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Official website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Health Requirements to Attend School in PA

    Is your child entering grades K, 3, 6, 7, 11, or 12? Or are they a new student? Pennsylvania requires certain exams and immunizations for school-aged students.

    Please note: The PA Department of Health does not accept completed forms directly from parents and guardians. Please reach out to your school nurse to determine how to submit the information. 

    Students entering Kindergarten, 7th grade, 12th grade, and all new students are required to have certain immunizations prior to attending school.

    A student must have the required doses complete, or medically appropriate doses up to date and a plan in place for remaining doses by the fifth day of school, or they are at risk of exclusion. For a single dose vaccine, the child must have this vaccine before the first day of school or the child may be excluded from attending. 

    Kindergarten (and for attendence in all grades):

    • Four doses of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (one dose on or after the fourth birthday) *
    • Four doses of polio (fourth dose on or after fourth birthday and at least six months after previous dose given) **
    • Two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
    • Three doses of hepatitis B
    • Two doses of varicella (chickenpox) or evidence of immunity
      *usually given as DTP or DTaP or DT or Td
      **A fourth dose not necessary if the third dose was administered at age 4 years or older and at least six months after the previous dose.

    7th grade
    In addition to all other required grade school immunizations:

      • One dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) on the first day of seventh grade
      • One dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) on the first day of seventh grade
        Note: If a child gains entrance to school in any succeeding year, the same immunizations are required on the first day.

      12th grade
      In addition to all other required grade school immunizations:

        • One dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) on the first day of 12th grade. If one dose was given at 16 years of age or older, that shall count as the 12th grade dose.

        These requirements allow for the following exemptions: medical reason, religious belief, or philosophical/strong moral or ethical conviction. Even if your child is exempt from immunizations, he or she may be excluded from school during an outbreak of vaccine preventable disease.

        Additional Information

         

        Students entering Kindergarten, 6th grade, 11th grade, and all new students are required to have a physical exam completed. This requirement may be completed by the student's primary care provider (MD, DO, CRNP, PA) or by the school provider. Parents and guardians using their private health care provider may provide the below form for the provider’s office to complete:

        Students entering Kindergarten, 3rd grade, 7th grade, and all new students are required to have a dental exam completed. This requirement may be completed by the student’s primary dental provider or by the school provider.

        Parents and guardians using their private dentist for the exam may provide the form below for the dental office to complete: