Student Requirements
Due to the nature of health professions, College of Medicine students are held to a high standard of professional behavior and conduct. As health care professionals in training, we expect students to be familiar with and adhere to the immunization requirements listed on this webpage.
Compliance Requirements (Background Checks, Drug Screens, Immunizations, and others)
All students in the College of Medicine are required to have full background checks and ten-panel drug screenings before beginning at UK COM. The college works with a company called CastleBranch to meet these requirements.
Students are also required to submit proof of immunizations and other program specific requirements. Immunization requirements are listed below. Other program specific requirements will be listed on your class Canvas page prior to orientation week.
Immunization Requirements
All matriculating students must provide evidence of immunity to certain vaccine-preventable illnesses at the time of entry into the UK College of Medicine. These requirements reflect Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and UK HealthCare policies. The following immunizations are required for all students:
- Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis (Tdap)
- Varicella
- Hepatitis B
- Influenza (annually Sept. 1 – Nov. 1)
- COVID-19
If a learner has a medical contraindication or would like to request an individual exemption to any of the requirements, they should contact the student affairs officer at their campus for guidance.
Note: Health care systems will not allow non-compliant learners to participate in clinical activities in their facilities, which will delay program progression and ultimately result in failure of academic progress. Therefore, medical students are bound by the same requirements as UK HealthCare, Med Center Health (Bowling Green), St. Claire, or St. Elizabeth providers.
Please click here for the full list of details for immunization requirements.
Please click here for CastleBranch frequently asked questions and answers.
Incoming students, please click here for CastleBranch registration steps. We will provide details on when to register via the Admitted newsletter. However, please look ahead at immunization requirements and plan accordingly.
Annual Tuberculosis Testing
All medical students must undergo testing for tuberculosis (TB) at the time of entry and annually thereafter. At the time of entry, an Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA, which is a TB blood test) is required. Each year after, students may choose to get either a TB skin test or IGRA.
Titers are not required for matriculation; however, students opting to complete visiting (“away”) rotations in fourth year will likely have to provide titers as part of the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) application.
Maintain Health and Disability Insurance
Students are required to maintain health and disability insurance to cover expenses related to hospitalization, accident care, and surgical services and must demonstrate proof of health insurance coverage at the beginning of each academic year. A student health insurance plan is available for students without individual health insurance plans or for those wishing to transfer to a potentially less expensive plan. Health insurance premiums are included in the mandatory fees if the student will not be covered by another health insurance policy. Disability premiums are also included in the mandatory fees paid with tuition.
Maintain Reliable Transportation
The UK College of Medicine has educational and training sites across the state of Kentucky. Medical students must maintain reliable transportation as required coursework may be at off-site locations.
Technology Requirements
For details and specifics, please refer to our page here.
No or Limited Outside Employment
The demands of the medical school curriculum consume the entire efforts of medical students. As such, students are not permitted to have outside employment during the fall semester of first year, except under exceptional circumstances. Beginning in the spring semester of first year, students are permitted to work up to five hours per week. Exceptions to this policy may be requested of the Student Progress and Promotion Committee.
Technical Standards
Learn about the necessary physical and mental abilities of all candidates and graduates.