Physical Therapy

Health/Immunization Requirements

As health care professionals, physical therapists have a duty to protect the public and provide safe, effective physical therapy services. We require students to provide documentation of the following health, screening, and training information. Detailed instructions on completing and documenting these requirements will be sent to incoming students in the spring before starting the DPT program. 

  1. Health Insurance: Health insurance is required for all full-time students at WVU, including DPT students.
  2. Physical Examination: All students must have a history and physical.
  3. Immunizations and Titers
    1. Hepatitis B: 3 shot series, plus titer showing immunity
    2. Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR): 2 shot series, plus titer showing immunity
    3. Varicella (chicken pox):  2 shot series or history of disease, plus titer showing immunity
    4. Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (tDAP): immunization in past 10 years. 
    5. PPD: Two-step Mantoux tuberculin skin test required by October 1 of the first year in the program (Note: students should wait until the fall semester to complete this requirement). Must be updated with a single 1-step PPD annually. 
    6. Polio: Must complete primary series and booster (age 4-6)
    7. Mengingococcus
    8. Influenza (flu vaccine): Required by October 1 of the first year in the program; must be updated annually.
    9. COVID-19 vaccination: While WVU does not require students to be vaccinated for COVID-19, the CDC recommends all health care providers be up-to-date on these vaccines, including available boosters. The majority of clinical education sites (including WVU Medicine) require students to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccination prior to participation in supervised clinical practice experiences that are required for program completion.  
  1. Training in CPR, HIPAA privacy regulations, and OSHA bloodborne pathogens/infection control standards will be included as part of orientation and is mandatory for all students. These must be updated annually. 
  2. Criminal Background Checks: All students are required to obtain a criminal background check prior to starting the DPT program. Clinical education sites may require additional/updated background checks later in the program. 
  3. Drug Screens: All students are required to undergo a 10-panel urine drug screen late in the fall semester of the first year of the DPT program Clinical education sites may require additional/updated drug screens later in the program. 

In the spring prior to entering the DPT program, incoming students will be provided with detailed instructions and forms for completing these requirements and providing th necessary documentation.