International Students Health Requirements

The Thielen Student Health Center looks forward to being your medical home away from home while you are here at Iowa State University. Listed below is a list of health requirements you need to meet before you come to campus. Please complete the tasks on this checklist to help you prepare and a list of what to bring with you when you come.

All international students will be scheduled for a required international student health screening appointment soon after arrival to campus. This will be arranged through the International Students and Scholars Office. During this time you will meet with a nurse that will review the university’s health requirements with you.

Compliance with Iowa State University’s immunization policy is an important first step for all incoming students and helps ensure a safe and healthy campus and community.

Documentation of the required immunizations is due by July 31 for summer and fall semester entries and December 20 for spring. If you do not provide the information by that date, it may interfere with your ability to register for classes the next semester.

Submit Immunization Records Online

Three to four months before your first semester, you will receive a message on AccessPlus that provides a link to the immunization submission site. Please scan your immunization documents before you log in. Please note that the scanned immunization documents must be translated into English and in one of the following file types: PDF, GIF, JPG, PNG, and TIF. How to Scan Immunizations Guide

Once you have gathered your scanned documents:

Log into AccessPlus
Click on the Student tab in the top right.
Click on Student Health Ctr in the left navigation bar.
Click on Immunization in the left navigation bar.
Click the Continue Button.

After you have submitted your immunization information, you will receive an email confirming our receipt of your documents. Your information will be evaluated within 7-10 business days by a Thielen Student Health Center nurse. You will receive an email updating you on your status of approval. You may also return to the immunization submission site to view the current status of your submission. After your submission has been reviewed by our nursing staff, you may be asked schedule a health screening orientation session.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to security vulnerabilities found in older web browsers, the minimum browser requirement for browsers has been updated. You must be using one of the following web browsers to complete your submission: Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 or higher, Mozilla Firefox 35 or higher, Google Chrome 40 or higher, and Apple Safari 7 or higher.

Finding Your Records

Your immunization records can be obtained from your health care provider’s office. They may also be available from your high school or from other colleges or universities you have attended. Public health department and military records are also acceptable. Please note that all immunization dates and tests must include the month, day, and year.

Immunization Requirements

Iowa State University follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for student immunization requirements.

Measles Requirements

ISU requires that all new (including transfer and graduate) students born on or after January 1, 1957, show proof of immunization or immunity to measles. Measles immunizations may be found on your immunization record listed as Measles, MMR, MR, or Rubeola (titer).

To meet the requirement, you must provide ONE of the following:

1. Proof of two measles and/or combination measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccination dates. The first measles vaccination must be administered after one year of age; the second measles vaccination must be administered at least 28 days after the first vaccination,

2. Proof of immunity to measles by positive rubeola (measles) titer or history of measles disease, OR

3. Proof of religious or medical exemption by submitting the appropriate Iowa Department of Health and Human Services exemption form.

If you need a measles immunization, you may schedule an appointment at student health. New students are eligible to receive vaccinations at the student health center beginning at the time of New Student Orientation and throughout the summer prior to semester starting. Please note there will be charges associated with vaccines. You may also visit your current health care provider or contact your county health department for vaccinations.

Meningitis Requirements

The State of Iowa requires that all colleges and universities provide information on the meningitis vaccination to incoming students. If you will be living in the residence halls, it is recommended by the CDC that you receive this vaccination. This vaccination is not required, but it is recommended. If you have already received the meningitis vaccination, you will be prompted to document the vaccination on the immunization submission site.

There are two different immunizations needed to protect against Meningitis. One protects against Meningitis serogroups A, C, W, and Y. The other vaccine protects against Meningitis serogroup B. We recommend our students receive both vaccines to protect against all vaccine preventable serogroups of meningitis.

Covid-19 Vaccination

While ISU is not requiring the COVID vaccine, we would like to encourage all students to be fully vaccinated when coming to campus. Thielen Student Health Center offers the COVID vaccine for Iowa State University Students. Please call to schedule an appointment. (515-294-5801)

Tuberculosis Testing

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. For basic facts on tuberculosis, please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s tuberculosis page.

Tuberculosis screening is required of all incoming international students. All incoming international students will be prompted to answer questions regarding TB exposure when completing the immunization requirement in access plus. You may also be required to attend an in-person international health screening. If you have already received tuberculosis testing, you may submit the documentation when you are prompted to upload your vaccination records in the online immunization submission site.

Tuberculosis testing will be repeated upon arrival, but if you have previous records of testing from another United States University please complete and return this Release of Information so that we have that for our records. Tuberculosis testing for international students is done with a blood test rather than a skin test that you may have previously had and will be explained further during your visit.

Health Insurance Information

For mandatory international student insurance information, please visit the Iowa State University Student and Scholar Health Insurance Program’s site.

Checklist for Incoming International Students

Check out our Incoming International Student Checklist that will help you make sure you have everything you need when you come to campus.

Have other medical questions?

Please feel free to email us at studenthealth@iastate.edu. A member of our staff will respond to you as they are able. Please allow 72 hours for response as volume of emails can be high prior to new students arriving each semester.