Back to School: Dental, Vision Exams Required for Illinois Students

Does your student require dental or vision exams to satisfy school requirements?

With parents and students awaiting the first day of the 2022-23 school year, it is hard to believe that it is just weeks away (eek!). And while we might be looking forward to routine and more predictability, getting back-to-school dental and vision exams taken care of can make you feel more in control of your summer schedule. These examinations aren’t required for all grades in Illinois, and the first deadline coming up isn’t until mid-October. So don’t forget to breathe … in and out … and read on.

Requirements vary based on what grade your child is entering. Here’s what you’ll need to know to get your child ready for the school year.

Check out our entire Back to School Series, presented by Christie Clinic:

Thank you to Christie Clinic for presenting our 2022 Champaign-Urbana Area Back to School series.

Christie Clinic wants you to give your kids a healthy start to the school year. Parents can currently make back-to-school appointments for their children through the MyChristie patient portal or by using online scheduling at christieclinic.com. Find more information about school physicals at Christie Clinic here.

Dental Examinations

The State of Illinois requires that all students in kindergarten, second, sixth and ninth grades have an oral health examination performed by a licensed dentist.

Following your child’s exam, the dentist should complete the dental examination form required by the state of Illinois. Complete documentation should be returned to the school office no later than May 15. Translation: for school year 2022-23, a valid dental exam would fall between Nov. 15, 2021, and May 15, 2023 — within the 18-month period prior to the due date. Exam forms are available at your dentist’s office or can be accessed here.

If you are looking for a dentist in the Champaign-Urbana area, check out the Chambanamoms dental guide here. The Champaign Urbana Public Health Department also offers a dental program for youth 18-and-under which includes services such as cleanings, sealants and fillings. CUPHD is able to complete the required dental examination from the state of Illinois.

Vision Examinations

All students entering kindergarten or entering an Illinois school for the first time must have an eye exam before Oct. 15 of the year of the required exam, or within 30 days of enrollment for new students from out-of-state. The exam must have been performed any time within a 12-month period prior to this due date. This means that the eye exam for the school year 2022-23 needs to have taken place between August 2021 and October 2022. A licensed optometrist or medical doctor who performs eye exams (such as an ophthalmologist) must perform the exam. The State of Illinois Vision Exam Form can be accessed at this link.

(Note that this eye exam requirement is separate from the annual vision screenings provided in all public, charter, and private schools in Illinois, from preschool through second grade and again in eighth grade.)

If you are looking for an eye doctor in the Champaign-Urbana area, our readers have provided some recommendations for optometrists in the area.