Individuals who apply to a position with medical requirements must be medically and physically capable of performing the essential job functions and duties of their position safely and efficiently without endangering the health and safety of the individual, others, or national security.
Scheduling the Medical Exam
After receiving a tentative offer, you will be contacted via phone and/or email to schedule your medical examination at a clinic near your home address. CBP will provide and pay for the pre-placement medical examination. If you have any questions related to scheduling your medical exam, please contact the CBP Scheduling Unit at cbphiringmedfitappt@cbp.dhs.gov.
Preparing for the Medical Exam
- Prior to your appointment, complete the candidate portion of the medical exam paperwork that was emailed to you. Be honest and report all issues regardless of whether you receive VA disability, worker’s compensation, social security disability, etc.
- Upload a copy of your most recent eyeglass or lens prescription as indicated in the email, if applicable.
- Avoid excessive noise levels for at least 15 hours prior to the exam so that your hearing test results can be as accurate as possible.
What To Bring to the Medical Exam
- Federal or state government issued identification with a picture (e.g., a driver’s license, passport, etc.). Other types of identification are not acceptable.
- Printed copy of your medical exam paperwork with the candidate section completed.
- Glasses and/or contacts if you wear corrective lenses.
- Contact lens case, if applicable, as you will need to remove your contacts to test your uncorrected distance vision.
What To Expect During the Medical Exam
- Review of your medical history form
- Physical examination
- Hearing test
- Vision test
Note: Mental health screening, if indicated, will be administered by a psychologist over the phone, typically within 7 days after your appointment. Please see the Mental Health Screening FAQs for more information.
After the Medical Examination
Your completed medical examination paperwork will be forwarded to the Hiring Center’s Medical Review Unit. The CBP Medical Team will review the results. If any medical issue is identified that may affect safe and efficient job performance, additional information will be recommended. A Nurse Case Manager will contact you to discuss and explain next steps. Ensure that you have a voicemail that can accept messages. Monitor your voicemail and email frequently and respond promptly to avoid a delay in processing. Any additional costs for obtaining information will be at your own expense.
Medical FAQs
Under federal regulations, an agency may require applicants to provide medical information and submit to medical examinations in order to determine the nature of any medical conditions that could affect the safe and efficient performance of job duties. See 5 C.F.R. Part 339.
No. After you have received a job offer from CBP, the ADA does not prohibit the agency from requiring you to provide medical information in order to determine the nature of any medical conditions that could affect the safe and efficient performance of job duties. Your job offer from CBP may be conditioned on the results of a medical evaluation. See EEOC Enforcement Guidance: Pre-employment Disability Related Questions and Medical Examinations (The Post-Offer Stage) at https://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/preemp.html.
No. The regulations commonly known as the HIPAA Privacy Rule controls the disclosure of a person’s medical information by health plans, health care clearing houses, and health care providers. See 45 C.F.R. Part 164. However, HIPAA does not prohibit CBP from requiring you to provide medical information in order to determine the nature of any medical conditions that could affect the safe and efficient performance of job duties. For more information about HIPAA, you may visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website at https://www.hhs.gov/programs/hipaa/index.html.
No. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) provide certain protections for veterans seeking employment. However, these laws do not prohibit CBP from requiring applicants, including veterans, to provide medical information after they have received a job offer from CBP. The job offer from CBP may be conditioned on the results of a medical evaluation. See EEOC Enforcement Guidance: Pre-employment Disability Related Questions and Medical Examinations (The Post-Offer Stage) at https://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/preemp.html; Understanding Your Employment Rights Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): A Guide for Veterans at https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/ada_veterans.cfm.
Yes. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) requires employers to treat any medical information obtained from a medical examination or disability-related inquiry as confidential medical records. Employers may share the information in limited circumstances with supervisors, managers, safety personnel and officials investigating compliance with the ADA. See EEOC Enforcement Guidance on Disability-Related Inquiries and Medical Examinations of Employees Under the Americans with Disabilities Act at https://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/guidance-inquiries.html.
In addition, the Privacy Act of 1974 prohibits federal agencies from disclosing your personal information, such as your medical records, without your approval unless a statutory exception applies. See 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b). One such exception is that the medical records may be shared with officers and employees of the agency who have a need for the record in the performance of their duties. See 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(1).
Mental Health Screening FAQs
Individuals in CBP law enforcement positions must be medically and physically capable of performing the essential job functions and duties of their respective positions safely and efficiently without endangering the health and safety of the individual, others, or national security.
After tentative selection, applicants must undergo a pre-employment medical examination and be found medically qualified to perform the position's full range of duties safely and efficiently. Any disease or condition that may potentially interfere with the safe and efficient performance of the job's duties or training may result in medical disqualification. No condition is automatically disqualifying; each determination is made on a case-by-case basis. The medical determination may involve a mental health screening and/or recommendations for additional information. If medical information is recommended beyond that provided by the initial medical examination or mental health screening, the costs are the responsibility of the applicant.
The mental health screening is a two-part evaluation, which will first consist of a multiple-choice questionnaire that can be administered from any location with web access. It takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. After completing the online assessment, a more comprehensive one-on-one evaluation with a psychologist will be conducted by telephone to further evaluate areas assessed in the online screening.
After tentative selection, applicants must undergo a pre-employment medical examination. Information obtained from your pre-employment medical examination will be reviewed to determine if a mental health screening is required. For example, applicants who have had mental health symptoms, treatment, diagnoses, or medication will be required to complete the mental health screening.
If you require the mental health screening, you will receive a notification by email from our contractor, Mission Critical Psychological Services, LLC, providing information on how to access the online mental health questionnaire. The email will also include two dates and times for which you can select from to complete your phone interview with a psychologist. You will be required to reply to the email providing your preferred date and time. Once you reply to the email, our contractor will provide you with the psychologist’s name and phone number. You must complete the online questionnaire before your scheduled phone interview with the psychologist.
After you complete your pre-employment medical examination, our Medical Officer will review your health history to determine if you require the mental health screening. In most cases, if you require the mental health screening, you will receive notification to complete your online questionnaire within 7 days after attending your pre-employment medical examination.
The first portion of your mental health screening is completed online and can be administered from any location with web access. You will receive an email providing instructions on how to access the online questionnaire. After completing the online questionnaire, you will complete a one-on-one telephone interview with a psychologist on the date and time of your choosing. No travel to a specific location is required.
You will choose from two dates/times to complete your telephone interview with a psychologist. The online questionnaire must be completed before your scheduled phone interview.
Reschedules are considered on a case-by-case basis; it is not a guarantee that you will be able to reschedule your appointment. You will need to make every effort to attend your appointment as scheduled. Failure to do so could result in your tentative offer of employment being withdrawn.
If you have questions regarding the online portion of your mental health questionnaire or the telephone interview, you may reply directly to the email you receive, or you may contact Comprehensive Health Services by phone at 866-493-0476.
No. CBP will provide and pay for the pre-employment mental health screening.
Yes. Failure to respond completely and honestly to the questions asked on your pre-employment medical examination and history report, and/or during your mental health screening may result in delay to your hiring process or disqualification from employment consideration.
Failure to respond completely and honestly to the questions asked during your mental health screening may result in a delay to your hiring process or disqualification from employment consideration. CBP will pay for the cost of your pre-employment medical examination and mental health screening. Any additional costs associated with obtaining any further documentation or medical evaluations from your provider to determine your medical qualification for the position will be at your own expense.
No condition is automatically disqualifying; each determination is made on a case-by-case basis.
The results of your pre-employment medical examination and your mental health screening (if required) will be reviewed. If additional information is needed, you will be contacted by email. Obtaining further documentation or medical evaluations from your provider will be at your own expense.
No. The psychologist will not discuss the results of your case but will forward the results to the CBP Hiring Center. If further follow up is necessary, you will be notified via email.
If you have questions regarding your mental health screening, please contact the CBP Hiring Center’s Medical Review team by email at cbphiringmedreview@cbp.dhs.gov. Please do not contact Comprehensive Health Services or the psychologist that conducted your mental health screening as they are unable to assist you or provide you any further information.
Yes. After you have received a tentative job offer from CBP, the ADA does not prohibit the agency from requiring you to provide medical information in order to determine the nature of any medical conditions that could affect the safe and efficient performance of job duties. Your job offer from CBP may be conditioned on the results of a medical evaluation.
See the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission website for more information: Enforcement Guidance: Preemployment Disability-Related Questions and Medical Examinations.
