Illinois schools require a physical exam form and a current immunization record before your child can start. When you're crossing state lines, that means gathering records from your old providers, checking Illinois's registry, and lining up a new pediatrician — all at the same time you're unpacking boxes. Here's what the state actually requires and how to make it manageable.
Last verified: September 7, 2026
Illinois law — specifically 77 Ill. Admin. Code 665 — sets the immunization schedule that every student must meet for school entry. On top of that, the Certificate of Child Health Examination (the IDPH form sometimes called the "physical form" or "school physical") is required under 225 ILCS 10 for every child entering kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 6th grade, as well as any child new to an Illinois school from out of state. Your child's new Illinois school will not allow a student to attend classes without both documents in hand — or an active exemption on file.
The Certificate of Child Health Examination must be completed and signed by a licensed physician, advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), or physician assistant within one year before the first day of school. It documents growth measurements, vision, hearing, dental, and immunization status. A well-child exam your child received in another state within the past year may satisfy this requirement if the provider completes the Illinois IDPH form — ask your former pediatrician if they can complete and sign the Illinois-specific form based on their recent exam records.
Source: Illinois Department of Public Health — School Health Requirements, accessed Aug 27, 2026; Illinois State Board of Education — School Health, accessed Aug 27, 2026
Illinois's statewide immunization information system is I-CARE (Illinois Comprehensive Automated Immunization Registry Exchange). Most Illinois healthcare providers report vaccine doses to I-CARE, and parents can request an official immunization history printout from their local health department or from a new Illinois provider who participates in the registry.
If your child received doses in another state before your move, those doses are typically not in I-CARE automatically — each state maintains its own registry, and interstate data sharing is limited. That means you need to bring your own records. Ask your former pediatrician for a complete, signed immunization history on office letterhead before you leave. Most Illinois school nurses will accept this as evidence of prior doses while your new Illinois provider enters them into I-CARE going forward.
Source: Illinois Department of Public Health — I-CARE Immunization Registry, accessed Aug 27, 2026
Illinois's required immunization schedule is set out in 77 Ill. Admin. Code 665 and is updated periodically by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Required vaccines for school entry typically include DTaP, polio, MMR, varicella, Hepatitis B, and others depending on grade level. Always verify the current schedule with your new Illinois pediatrician, as requirements change — your doctor's office can confirm exactly which doses are needed at your child's grade level.
Source: Illinois Department of Public Health — Illinois School Immunization Requirements, accessed Aug 27, 2026
When you establish care with a new Illinois pediatrician, bring:
Illinois requires a comprehensive physical exam — the Certificate of Child Health Examination — for all children entering kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 6th grade, and for any child new to an Illinois school from out of state regardless of grade. This is an ISBE and IDPH requirement enforced at the school level. The exam must have been completed within one year before the first day of attendance.
The physical must be performed by a licensed physician, APRN, or PA. The exam covers vision screening, hearing screening, dental status, height/weight, blood pressure, and immunization review. If your child's most recent well-child exam was done in another state within the past 12 months, contact that provider and ask if they can complete the Illinois IDPH form based on their records — many out-of-state providers will do this remotely for established patients.
Source: Illinois State Board of Education — School Health Requirements, accessed Aug 27, 2026
Beyond the general physical, Illinois requires a separate eye exam (by an optometrist or ophthalmologist) for children entering kindergarten and 2nd grade, and a dental exam for children entering kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 6th grade. These are separate from the school nurse's vision screening — they must be performed by licensed specialists. If your child had these exams within the required window before your move, bring dated documentation. Your new school's office can confirm exact windows.
Request complete medical record summaries from every current provider — pediatrician, specialists, dentist, and eye doctor. Ask specifically for a signed immunization history you can hand directly to an Illinois school nurse. Also ask your pediatrician if they can pre-complete the Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination form based on your child's most recent visit.
Enroll in the new school and present any records you have. If the Certificate of Child Health Examination isn't ready yet, ask about Illinois's provisional enrollment period — Illinois law allows a limited window for families to obtain required health documents after enrollment while the student attends.
Your new Illinois pediatrician will complete the Certificate of Child Health Examination, enter your child into I-CARE, and confirm the Illinois immunization schedule is current. Schedule this appointment as early as possible — new-patient appointments often book out several weeks, and the Certificate is typically the last document schools are waiting for.
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