Before your child starts kindergarten in a North Carolina public school, a licensed provider has to perform a health assessment and complete the state’s one-page transmittal form. You then deliver that form to the school. The NC health assessment form for kindergarten is due within 30 calendar days of your child’s first day of attendance, and a child who misses that deadline cannot remain in class until the form is turned in.1North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 130A-440 – Health Assessment Required
Where to Get the Form
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services publishes two documents on its Public School Health Assessment page: the longer multi-page Health Assessment form the provider uses to record the exam, and the one-page Health Assessment Transmittal Form that goes to the school.2North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Public School Health Assessment Both come in English and Spanish. Your school office can also hand you printed copies.
Bring both to the appointment. The provider fills out the detailed form during the exam and then transfers the key findings onto the transmittal form that you’ll give to the school.
When to Schedule the Exam
The exam must be performed no more than 12 months before the date the child would first have been eligible to enter public school.3North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina General Statutes – Chapter 130A Article 18 For an August kindergarten start, an appointment the previous September counts. One from two summers earlier does not.
Book the visit early enough to leave room for follow-up shots or referrals, but late enough that the 12-month window doesn’t expire before the first day of school.
Who Can Perform the Assessment
State law limits the assessment to a licensed physician, a physician assistant, a certified nurse practitioner, or a public health nurse who meets the Department’s standards for Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT).1North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 130A-440 – Health Assessment Required No other provider type qualifies, so confirm this when you book.
On the transmittal form, the provider certifies that they took a medical history, performed a physical exam, and screened the child’s vision and hearing. Expect the visit to include height, weight, and blood pressure, a review of the child’s immunization record, and notes on any chronic conditions the school should know about.
Turning the Form In
Hand the signed transmittal form to the school principal or front-office staff. NCDHHS encourages parents to present it on or before the first day of attendance.2North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Public School Health Assessment If that isn’t possible, you have 30 calendar days from your child’s first day in class to deliver it.1North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 130A-440 – Health Assessment Required Keep a photocopy for your records; you won’t get the original back.
If You Miss the 30-Day Deadline
The statute is strict. Once 30 calendar days have passed, the principal shall not permit the child to attend school until the transmittal form is presented.1North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 130A-440 – Health Assessment Required The child isn’t suspended, but is barred from the classroom until the day the completed form reaches the school. There’s no fine beyond the lost days, but those absences accumulate fast. Treat the 30-day window as a hard deadline.
Paying for the Health Assessment
Most private insurance plans and North Carolina Medicaid cover well-child visits, which is the type of appointment the school assessment requires. For children enrolled in NC Medicaid or NC Health Choice, the visit and any required immunizations are typically covered at no cost.
If you’re uninsured, local health departments and community health centers often provide school physicals on a sliding-fee scale. Costs at community clinics generally run from about $20 to $45 for an uninsured child, though prices vary by provider and location. Contact your county health department or call 211 for low-cost options nearby.
Immunizations Are a Separate Requirement
The health assessment and the state’s immunization requirements are two different things. Every child entering public school needs the completed transmittal form regardless of immunization status, and the school will separately require proof of required vaccines under G.S. 130A-155.
North Carolina recognizes religious and medical exemptions, but those exemptions apply only to vaccines. For a religious exemption, a parent submits a written statement of a bona fide religious belief opposing immunization, including the child’s name and date of birth; no state form exists, and a letter is sufficient. For a medical exemption, a North Carolina-licensed physician contacts the North Carolina Immunization Branch, and the State Health Director may grant an exemption when a medical contraindication exists.4Cumberland County Schools. Immunizations and Health Assessment