Check Column Data Type

[JPicasso]

We have a table that has a data type that needs to be changed.

We have a .sql script that checks if the table has been created, if not, creates it. If the table has been created, we use an ALTER TABLE .. ALTER COLUMN call to fix it. That's working.

The problem is that this script will be run on the client every day or so.
I don't know the implications of constantly running an "ALTER COLUMN" command needlessly
on a column that is already the correct data type.
So I'd like to not run the command if the column type is already fixed.
Unless someone can verify that the DB checks first, and really doesn't run anything if you ALTER COLUMN to the same type.

EDIT: SQL SERVER 2005