OCPC Glossary of Useful Terms

This page contains a list of useful terms you may encounter during your compliance journey and is intended as a quick reference resource for students in all programs. Note that these terms may mean slightly different things in other contexts; the information below is specific to the compliance process at UConn. You may also want to check out our FAQs for more in-depth answers to common questions!

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Booster

Commonly referred to as a "shot," a booster is a follow-up dose of a vaccine that you receive after your primary vaccine series to boost your immunity. For example, a COVID-19 booster is required five months after the primary COVID-19 vaccine series if you received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. A Tdap booster is required every 10 years to ensure continued immunity. If any of your primary titers come back negative or equivocal, you will need to have one or more boosters before you can have a repeat titer. For example, if your Hepatitis B primary titer is negative, you will need to have a Hepatitis B booster series of either two or three doses/shots that will hopefully boost your immunity so that your repeat titer will be positive.

Compliance

General term encompassing all that a student must complete to be cleared for placement in a partner agency for a clinical or field placement. Includes UConn baseline requirements, program-specific requirements, and agency-specific requirements. Can include everything from immunizations, titers, and health screenings to physical exams, background checks and drug screens, required trainings, forms and documents, and much more. Your program's requirements and deadlines are clearly laid out in the video series and compliance guide (see our Students page for access). You must maintain compliance at all times during your program. You will not be able to begin your placement if compliance requirements are not met, and you will be removed from your placement if your compliance lapses.

Compliant/Non-Compliant

If you are deemed "compliant," that means you satisfied all compliance requirements and are clear for placement. If you are deemed "non-compliant," that means you have not satisfied all compliance requirements and are not clear for placement. Note that in Complio you will see an overall compliant/non-compliant status as well as individual statuses for each required category.

Documents/Documentation

In the context of compliance, documents are anything that you use to prove you've completed a required step. You will not be able to achieve compliance without proper documentation submitted to Complio. Depending on your specific program requirements, you may need to gather childhood immunization records, lab reports showing your titer results, results of Tuberculosis testing, proof of receiving certain immunizations or boosters, your CPR certification card, your health insurance card, etc.

Exception

Very occasionally, there is a specific situation that necessitates an exception to a compliance requirement. Generally speaking, you will need medical provider documentation before an exception can be granted. For example, if you have a documented allergy to the Tdap vaccine and cannot receive it, your provider would issue a note stating the allergy and you would submit that to Complio with an exception request to the Tdap category. Any exceptions or other special circumstances will be disclosed to your placement agency prior to placement, and placement is always at the agency's discretion. If you think you need to apply for an exception, please reach out to your program's designated OCPC Compliance Specialist first to discuss the situation.

Temporary Compliance

All compliance is technically temporary as requirements can change at any time. However, when we say "temporary compliance" or that you are "temporarily compliant," we're referring to the temporary state Complio will apply when you are completing a category that has multiple steps with waiting periods between steps. This compliance will carry an expiration date. For example, if you are completing a repeat Hepatitis B series, you must wait between each booster and between your final booster and repeat titer. As long as you remain on schedule and submit each step on time, you will remain compliant. It's important for you to stay on top of each step so you can remain in compliance and cleared to begin or continue in your placement.

Titer/Repeat Titer

A titer is a blood test that measures immunity to a disease. For compliance, you will be required to document positive titers for MMR, Varicella, and Hepatitis B (positive meaning that you have measurable immunity to each). If any titers are negative or equivocal, it means you do not have immunity and will then need to have booster(s) and a repeat titer. The schedule varies based on which immunization we're talking about so refer to the individual requirement details available elsewhere. Remember that positive titers are required for compliance and your childhood vaccination record will not help you achieve compliance in categories requiring titers.