Pre-Employment Physical: A Complete Guide for Employers

A pre-employment physical assesses if an applicant has the physical abilities required to perform the duties of their job with or without accommodations.

What is a Pre-Employment Physical?

A pre-employment physical is a medical exam that is commonly required as a condition of a job offer for certain types of physically demanding positions.

During a pre-employment physical, a licensed medical practitioner checks the applicant’s weight, blood pressure, pulse, and other important vital signs.

The practitioner might also examine the applicant’s overall appearance, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and abdominal organs to check for any signs of underlying conditions.

What Jobs Require a Pre-Employment Physical?

It’s common for the following types of employers to require pre-employment physicals:

1. Regulated Employers

Regulated employers that hire employees to work in safety-sensitive jobs must send their employees for pre-employment physicals once they have extended job offers.

2. Law Enforcement

Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies also have regulations requiring pre-employment physicals to ensure police officers are physically capable of performing their law enforcement duties.

These laws vary from state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

3. Private Sector Employers

Private sector employers might still require job applicants to complete pre-employment physicals before finalizing employment.

4. Firefighters

Like police officers, firefighters must be in top shape to handle the physically demanding tasks required of them.

For this reason, most local and state jurisdictions include pre-employment physicals as a requirement for people to become firefighters.

5. Healthcare Workers

Some positions within healthcare require employees to lift and move patients.

Healthcare workers must also be free from communicable diseases that could place their patients at risk.

To reduce the risks of workplace injuries and potential patient harm, many healthcare facilities require healthcare workers to undergo pre-employment physicals as a condition of employment.

Why Are Pre-employment Physicals Important?

Pre-employment physicals are important tools for employers to assess the health and physical condition of their employees.

These physicals offer benefits to both employers and employees.

Employer Benefits

• Ensure employees have the physical requirements necessary to perform their jobs.

• Reduce workers’ compensation claims and costs.

• Prevent workplace accidents.

• Establish a workplace culture that values health and wellness.

Employee Benefits

• Understand their overall health.

• Identify potential underlying health conditions.

• Learn lifestyle changes that could improve their health.

What Does a Pre-employment Physical Consist of?

Pre-employment physicals generally include checks of the employee’s vital signs and overall physical condition.

The particular tests that might be performed will depend on the tasks of the position for which the applicant has received a conditional job offer.

There are three types of pre-employment physicals, including general physicals, physical ability and stamina tests, and DOT physicals.

General Pre-Employment Physicals

A general pre-employment physical will include the following types of exams and tests:

• Weight

• Blood pressure

• Pulse

• Temperature

• Cardiovascular health

• Respiratory health

• Reflexes

• Range of motion

• Hearing

• Vision

The medical provider will also look at the candidate’s overall appearance and check for unusual bruising or swelling that could indicate an underlying medical condition.

The candidate might also be asked about their ability to handle stress, the medications they’re taking, and any behavioral or mood changes they have experienced.

Physical Ability and Stamina Test

Candidates for jobs that involve heavy labor, running, lifting, and other demanding tasks might be required to complete a physical ability and stamina test.

This type of pre-employment physical is commonly used for police officers, firefighters, and others who must respond quickly in emergencies.

Construction workers and manufacturing employees might also have to undergo physical ability and stamina tests.

A physical ability and stamina test is used to ensure the candidate is physically capable of handling the job’s physical demands and assesses the following abilities of the candidate:

• Strength/power

• Flexibility

• Cardiovascular health

• Muscle tension

• Balance

• Attitude while under pressure

If a candidate is sent for a physical ability and stamina test, the provider will first perform the general tests of a regular pre-employment physical.

They will then have the candidate perform several exercises through which their physical stamina and abilities can be measured.

DOT Physicals

DOT physicals are required for applicants who are offered safety-sensitive positions with employers that are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

These physicals are more comprehensive than other types of physicals and look at a range of health conditions that could disqualify applicants from employment.

Commercial truck drivers, airline pilots, and others in safety-sensitive jobs must complete DOT physicals as a condition of employment as a part of the DOT background check process.

What Would Cause An Employee to Fail a Pre-Employment Physical?

There are many reasons why an applicant might fail a pre-employment physical based on the specific job duties required of the position.

If an applicant can’t perform the duties of the job with or without accommodations, they will fail the physical.

However, employers can’t use pre-employment physicals to screen out people based on their disabilities. Instead, the reasons must be related to the duties of the job.

An applicant might fail a pre-employment physical for the following reasons:

• Inability to repeatedly lift more than a set weight

• Inability to perform the tasks of the job

• Inability to stand or sit for a protracted period

• Having a chronic communicable disease such as tuberculosis

• Failing a pre-employment drug and alcohol test

How Can Your Employee Prepare for Their Pre-Employment Physical?

1. Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Employees should make sure they get a good night’s sleep the night before their pre-employment physicals.

Being well-rested can help the employee to perform better during the physical exam.

2. Eat a Healthy Breakfast

On the morning of the exam, the employee should be sure to eat a healthy breakfast.

Skipping breakfast can leave the employee with less energy and harm their performance.

3. Wear Comfortable Clothing

Employees should wear comfortable clothing to their physical exam appointment so that they can easily move.

They don’t need to dress as if they are going to work and shouldn’t do so. They should choose athletic clothing or sweats and wear comfortable tennis shoes.

4. Gather Paperwork

The employee should gather the paperwork their employer gave to them.

This paperwork will detail the specific tests that are being requested, lab orders, and a description of the job duties.

5. Make a List

The employee should make a list of their medications, medical conditions, allergies, past surgeries, and past hospitalizations.

They should bring this list to their appointment and provide it to the medical provider for review.

6. Bring Aids

If the employee uses hearing aids, glasses, or prosthetic devices, they should bring them to their appointment.

7. Bring ID

When the employee arrives, they will need to show a valid identification card so the facility can verify their identity.

This might include a current driver’s license, state ID, passport, employment authorization document (EAD), or employer-issued ID.