Visiting Medical Student Clearance Requirements

Foster School of Medicine El Paso welcomes U.S. medical students for clinical electives, coordinated entirely through the Office of Student Affairs.

Up to 8 Weeks

Apply for up to eight weeks of clinical electives.

U.S. Applicants Only

We do not accept international visiting medical students.

Apply via VSLO

All applications are submitted through VSLO – please don’t contact departments directly.

Required Documents

  • Varicella (Chicken Pox): Proof of immunity determined by serologic titer. In the event of a negative titer, two doses of Varicella vaccine at least 28 days apart is required.
  • Measles (Rubeola): Proof of immunity determined by serologic titer. In the event of a negative titer, two doses of MMR at least 28 days apart is required.
  • Rubella (German Measles): Proof of immunity determined by serologic titer. In the event of a negative titer, two doses of MMR at least 28 days apart is required.
  • Mumps: Proof of immunity determined by serologic titer. In the event of a negative titer, two doses of MMR at least 28 days apart is required.
  • Hepatitis B: Proof of immunity determined by serologic titer. In the event of a negative titer, a second series and re-titer is required as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This series must begin prior to the clinical start date, but may be completed after arrival.
  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis: One dose of adult Tdap. If adult Tdap is more than 10 years old, provide date of last Td or Tdap.
  • COVID-19 Vaccine: TTUHSC-EP strongly recommends that you are vaccinated for COVID-19. However, you are not required to disclose whether or not you have received the COVID-19 vaccine to TTUHSC-EP. Any disclosure of your COVID-19 vaccination status is voluntary.
  • Meningococcal Vaccine: Documentation of current vaccine (if age < 22).
  • Influenza (Flu) Vaccine: Required when in season, approximately September to March.

Tuberculosis clearance:

  • Documentation of 2 negative TB skin tests within the last 2 months of your start date, OR documentation of one negative test 2–12 months prior, then complete one TB skin test within the last 2 months of your start date, OR documentation of a negative TB lab test (T-SPOT, QFT-Gold) within the last 2 months of your start date.
  • If you have a history of a positive TB skin test, documentation of the positive TB skin test or lab test, a chest x-ray, and medication prescribed (if any) is required. The BCG vaccine does not preclude the need for TB skin testing.

  • School transcript
  • CV/Resume
  • Professional photo
  • Letter of interest – Your primary reason(s) for wanting to complete this rotation at the Foster School of Medicine and your specialty plans.
  • Letter of Good Standing from the Home Institution

  • Basic Life Support for health care providers card from the American Heart Association (BLS) – copy, front and back
  • Personal health insurance – copy, front and back
  • Community-wide orientation (CWO) – Visit the CWO link to get your certificate. [Editor: add the CWO link here]
  • Professional liability insurance (COI) – Provided to you by your institution. Single incident/cumulative coverage must be 1–3 million.
  • Background check – HireRight (CBC) – A background check provided by your institution will be accepted. An attestation letter from the home institution can be accepted as long as the CBC is not more than two years old. If you decide to get a new background check, use the HireRight Background Check link. [Editor: add the HireRight link here]
  • 10 Panel Drug Screen – An attestation letter provided by your institution will be accepted as long as the latest drug test isn't more than 2 years old.
  • N-95 Respirator Mask Fit – cleared.
  • HIPAA training certificate

The Office of Student Affairs’ Senior Analyst will email orientation details to the appropriate Foster SOM clinical department and to the visiting student once Texas Tech Health El Paso Occupational Health and UMC El Paso have cleared the student via the pre-clinical clearance form (PCC).

Office of Student Affairs

  • Foster School of Medicine El Paso
Questions about clearance requirements or the VSLO application process?

 E-mail: student.affairs.plfsom@ttep.edu

Download a printable copy (PDF) – Revised 1/27/2026