An external device for verifying that a lead has been fully inserted into a header of a medical device, comprising: communication circuitry; and a processor controlling the communication circuitry and being configured to: prior to completion of the lead being inserted, establish a communication session with the medical device; during the communication session and prior to completion of the lead being inserted, instruct the medical device to begin an impedance test for a set of connectors that are expected to be electrically connected to the lead where the impedance test repeatedly polls for impedance; receive a response from the medical device that specifies a result of the impedance test; provide an output that indicates whether the lead is fully inserted based on the response, wherein the processor is configured to send an instruction to the medical device to perform the impedance test for at least one connector; and wherein the at least one connector is a last one that is expected to be connected due to the lead being fully inserted and wherein the processor is configured to send an instruction to the medical device to perform the impedance test for all connectors that are expected to have electrical connectivity to the lead upon receiving a response from the medical device that indicates that electrical connectivity is detected at the connector that is the last one that is expected to be connected due to the lead being fully inserted. communication circuitry; and a processor controlling the communication circuitry and being configured to: prior to completion of the lead being inserted, establish a communication session with the medical device; during the communication session and prior to completion of the lead being inserted, instruct the medical device to begin an impedance test for a set of connectors that are expected to be electrically connected to the lead where the impedance test repeatedly polls for impedance; receive a response from the medical device that specifies a result of the impedance test; provide an output that indicates whether the lead is fully inserted based on the response, prior to completion of the lead being inserted, establish a communication session with the medical device; during the communication session and prior to completion of the lead being inserted, instruct the medical device to begin an impedance test for a set of connectors that are expected to be electrically connected to the lead where the impedance test repeatedly polls for impedance; receive a response from the medical device that specifies a result of the impedance test; provide an output that indicates whether the lead is fully inserted based on the response, wherein the processor is configured to send an instruction to the medical device to perform the impedance test for at least one connector; and wherein the at least one connector is a last one that is expected to be connected due to the lead being fully inserted and wherein the processor is configured to send an instruction to the medical device to perform the impedance test for all connectors that are expected to have electrical connectivity to the lead upon receiving a response from the medical device that indicates that electrical connectivity is detected at the connector that is the last one that is expected to be connected due to the lead being fully inserted.