Fit Testing

June through August

2025 GME Fit Testing Sessions Have Ended

See the "Attend an In-Person Fit Testing Appointment" section for other options.

View resident/fellow compliance at z.umn.edu/gmecompliancedata (data is updated every few days and an active UMN Smartsheet account required).

Overview of Fit Testing Clearance

Fit Testing has two parts (image provided for visual learners here):

Medical Clearance - This includes two online requirements
1. Respiratory Protection Training
2. Online Medical Clearance Evaluation
Respirator Mask Fit Test Clearance - This is an in-person mask fit test

Medical Clearance includes two components:

Completing an online Respiratory Protection Education module - This must be completed during initial onboarding and completed annually throughout program training.
Completing an Online Medical Evaluation - This must be done during initial onboarding and has a renewal date unique to each individual. Make note of your renewal date when you receive your medial clearance or see "Find Your Completion Status" section to verify when this is due. If you have trouble finding the information, email gme@umn.edu for assistance.

Respirator (or Respiratory) Mask Fit Test Clearance

This is an in-person appointment you make with a technician or nurse to test how well a respirator mask seals to your face.
This must be renewed annually by all University of Minnesota residents and fellows.
Individuals with beards or other reasons they cannot use a respirator mask can follow the instructions outlined in the section "Individuals Not Using a Respirator Mask". The two steps for medical clearance must be completed even if a trainee is not fitted for a respirator mask. (Note: If you would like to maintain a beard and wear an N95 mask, see the CDC’s infographic of beard types that work best with respirator masks.)

Trainees rotating to the VA should prioritize updating their fit testing. Proof of compliance is now required as part of the onboarding process at the VA. Be prepared to provide documentation of both your medical clearance and your respirator mask fit test clearance when onboarding at the VA.

Find Your Completion Status

The medical clearance evaluation must be completed before attending a fit test appointment. It is important to start the medical clearance steps early as it can take up to 5 business days to complete. On occasion, an in-person evaluation with a physician is required. Do not leave this step until the last minute.

If you do not know the status of your medical clearance:
- Go to Information Technology’s Occupational Health Portal page
- Find the section titled "Sign In" and click on the link "Access OH Portal" (Note: You may be required to log in to your University account. The portal can sometimes take a few minutes to load.)
- Once loaded, you will see your "Respirator Medical Clearance" status and your "Respirator Fit Test" status. A “Y” indicates you are compliant with that requirement.
- You can also find your current respirator mask type listed on this page.
- Contact uohs@umn.edu if you have questions or encounter issues accessing your information
You can also contact GME at gme@umn.edu to request your medical clearance status.
If your renewal date is expired or due soon, instructions are listed below on how to renew your medical clearance and/or your respirator mask fit test clearance.

How to Complete your Medical Clearance

(Required BEFORE an in-person respirator mask fit testing)

Step 1: Respiratory Protection Course

Log in to the UMN Training Hub (training.umn.edu) using your internet ID
Click on My Training
Click on the Past Training tab
Scroll through the list or search for "Respiratory Protection" or "UHS514"
If not found, refer to these step-by-step instructions to complete this course
CURRENT/CONTINUING TRAINEES: This step is required annually.

Step 2: Medical Clearance Evaluation

Incoming residents/fellows, click on the Respirator Medical Evaluation Survey to get started with this step
Current/continuing residents, fellows, use the Respirator Medical Evaluation Survey to determine if this step must be completed again
For information about how to complete the questions on the survey and the medical evaluation questionnaire, refer to these detailed instructions
Most people receive clearance immediately; however, some questionnaire responses might require an in-person review with a physician
Be sure to complete this step prior to your in-person fit testing appointment; only those who are medically cleared can be fit tested during Orientation or at GME drop-in fit testing sessions

Attend an In-Person Fit Testing Appointment

Residents and fellows have a few options for completing the in-person respirator mask fit testing requirement. You can utilize one of the options below:

Fit Testing Sessions organized by the UMN GME Office. (These have ended for 2025, see other options below)
Fit Testing Appointments at HealthPartners Clinics.
Fit Testing Walk-In Appointments at Fairview (fees not paid for by UMN GME).
Fit Testing at Affiliate Sites (not offered at all sites and fees not paid for by UMN GME).

GME Fit Testing Sessions for 2025 have ended - see other options below

Individual Appointments at a HealthPartners Clinic

Trainees can make an individual appointment with HealthPartners Occupational & Environmental Medicine (HPOEM). HPOEM does NOT accept drop-ins; appointments are required. When you go to your designated appointment, identify yourself as a UMN Graduate Medical Education resident/fellow and bring your UMN employee ID# (found on your UCard and in your RMS profile) to ensure that the appointment is paid for by the GME office.

PLAN AHEAD. There is limited availability of appointments.
Schedule online: https://surveys.healthpartners.com/f/164053/16f3/. When scheduling online:
1. Enter “University of Minnesota - GME” as the Company Name
2. Enter your own email address as the Contact Email
3. Enter “Resident” or “Fellow” as the Job Title
Phone: Call (952) 883-6999 and choose the option for the clinic you would like to be connected to. Identify yourself as a University of Minnesota resident/fellow in the GME Program and specify the type of service you need.
ALWAYS keep a copy of the fit test clearance form and upload a copy to z.umn.edu/gmefittestupload.
For complete information regarding HPOEM clinic locations and services, visit the BOHD Clinical Services website: https://bohd.umn.edu/clinical-services

NOTE: The GME office is not partnered with the Midwest Center for Occupational Health & Safety to offer fit testing. Costs associated with appointments at that location are not paid for by GME, nor will the clearance forms be shared with the GME office or UOHS.

3. Walk-in Fit Testing at M Health Fairview Riverside Campus

The Employee Occupational Health Office (EOHS) at M Health Fairview is providing walk-in testing appointments ONLY for trainees currently rotating at M Health Fairview West Bank. To access up-to-date information on where and when the drop-in sessions are available, check M Health Fairview's site for Fit Testing Appointments (sharepoint.com). Note that any fees incurred with fit testing conducted at M Health Fairview EOHS are not paid for by OGME.

ALWAYS keep a copy of the fit test clearance form and upload a copy to z.umn.edu/gmefittestupload. Fairview might not have a printout or form they can provide you. We recommend you bring this GME Fit Test Clearance Form and ask them to complete it with the fit test information. Documentation must be submitted to the Biosafety and Occupational Health Office for you to be considered compliant with the University's requirement.

4. Fit Testing at Other Sites

Residents and fellows can be fit tested at affiliate sites where it is available to them. Upload a copy of the fit test clearance form to z.umn.edu/gmefittestupload. The Biosafety & Occupational Health Department will review the documentation and clear the fit test requirement. Please note that if there are any fees for fit testing incurred at other sites, the fees must be paid out of pocket and are not reimbursable by OGME.

Information about Fit Test Requirements at the VA

Residents and fellows are required to provide medical clearance and respirator mask fit testing information during onboarding. See answers to frequently asked questions about N95 mask use and the types of masks used.
The VA does NOT provide fit testing for residents and fellows. Be sure to utilize the other options for fit testing several months BEFORE you begin onboarding at the VA so your start date is not delayed.

Individuals Not using a Respirator Mask (beard, medical reason, etc.)

Complete your Respiratory Protection Course AND Medical Clearance Evaluation

Individuals with a beard or have personal or medical reasons they cannot wear a respirator mask must still complete steps #1 and #2. (Note: If you would like to maintain a beard and wear an N95 mask, see the CDC’s infographic of beard types that work best with respirator masks.)

Fill out a Fit Test Clearance Form

Individuals who will not or cannot use a respirator mask can complete the GME Fit Test Clearance Form.

Complete the top section
Circle "NO TEST"
In the Reason box, list your reason and add "PAPR Recommended"
Sign and date the form - you can type your name as your electronic signature in the form
Upload a copy of the fit test clearance form to z.umn.edu/gmefittestupload
Review the instructional videos on using a PAPR

How to Use Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs)

For those who cannot or choose not to wear a respirator mask and use a PAPR, review the following videos on how to appropriately set up, adjust, don and doff your PAPR when using it for patient care.

ALWAYS Keep a copy of your Fit Test Clearance Form

The GME Compliance Team recommends that you always keep a copy of your fit test clearance form. Upload a copy of the fit test clearance form to z.umn.edu/gmefittestupload to complete your annual UMN requirements and save it should you be required to provide fit testing information at an affiliate site or for an away rotation.

Any fit test clearance forms provided to the GME office are uploaded to New Innovations RMS and can be found under My Profile > My Personnel Record > Files & Notes > Attached Files (see How to find Documentation in RMS | Residents/Fellows).

FAQs & Troubleshooting

What if a resident/fellow can’t attend one of the scheduled sessions?

Trainees can schedule an individual appointment with HPOEM. Upload a copy of the fit test clearance form to z.umn.edu/gmefittestupload.

What if a program scheduled a separate fit testing session?

Either the resident/fellow or the program should save a copy of the fit test documentation and upload a copy of the fit test clearance form to z.umn.edu/gmefittestupload to clear the requirement in the Occupational Health portal.

What if a resident/fellow doesn’t wish to be fit tested?

Trainees who have a beard or other personal or medical reasons for not wearing a respirator mask can follow the instructions above and submit this GME Fit Test Clearance Form to UOHS and OGME stating they intend to wear a PAPR. Trainees who do this will not need to attend an in-person masking fitting, however the trainee must still complete the Respiratory Protection Training Course and Medical Clearance Evaluation.

What if a resident/fellow completes a fit test recently somewhere else?

Documentation must be uploaded to z.umn.edu/gmefittestupload. Trainees who provide acceptable documentation do not need to attend an in-person mask fitting coordinated by OGME, but they must still complete the Respiratory Protection Training Course and Medical Clearance Evaluation.

Does GME pay for parking during GME fit testing sessions?

No, the GME office is unable to validate or reimburse for parking fees.

What if a resident/fellow finishes their medical clearance just before the fit testing appointment?

The computer system can take 72 hours to update this information. Trainees should bring a copy of the letter they received stating they are medically cleared to wear a respirator. GME can only fit test residents/fellows who are confirmed as medically cleared.

What if a resident/fellow received a letter a week or more ago saying they are medically cleared but the Occupation Health portal shows them as non-compliant?

Trainees must upload a copy of the fit test clearance form to z.umn.edu/gmefittestupload to get the requirement manually cleared in the Occupational Health portal.

How can a resident/fellow look up their medical clearance status?

Instructions for looking up one’s medical clearance status can be found on the Instructions: Completing the Medical Clearance Evaluation under the section titled “How to Find Your Medical Clearance Status”.

What if a resident/fellow is unable to renew their fit test before their renewal date?

Trainees should confirm with the sites where they are rotating about requirements for clinical rotations around respirator mask fit test clearance. Trainees rotating to the VA may be required to provide proof of a current fit test during onboarding. The GME Compliance Team does not require removal from clinical service for an overdue fit test.

What if a resident/fellow is graduating?

If the fit testing clearance renewal date is AFTER a resident/fellow's graduation date, the trainee should confirm with the sites where they are rotating about requirements for clinical rotations around respirator mask fit test clearance. The GME Compliance Team does not require removal from clinical service for an overdue fit test.

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