Ithaca Students (Undergraduate, Graduate, & Professional)

New student health requirements for Spring 2025 admits

Submission deadline: December 20, 2024

Welcome, new undergraduate, graduate, and professional (Johnson, Law, and Vet) students! 

All incoming students must complete Cornell’s new student health requirements process to comply with state and federal laws, meet public health guidelines, and support their health care while at Cornell. (If you have been a Cornell student in the past, you may have already met some requirements.)

The information you provide to Cornell Health is confidential. Health care records provided through our patient portal are accessible only to Cornell Health’s workforce.

Submitting your new student health information

Please plan ahead. This process involves a number of steps and may take several weeks. 

You will be asked to ...

• complete online forms
• provide documentation of required immunizations / vaccinations (and TB testing, if applicable)
• some students must also get a physical examination

See details below:

• Instructions for completing your health requirements
• What to do if you can't meet your requirements
• Medical and religious exemptions
• Consequences of noncompliance

Requirements

*INSTRUCTIONS*

STEP 1: Identify your requirements.

> Log in to myCornellHealth to review your Clearances & Requirements list, and complete preliminary forms. 

• Requires an activated Cornell NetID and Two-Step Login. (Please allow two working days after you activate your NetID for Cornell Health to receive your information from the Registrar.)
• Once you log in, you will be asked to provide your emergency contact information.
• Then go to “Clearances & Requirements.” 
• Complete and submit the first 2 items:
  • "NCAA Athlete Status” 
  • "TB Risk Screen"
• IMPORTANT: Once you submit these 2 initial items, additional items may be added to your list (if you are an NCAA athlete or meet the criteria for being at an increased risk of TB). 

STEP 2: Obtain your immunizations records. 

Gather or request your official immunization records for submission to Cornell Health.

• Medical, school, and military records in English are accepted. You may also have your health care provider complete an Immunization Documentation form (pdf) that you can submit as official documentation.
• Students who meet the TB testing requirement criteria listed above must also obtain TB test records. 
• If you have not received or can't provide documentation for required immunizations / TB testing, you must schedule an appointment with your health care provider to receive them before the deadline (see next step). 

STEP 3: Schedule an appointment with a health care provider (if applicable).

Get any required immunizations / TB testing you have not already received, and consider getting recommended immunizations. 

• Be sure to get official documentation of any immunizations / TB testing you receive so you can submit it to Cornell Health. Medical, school, and military records in English are accepted.
• You may also have your health care provider complete an Immunization Documentation form (pdf) that you can submit as official documentation.
• If you are unable to receive your required immunizations / TB testing from your health care provider, you will be required to do so at Cornell Health as soon as you get to campus (charges may apply). See what to do if you can't meet your requirements.

Get a physical examination from your health care provider (*REQUIRED* for NCAA athletes; recommended for other students). 

• Print the Physical Examination form (pdf) for your health care provider to complete and sign.
• Recruited NCAA athletes must also have their Sports Clearance form (pdf) reviewed and signed by their health care provider.

STEP 4: Submit your information by the deadline.

Log back in to myCornellHealth to submit your remaining information / forms: 

• Go to “Clearances & Requirements.” 
• Complete and submit any remaining forms / items listed, and enter immunization / test information.  
• Upload official documentation (in English, from a health care provider, school, or military) for each immunization / test you enter. 
• If you are unable to upload records, you may fax them to 607-255-0269, or mail them to: Cornell Health / ATTN: Requirements Office / 110 Ho Plaza / Ithaca, NY 14853-3101.

STEP 5: Confirm your compliance status / watch for messages from Cornell Health.

Cornell Health may take *UP TO 3-4 WEEKS* to review your information, due to high volume.  

• If we determine that you have met your immunization requirements, we will update your status on your New Student To Do List. (Please note: the To Do list indicates immunization compliance only. You may have additional forms you must submit as well.) 
• If you are missing anything, or your materials do not meet Cornell's requirements, we will send an email to your Cornell address directing you to log in to myCornellHealth to retrieve a secure message about what is missing from your information and/or documentation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

What to do if you can't meet your requirements 

Students who are unable to meet their requirements because they lack access to required immunizations, TB screening, and/or a health care provider must contact Cornell Health’s Requirements Office before the Requirements submission deadline to consult with staff and make a plan for meeting their health requirements as soon as they get to campus. (Requirements may be met at Cornell Health; see details below.)

If you contact Cornell Health and make a plan for meeting your requirements, you will not be considered "out of compliance" with Cornell's health requirements.

Medical and religious exemptions

Students seeking a medication or religious exemption to Cornell’s immunization requirements must apply for any such exemption before the Requirements deadline. See information about how to apply for a medical or religious exemption.

Consequences of noncompliance with Cornell's health requirements

• December 23, 2024: Noncompliant students will have a hold placed on their status, making them ineligible to make changes to their class enrollment until they meet their requirements. 
• January 15, 2025: Noncompliant students will have an additional add/drop hold placed on their status until they meet their requirements.
• February 5, 2025: Noncompliant students will be withdrawn from the university with no opportunity to re-enroll for the spring 2025 term. 

How to come into compliance / have holds removed 

• Meet Cornell’s New Student Health Requirements (submit all required health information and have the information reviewed and approved by Requirements staff)
• Or contact Cornell Health’s Requirements Office to make a plan to meet your health requirements (once you do this you will be considered “In Progress”)

Please note that after February 5, noncompliant students will be disenrolled from the university with no opportunity to re-enroll for the spring 2025 term.

How to meet your requirements at Cornell Health

Students who are unable to receive required immunizations (and TB testing, if applicable) may do so at Cornell Health when they arrive on campus. Be sure to contact Cornell Health’s Requirements Office BEFORE the requirements deadline to make a plan or otherwise risk penalties, culminating in being withdrawn from the university for the fall 2024 term.

Costs for immunizations / TB testing at Cornell Health:

Charges to receive all required immunizations and TB testing can cost up to $1,000.

• Charges for required immunizations and TB screening tests are covered by Cornell’s Student Health Plan (nearly all international students are on SHP) with no out-of-pocket costs for plan members.  
• If you have other insurance, Cornell Health will bill your insurance plan, and your out-of-pocket costs will depend on your insurance coverage. (Learn how to get an estimate of your costs in advance.)

Contact Cornell Health's Requirements Office

If you have questions, please refer to our Health Requirements FAQ.

If you wish to contact our Requirements Office, you may do so in one of the following ways:

• Send a secure message through our patient portal: Log in to myCornellHealth using your Cornell NetID and password, and go to Messages > New Message > Send a message or attachment to Immunization Requirements.
• Call us during business hours: 607-255-4364 (Monday–Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Eastern Standard Time).
• Schedule an online (Zoom) consultation appointment (available beginning July 1): Log into myCornellHealth and select Appointments > Schedule an appointment > New Student Health Requirements consultation.

Please do NOT email us. Note that per HIPAA privacy law, we are unable to communicate about private health information by email (read about our confidentiality practices).