New Jersey requires immunization records, a physical exam, and specific health screenings before your child can start school. Here's every form, where to get it, and the deadlines — all cited to official New Jersey sources.
Last verified: September 8, 2026
New Jersey Administrative Code N.J.A.C. 8:57-4 sets mandatory immunization requirements for all children attending school or child care. Schools must have documentation of the following vaccines before your child can attend.
Required vaccines for school entry (K–12):
6th grade entry: Tdap booster + Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) dose required. 12th grade: A second MenACWY dose (or first if administered at age 16+).
New Jersey requires a physical examination upon school entry and at specified intervals. Per N.J.S.A. 18A:40-4, students must have a physical within 365 days before entry into a new school district. The exam must be completed by a licensed physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant.
Most New Jersey districts use the Universal Child Health Record (CH-14) form, which covers the physical exam findings, developmental assessment, lead screening status, and vision/hearing results. Your pediatrician fills it out during a well-child visit.
(Source: NJ Department of Education — Student Health Records, accessed Aug 28, 2026)
New Jersey mandates vision screening at school entry and periodically thereafter. Hearing screening is required at specified grade levels. While the school typically conducts these screenings, parents may provide documentation from a private provider if the screening was completed recently.
If your child wears glasses or hearing aids, bring the prescription information to registration. The school nurse will want it on file along with any accommodation notes from the eye doctor or audiologist.
New Jersey requires documentation of lead screening for children entering child care, preschool, and kindergarten. Under N.J.S.A. 26:2-137.4, children must be screened at ages 1 and 2 (or at enrollment if not previously screened). The CH-14 form includes a section for lead test results.
If your child was born outside New Jersey, bring lead screening results from the previous state. If no screening was done, your pediatrician can order a blood lead test — results are typically available in a few days.
(Source: NJ Department of Health — Childhood Lead Program, accessed Aug 28, 2026)
All immunization records and the physical exam (CH-14) must be on file before your child's first day. New Jersey schools are required to provisionally admit students who are behind on vaccines only if they have started the required series and have a catch-up schedule on file.
Students entering 6th grade must show proof of a Tdap booster and a dose of MenACWY (meningococcal) vaccine. Schools will request updated records before the start of the school year.
Students entering 12th grade need a second MenACWY dose (or documentation that the first was given at age 16 or older). This catches students who received their first dose before their 16th birthday.
New Jersey recognizes medical exemptions (signed statement from a licensed physician that a specific vaccine is medically contraindicated) and religious exemptions (written statement from the parent citing religious tenets). The governing regulation is N.J.A.C. 8:57-4.4. New Jersey eliminated non-religious philosophical exemptions in 2021.
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