A post-exposure medical evaluation must be performed by a licensed health care professional who is legally authorized to provide such evaluation and follow-up in the state or country where care is given.

Who may perform it?

In most OSHA‑related and healthcare workplace settings, the post‑exposure evaluation and follow‑up must be done:

  • By or under the supervision of a licensed physician, or
  • By another licensed health care professional who is permitted by state law to independently provide the post‑exposure evaluation and follow‑up services required (e.g., certain nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or occupational health clinicians).

The key requirement is that the clinician is licensed and authorized to perform confidential medical evaluation, testing, counseling, and post‑exposure prophylaxis as specified in current public health guidelines.

What the employer must do

Workplace safety rules (such as OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard) place responsibility on the employer to:

  • Make a confidential medical evaluation and follow‑up immediately available to the exposed worker at no cost.
  • Arrange this care at a reasonable time and place, with a designated licensed health care professional or clinic prepared to manage post‑exposure testing and treatment.

The employer does not perform the medical evaluation themselves; they must refer the worker to the appropriate licensed health care professional and ensure proper documentation, counseling, and follow‑up occur.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.