SA-4321 Dress Code

1.0        Policy

As representatives of the medical profession, all medical students at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM) are expected to convey a professional demeanor not only in their behavior but also in their dress and appearance. A professional image evokes credibility, trust, respect, and confidence in one’s colleagues and patients. The manner of dress, personal hygiene, appearance, and general behavior, verbal and non-verbal, contribute considerably to a professional image. Appropriate dress is also essential to enhance patient safety in the clinical setting.

When students are assigned to clinical activities in any of the VTCSOM’s participating institutions, they should consider themselves as representatives of VTCSOM. Hence, attire and behavior should promote a positive impression on the individual student, the specific course, and the institution. In addition to the guidelines outlined below, certain departments and some affiliate clinical institutions may allow alternate dress guidelines based on site and activities. Alternative requirements are typically included in written course materials, but if any doubt exists, it is the responsibility of the student to inquire.

2.0        Procedures

The following policy outlines some of the major expectations concerning appropriate dress and personal appearance: 

General Standards

• VTCSOM ID name badges are required to be worn by all students at all times.
• All clothing must be clean, neat, professionally styled, and in good repair.
• Footwear shall be clean and in good repair.
• Good personal hygiene and grooming are required to be maintained at all times.
• Excessive use of fragrances should be avoided as some people may be sensitive to scented chemicals, which may cause allergies or other adverse reactions.
• Hair should be clean. Hairstyles should not interfere with assigned duties nor present a physical hazard to the patient, to self, or to another person.
• Fingernails should be clean and of short to medium length.
• Students may not wear acrylic nails while providing patient care services.

Standards in the Classroom Setting

• Clothing should be well fitted. Longer shorts, capri-style pants, leggings, and jeans are acceptable for the classroom.
• Polo shirts with a collar and t-shirts are acceptable provided they do not contain any offensive language or pictures.
• Tube tops, halter tops, deep set necklines, see-through tops, or visible undergarments are not acceptable attire.
• Shirts/tops must extend to the waistband of your pants, skirts, or shorts. Bare midriffs are not acceptable.
• Skirts should not be more than 4 inches above the knee.
• Personal scrubs are permitted.
• Body art/tattoos should not be offensive.
• Students may wear comfortable shoes.

Standards in the Laboratory Setting

• Students should follow the guidelines of the particular lab; otherwise, follow the guidelines established for the classroom setting.
• Men and women are required to wear closed-toe shoes; Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations prohibit open-toed shoes.
• Lab coats should be clean and in good repair.

Standards in clinical care, OSCE, and case wrap-up settings  

Professional attire and physician-identifying clothing: 

• A shirt/blouse/sweater, skirt/dress or slacks, and closed-toes shoes. A tie is optional.
• For safety reasons, open-toed shoes or sandals are not allowed in the clinical setting.
• A white coat with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine embroidered logo should be worn during clinical care activities once the students have received these (optional for case wrap-up).
• Your white laboratory coat should be clean, pressed, and in good repair.
• Wearing personal scrubs is at the discretion of the clinical department.
• Jewelry (including earrings) are not permitted in the operating room. 
• Buttons, pins, badges, and stickers are to be worn or displayed sparingly and should not be worn directly on the white coat but rather on approved identification badge extensions.
• Items, including buttons, pins, and badges, deemed to be obscene, vulgar, harassing, discriminatory, or of a purely political and/or non-work-related nature are prohibited.
• Coats, caps, and/or hats may not be worn while on duty. Caps worn for religious purposes are permitted.

Students should not chew, smoke, or vape tobacco products while in a clinical setting or on hospital/clinic property. 

Additional Guidelines

The use of jewelry (e.g., necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, etc.) and other fashion accessories should be appropriate and not interfere with assigned duties. Jewelry represents a potential for infection, and loose jewelry can be grabbed or caught on equipment, causing a potential physical hazard to the student or the patient.  Tattoos and body art with wording or images that may be perceived as offensive should be covered during the time of professional contact with patients and families. Some examples of such offensive art or images include racial slurs, profanity, symbols of death, or inappropriate revealing of body parts in a way that a patient could perceive as inappropriate. 

3.0        References

• Carilion Clinic Dress Code – Residents Policy
• Virginia Tech Career and Professional Development Resource

4.0        Approval and Revisions

Approved by Student Affairs 7/16/2025