What are the Medical Clearance Prerequisites?

You are required to register with CastleBranch, at a one-time cost of $118.99. Through CastleBranch, you will upload your health requirements and prerequisite documents, which will be confidentially verified. This is a prerequisite for the course and must be completed before the first day of class.

If you encounter any issues, such as delays with scheduling appointments or updating expired immunizations, you must contact the program director immediately at cconnolly@ucsb.edu. Do not wait until the last minute, as delays may result in your inability to meet the deadline.

Please download the necessary forms from CastleBranch to take to your healthcare provider for completion. We strongly recommend that you also download the vaccination requirements from CastleBranch and bring them to your appointment. Your healthcare provider can verify your vaccination history, administer any additional vaccines or blood titers that may be needed, and sign the required medical clearance documents.

Below are the required health prerequisites you must obtain and upload to CastleBranch:

  • Physical Exam
    • Proof of a physical examination within the past 6 months, signed by a physician, stating you have no physical limitations for participating in the classroom and clinical components of the EMT course.
    • The required form for your physician to sign is available on CastleBranch.
  • 10-Panel Drug Screen
    • A 10-panel drug screen must be completed at a CastleBranch testing site. 
  • Proof of the following immunizations:
    • Hepatitis B
      • Hepatitis B vaccination records,
      • Hepatitis B titer records, or
      • The Hepatitis B declination form (available on CastleBranch).
    • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
      • MMR vaccination records, or
      • Positive MMR titer.
    • Tdap (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis)
      • Tdap vaccination record within the past 10 years, or
      • Tdap antibody titer.
    • Tuberculosis
      • A negative TB skin test within three months of the course start date,
      • Quantiferon-Gold blood test within three months of the course start date, or
      • For a previous positive TB skin test, documentation of a negative chest X-ray within the past 2 years.
    • Varicella
      • Varicella vaccination record,
      • Positive varicella titer, or
      • Documentation from your physician stating you have had chickenpox, including the date of illness.
  • Other immunizations (no exemptions accepted due to the clinical partnerships):
    • Covid-19
      • COVID-19 vaccination record, including the initial series and one booster dose if eligible, or
      • If declining COVID-19 vaccination, please contact the director at cconnolly@ucsb.edu. 
    • Influenza (if your course is between September and March):
      • Influenza vaccination record within the previous 12 months, or
      • The influenza declination form (available on CastleBranch)

Failure to complete the Medical Clearance Prerequisites and upload all required documents to CastleBranch by the deadlines specified will result in removal from the course.