Health screening

Health screenings and vaccination records

Part one: initial health screening

As part of your offer to study on the MBChB programme, you have been initially assessed as medically suitable to begin the course.

Part two: clinical placement clearance

Part two of the health screening process includes:

  • Exposure Prone Procedures (EPP) clearance: blood tests to confirm non-infectivity for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.
  • Immunity status check: screening for immunity to diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox.

It is very important that you bring with you to your appointment, evidence of your childhood vaccinations, in particular measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations. If you have had varicella and hepatitis B vaccinations, please also bring this evidence with you. You can obtain these details from your GP (family doctor) and can bring along evidence in the format of a printed vaccination record or a copy of the record from the official NHS app that you can show to the nurse at the appointment. The nurse will verify this, and if further information is required you will be told during the appointment.

Once you’ve successfully completed Part two, you will be issued a Certificate for Clinical Placement — a crucial document that must be obtained before you are allowed to treat patients.

Part three: hepatitis B immunisation

Most students will begin their hepatitis B vaccination schedule at their first clinical placement clearance appointment. Three vaccinations are required at 0, 1 and 6 months, and then antibody testing takes place two months after the third dose. Providing immunity is confirmed at that point, no further hepatitis B vaccines are required. 

Students must continue to attend all required hepatitis B vaccine appointments at the correct time in the schedule, even though they will have received their clearance certificate at the end of Part two. The hepatitis B course is important to keep students safe in a clinical environment.

How to get your certificate

Step one: scheduled occupational health appointment

During Semester 1, an initial appointment with the Occupational Health Department will be scheduled for you. This appointment will appear in your timetable.

Note: If additional appointments are required, you must arrange these yourself directly with the Occupational Health team. These will not appear on your timetable.

Step two: attend all required appointments

Occupational Health sees hundreds of healthcare students each year. Missing your appointment can cause major delays, and you may wait weeks or months for a new slot.

It is essential to attend your first appointment, where you will likely:

  • Receive your first hepatitis B injection.
  • Undergo your EPP blood test.

Afterwards, it is your responsibility to:

  • Book and attend any required follow-up appointments.
  • Check your university timetable before booking an appointment to avoid conflicts.

Important deadlines

All students are expected to complete their health clearance and receive their Certificate for Clinical Placement during the first semester of Year 1. 

Once you have been given clearance, your ‘Certificate for Clinical Placement’ will be emailed to you. A copy will also be shared with the School. If you think you have been cleared but have not received a certificate, it is your responsibility to contact the Occupational Health team to check your status.

Failure to obtain your certificate in time means you will not be allowed to attend clinical placements.