Formal documentation of a criminal background check, as well as health and immunization records, is required for all clinical courses. These requirements are separate from and in addition to the immunization requirements for admission to the University of Southern Maine (USM).
This policy applies to students enrolled in NUR 307 and all subsequent courses in the nursing curriculum. Students are responsible for creating, uploading, and maintaining their own records in the designated health and background check system. If any issues arise during the uploading process, Verified Credentials offers support services, with contact information available on their website.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
All students must be vaccinated against COVID-19, with a booster strongly recommended but not required. It is important to note that the School of Nursing cannot guarantee clinical placements for unvaccinated students. Without a placement, students may experience disruptions in their progression through the program, which could ultimately impact their ability to graduate.
Failure to complete a required clinical rotation—whether due to non-compliance with a clinical site’s health requirements or other factors—may result in failure of the clinical course.
Lindsay Larsen, lindsay.larsen@maine.edu, is the Coordinator of Academic Student Services which includes health requirements and compliance.
Students taking NUR 307 in Spring 2026 must meet compliance requirements by November 1, 2025.
IMPORTANT: Failure to meet compliance deadlines will result in serious consequences:
If you are not in compliance by the deadline, you will be dropped from all courses that require compliance, along with any corequisite courses.
You cannot re-register for these courses until you are fully in compliance.
If you remain non-compliant two weeks before the start of the clinical course, you will not be allowed to take the course or any corequisite courses, resulting in at least a one-semester delay in graduation.
The School of Nursing must submit student compliance documentation to hospitals several weeks before clinicals begin. If you are not in compliance, we cannot submit your paperwork, and hospitals will not accept late submissions. Asking them to do so jeopardizes our relationships with clinical partners.
All documentation needs to be clear and legible, in pdf or jpg format. It also needs to have your full name on it and be from a medical source.
Required Documentation
COVID-19 Vaccination
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination (booster recommended but not required).
Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR)
Submit a positive antibody titer for all three components (lab report or physician verification required).
If the titer is negative, a booster shot is required—no additional titers are needed after the booster.
IMPORTANT: Immunization records alone are not sufficient.
Varicella (Chicken Pox)
Submit a positive antibody titer (lab report or physician verification required).
If the titer is negative, a booster shot is required—no additional titers are needed after the booster.
IMPORTANT: Immunization records alone are not sufficient.
Hepatitis B – Time-Sensitive Requirement (It takes six months to complete if you need to be immunized for this)
If your Hepatitis B immunization series was completed more than one year ago, submit one of the following:
Documentation of the 3-vaccine series, OR
A positive antibody titer (lab report or physician verification required).
If your Hepatitis B series was completed less than one year ago, submit both:
Documentation of the 3-vaccine series, AND
A positive antibody titer (lab report or physician verification required).
If your Hepatitis B series is still in progress, submit documentation of your progress. Additional alerts will be created to remind you to complete the series and provide a titer.
TB Skin Test (Must Be Completed Annually)
Submit one of the following:
Documentation of two-step TB skin tests (1-3 weeks apart, within the past year), OR
Two consecutive years of negative annual tests (one must be from within the past year), OR
T-Spot test, OR QuantiFERON Gold test.
If positive, you must provide a clear Chest X-Ray OR a TB Questionnaire.
Tetanus & Diphtheria (TDAP)
Documentation of a TDAP booster within the past 10 years.
American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Provider CPR Certification
Copy of a signed American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR card. We DO NOT accept the Red Cross certification.
If you have not received your card yet, a certificate or provider letter is accepted temporarily for 30 days.
IMPORTANT: Online certifications without an in-person test and Red Cross certifications are not accepted.
Health Insurance (annually)
A copy of your health insurance card
Influenza Vaccine (Flu Shot)
A flu shot administered during the current flu season is required.
For Summer and Fall 2025, the deadline will be October 6, 2025. You do not have to be in compliance for the June 1 deadline.
N-95 Fit Testing (exception to the June 1 or November 1 deadline for health requirements, must be completed by the 2nd week of classes, renews annually)
All students must be fit tested to attend clinical.
The School of Nursing will instruct you on when and how to complete fit testing. We will hold fit testing sessions on campus before each new semester begins.
After you are fit tested you will upload your fit test form to Verified Credentials.
You must use your @maine.edu email when creating this account.
Create an account with Verified Credentials using this instruction sheet: Verified Credentials Instructions
Follow the instructions through Verified Credentials to complete a background check authorization, pay for your account (one-time cost of $93.00) and upload your mandatory health requirement documentation.
If you have questions about using Verified Credentials or uploading documents, please refer to the Verified Credentials Step-by-Step Guide for Students
Please note that we cannot upload documents on your behalf.
Please be sure to upload documents that are clear and legible and have your full name on them. They need to be from a medical source.
Students will need to periodically renew some documents in Verified Credentials (depending on which service you are under) in order to maintain compliance.
Yearly update of the TB test. Only one test is needed for the yearly update.
Yearly update of the flu immunization or declination form.
Yearly update of health insurance documentation.
Yearly update of fit test documentation.
As needed update of the Tetanus (TDAP) booster if it has expired.
As needed renewal of American Heart Association for Health Care Providers CPR (good for 2 years).
https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/cumberlandeducationrec/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=bls&viewMode=list -Town of Cumberland fire department
https://www.easterncprtraining.com/ - Scarborough, does not have an in-person training usually but tests in person so ok to use
https://www.kvcc.me.edu/professional-development/schedule-of-current-programs/#cpr - Kennebec Valley Community College
https://www.nhcpr.com/training-programs/american-heart-association/basic-life-support-bls - Locations across New Hampshire, including Portsmouth
https://code1web.com/beacon-bls/ - Students complete part of the course online and schedule the skills portion to be in-person.
https://umaine.edu/umts/register-online/ - UMaine Orono