(a) Except as provided in § 38-603, each student attending prekindergarten through grade 12 in a public, public charter, private, or independent school in the District of Columbia shall furnish the school annually with a certificate of health completed and signed by a physician or advanced practice nurse who has examined the student during the 12-month period immediately preceding the 1st day of the school year or the date of the student’s enrollment in the school, whichever occurs later. The examination shall cover all items required by the certificate of health form for the student’s particular age group.

The Universal Health Certificate, required for all students pre-K to 12 each school year, includes information regarding height and weight, BMI, vision screening, and hearing screening.

This document provides instructions and guidance for the completion of the Universal Health Certificate, including requirements and recommendations. All children must have a physical examination from the previous year that includes health screens for asthma, diabetes, seizure, language, developmental/behavioral, and other health concerns that may require special health care needs. BMI should be calculated for children 2 years of age or older, vision screenings should begin for children at age 3, hearing screenings should begin for children at age 4. Per the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should visit the dentist for a screening and examination every six months.