Does Urgent Care Do Physicals?

If you’re wondering, does urgent care do physicals — the answer is yes. Urgent care clinics can perform many types of physical exams quickly, without a long wait for a primary care appointment. At CityHealth in San Leandro, we offer several physical exam services to help you meet school, employment, and licensing requirements. For a comprehensive full body checkup in San Leandro, CityHealth offers same-day annual physicals with lab work.

Whether you need a sports physical for your student-athlete, a DOT exam for a commercial driver’s license, or a pre-employment physical for a new job, urgent care can often get you in and out the same day.

What Types of Physicals Does Urgent Care Do?

Not all physicals are the same. The type you need depends on your situation — school sports, a new job, a CDL license, or an annual wellness checkup. Here’s a breakdown of the most common physicals and whether urgent care can help.

Related: lab testing services.

Sports Physicals (Pre-Participation Physical Exam)

A sports physical — also called a pre-participation physical exam (PPE) — is required for most student-athletes before they can join a school sports team. It checks that your child is healthy enough to safely participate in athletics.

During a sports physical, the provider will:

• Review your child’s health history
• Measure height, weight, blood pressure, and heart rate
• Check vision
• Examine the heart, lungs, abdomen, and musculoskeletal system
• Assess for prior injuries or chronic conditions
• Provide clearance documentation for the school

Sports physicals are one of the most common services at urgent care clinics. CityHealth in San Leandro offers sports physicals with no appointment needed — walk in and get cleared fast. These are typically affordable and completed in a single visit.

Pre-Employment Physicals

Many employers require a physical before you start a new job, especially in healthcare, construction, manufacturing, or public safety roles. Pre-employment physicals confirm that you’re physically capable of performing the job’s duties.

What a pre-employment physical may include:

• Review of medical history
• Vital signs check
• Vision and hearing screening
• Range of motion and strength testing
• Urine drug screen (if required by employer)
• Employer-specific forms completed on-site

Urgent care is a convenient and fast option for pre-employment physicals. CityHealth in San Leandro can complete most employer physical forms the same day.

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Walk-ins welcome. Same-day appointments available at CityHealth San Leandro.

DOT / CDL Physical Exams

If you’re a commercial truck driver or operate a vehicle that requires a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you need a DOT physical. The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires all commercial drivers to pass a medical exam to certify they are fit to drive safely.

A DOT physical must be performed by a certified medical examiner listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) National Registry. CityHealth providers in San Leandro are certified DOT medical examiners.

The DOT exam includes:

• Blood pressure and pulse check
• Vision test (must meet minimum standards)
• Hearing test
• Urinalysis (to check for diabetes, kidney issues)
• Physical examination of all body systems
• Review of medications and medical conditions

If you pass, you receive a Medical Examiner’s Certificate valid for up to 24 months (shorter if you have certain medical conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes). DOT physicals at urgent care are typically faster than going through a primary care doctor who may have a long wait list.

Immigration Physicals

Immigration physicals are required for certain green card and visa applications. These exams must be performed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon — not all urgent care clinics are authorized.

For immigration physicals, please contact us to confirm availability. We want to make sure we can meet your specific requirements before you come in.

Annual Wellness Exam

Annual wellness exams (also called preventive care visits or annual physicals) are checkups designed to assess your overall health — even when you feel fine. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommends regular preventive care visits to catch health problems early, before symptoms develop.

CDL drivers can also get their medical exams at CityHealth San Leandro. See our dedicated page for CDL medical exams in San Leandro.

During an annual wellness exam, your provider may:

• Review your health history and current medications
• Measure blood pressure, weight, and BMI
• Order blood work (cholesterol, blood sugar, thyroid, etc.)
• Screen for chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension
• Discuss lifestyle factors: diet, exercise, sleep, stress
• Provide or update vaccinations
• Make referrals to specialists if needed

Urgent care can perform wellness-style physicals, but if you want a full preventive care visit covered by insurance as an annual physical (under the Affordable Care Act’s preventive care provisions), it’s best to confirm with your insurance plan what’s covered at urgent care vs. a primary care office.

Return-to-Work Physical

After a workplace injury or illness, your employer may require a return-to-work physical before you come back on the job. This confirms that you’ve recovered enough to safely perform your duties — and protects both you and your employer.

A return-to-work physical at urgent care typically includes:

• Review of your injury or illness history
• Physical exam to assess recovery
• Range of motion and strength tests (if the injury was musculoskeletal)
• Completion of employer-required forms
• Work restrictions or full clearance documentation

CityHealth in San Leandro sees occupational health and workers’ compensation patients and can complete return-to-work evaluations.

Does Urgent Care Do Physicals for Children?

Yes. Urgent care clinics can perform physicals for children, especially sports physicals for school-age athletes. CityHealth in San Leandro sees patients of all ages. If your child needs a school sports clearance form completed before a season starts, we can usually see them the same day.

For comprehensive well-child visits that track developmental milestones and immunization schedules, a pediatrician or primary care provider is ideal. But for a quick sports physical or school clearance, urgent care is a great option.

How Long Does a Physical at Urgent Care Take?

Most physicals at urgent care take between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the type of exam and any additional testing needed. Sports physicals are usually on the quicker side. DOT physicals may take a bit longer due to the required documentation.

Walk-in availability means you don’t have to wait weeks for an appointment. You can often come in the same morning and have your paperwork completed by afternoon.

What to Bring to Your Physical

To make your visit as smooth as possible, bring the following:

• Photo ID
• Insurance card (if using insurance)
• List of current medications
• Any employer or school forms that need to be completed
• Medical records for chronic conditions (especially for DOT physicals)
• Glasses or contacts if you use them (for vision testing)

Does Insurance Cover Physicals at Urgent Care?

Coverage varies by insurance plan. Many insurance plans cover preventive care visits, but whether that applies at an urgent care clinic depends on your specific plan. Pre-employment physicals and DOT physicals are often paid out of pocket or by the employer.

Call your insurance provider in advance if you have questions about coverage. The team at CityHealth San Leandro can also help answer billing questions when you arrive.

Get Your Physical at CityHealth San Leandro

CityHealth in San Leandro offers sports physicals, DOT/CDL physical exams, and pre-employment physicals — all with walk-in availability. No long waits, no weeks-long scheduling delays. Our providers are experienced, and we can complete most employer and school forms on-site.