However if the physical was done July 30, the physical would not be valid.
NOTE: Parents of these students must also complete the “Preparticipation/Interval Athletic Health History” at the time of the physical.
3. In order to obtain an employment certificate.
Explanation: The physical exam must have been performed within one calendar year of the signing of the certificate.
4. When conducting an individual evaluation or reevaluation of a student suspected of having a disability or a student with a disability.
Explanation: The physical exam must have been performed within one calendar year of the date of the meeting.
Commissioner’s Regulation 136.3 requires that each student submit a health certificate documenting a health examination performed by the student’s primary medical provider. A health examination performed by the school medical director is a health appraisal. Each certificate or appraisal shall be signed by a duly licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, who is authorized by law to practice in the state of New York.
