Sports & Pre-Employment Physicals

A physical exam in this context is a focused clearance evaluation. The form may vary — North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) school sports form, employer pre-hire questionnaire, DOT medical card, college athletic forms — but the medical question is the same: is this person healthy enough to safely do the activity they're being cleared for?

At Good Health NC, we do four kinds:

1. School and sports physicals — required annually for middle, high school, and most college and club sports
2. Pre-employment physicals — required by many employers before a first day of work
3. DOT physicals — for commercial drivers, performed by certified medical examiners
4. Camp, scout, and activity physicals — for summer camps, scouts, study abroad, and similar programs

Most physicals are completed in a single same-day visit with no appointment necessary.

North Carolina requires student-athletes to have a current sports physical on file before the first day of practice. Most schools accept the NCHSAA Preparticipation Physical Examination form — bring the school's form if they have a specific one.

A Good Health NC sports physical covers:

• Personal and family medical history — cardiac events, asthma, concussion history, prior injuries
• Vital signs — blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight, BMI
• Head-to-toe exam — heart and lung auscultation, abdomen, skin, lymph nodes
• Musculoskeletal screen — joint range of motion, strength, prior injury assessment
• Vision screen
• Discussion — supplements, hydration, return-to-play after concussion, mental health
• Signed clearance form — completed and handed back at the end of the visit

For athletes returning from an injury, we coordinate with the minor injury team for any imaging or rechecks needed before clearance. Bring any recent imaging or specialist notes — it speeds up the visit.

Pre-employment physicals vary widely by employer — some are a simple history and exam, others include drug screens, vision testing, audiometry, lift testing, or respiratory clearance for fit-testing. Bring the employer's form so we know exactly what they need signed.

What we offer:

• General pre-employment exam — history, exam, vitals, vision screen, employer form completion
• Drug screens — urine collection (coordination with your employer's chosen lab)
• TB testing — required for many healthcare and education roles
• Vaccine titers and updates — Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella, Tdap, flu (see immunizations)
• Vision and basic audiometry
• Respirator fit-clearance evaluation

DOT (Department of Transportation) physicals are performed by a certified medical examiner using the FMCSA Medical Examination Report. We complete the certification, issue your Medical Examiner's Certificate (often called the "med card"), and submit results to the FMCSA National Registry. Bring your CDL, glasses if you wear them, and a list of all current medications.

Most sports and pre-employment physicals at Good Health NC take 20 to 30 minutes start to finish. Plan a little longer the first time you visit — paperwork takes a few extra minutes.

Here's the flow:

1. Check in — bring photo ID, the form you need signed, insurance card if applicable, and your medication list
2. Vitals and history — taken by our medical assistant
3. Exam with the provider — head-to-toe, focused on the question being asked (sport, job duties, DOT requirements)
4. Any required testing — vision, urine drug screen, audiometry as indicated
5. Form completion and clearance — handed to you at the end of the visit

Walk-ins are welcome. To minimize wait time, call ahead so we know you're coming.

For student-athletes, schedule your sports physical at least two weeks before the first practice. If we catch something on exam — heart murmur, blood pressure issue, prior injury that needs imaging — you'll want time to address it before tryouts. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends annual preparticipation evaluations for all athletes.

For pre-employment physicals, come in as soon as you receive the conditional offer. Employers usually have a deadline tied to your start date — don't wait until the last day.

For DOT physicals, schedule before your current medical certificate expires. New certifications are typically valid for 24 months, but conditional certifications (for blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes) may be shorter and need closer follow-up. If your blood pressure is borderline, our hypertension care team can help you get it controlled before your recertification.

For camp and activity physicals, schedule a few weeks ahead of the start date so any flagged issues can be addressed.

Good Health NC was built by our experienced PA-C clinical lead with 22 years of practice. For physicals, that experience matters because clearance is a clinical decision, not a checkbox. A well-done physical catches the issues that should be caught (asymmetric heart murmur in a 16-year-old, untreated hypertension in a 45-year-old applicant) without unnecessarily delaying clearance for what doesn't matter.

What patients get here:

• Same-day walk-in availability — no two-week wait for an exam
• All four types under one roof — school, sports, pre-employment, and DOT
• Flat self-pay pricing for student-athletes — to be posted at opening
• A medical home — if we find something on exam, we can manage it in our primary care practice, not refer you out
• Connected records — your physical is part of your chart, accessible at future visits