Every child entering a Florida public or private school for the first time needs proof of a physical exam completed within the past year, and the Florida School Entry Health Exam Form DH 3040 is the state’s recommended document for recording it. The form has two parts: the parent fills out the medical history, and a licensed healthcare provider completes the medical evaluation during the physical. You bring the finished form to the school when you enroll your child. Florida also accepts a comparable form from another state if a licensed provider signed it and it covers the same components.
Who Needs to Submit the Form
Under Florida Statutes Section 1003.22, any child making an initial entrance into a Florida school — public or private, prekindergarten through twelfth grade — needs a completed health exam on file.1Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 1003.22 – School-Entry Health Examinations; Immunization Against Communicable Diseases That includes kindergarteners starting school, children transferring from another state or country, and older students enrolling in a Florida school for the first time at any grade.
Students already enrolled in a Florida school who transfer between Florida districts do not need a new exam; their records travel with them. If a child had a break in enrollment and is re-entering, the school may ask for updated documentation. The exam must have been performed within one year before the enrollment date, so a physical from 14 months ago will not qualify.2Florida Department of Health. School Enrollment
Where to Get Form DH 3040
The Florida Department of Health hosts the form on its School Enrollment page in both English and Spanish. You can download the PDF, print it, and bring it to your child’s appointment.2Florida Department of Health. School Enrollment Many pediatrician offices and county health department clinics also keep blank copies on hand.
If your child had a recent physical in another state, you do not have to redo it on the DH 3040. Florida accepts any form signed by a provider licensed to perform physical exams in the United States, as long as the exam is less than a year old and covers the same components.
Part I: What the Parent Fills Out
Part I is the parent or guardian section. Complete it before or at the appointment. It opens with your child’s full name, date of birth, sex, address, school name, grade, and your contact details.
Below the demographics, eight yes-or-no medical history questions ask about:
- General health concerns such as eating and sleeping habits or weight
- Social, emotional, or behavioral problems
- Allergies to foods, insects, or medications
- Prescription medications taken daily or occasionally
- Vision, hearing, or speech issues, including glasses, contacts, hearing aids, or ear tubes
- Hospitalizations or surgeries
- Significant injuries or accidents
- Whether you would like to speak with the school nurse about anything related to your child’s health
Each “yes” gets a short explanation in the space provided. Part I also includes a “Partnership for School Readiness” section for recording results of a comprehensive vision exam (particularly for ages three through five), a comprehensive dental exam, and a hearing screening. These are recommendations, not requirements. Sign and date the bottom of Part I to authorize the exam.
Part II: What the Provider Fills Out
Part II is completed entirely by the healthcare provider during the physical. The provider enters the exam date at the top, and that date starts the one-year validity clock.
The screening results section captures height, weight, BMI percentile, blood pressure, hematocrit or hemoglobin, lead level, urinalysis, vision acuity in each eye (with and without corrective lenses if applicable), and hearing status for each ear as pass, fail, or referred.
The physical assessment covers six body systems, each marked normal, abnormal, referred, or treated: teeth and gums; head, scalp, and skin; eyes, ears, nose, and throat; chest, lungs, and heart; abdomen; and posture. The provider also documents whether a tuberculosis risk assessment was performed. That risk assessment is a questionnaire, not a skin test for every child.
At the bottom, the provider notes any condition that could require emergency action at school and any issue that might affect the child’s educational experience across vision, hearing, speech, physical ability, behavior, or cognition. The provider then checks one of two boxes: that the child can participate fully in school activities including physical education, or that participation requires specific restrictions. The provider signs, dates, and stamps the form with their name and practice address.
Which Providers Can Sign the Form
Florida accepts the exam from any healthcare provider licensed to perform physical examinations in the United States.2Florida Department of Health. School Enrollment In practice that includes physicians (MD or DO), physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses. The provider does not need a Florida license specifically. An exam performed by a licensed provider in another state is valid as long as it was completed within one year of enrollment and documents everything the DH 3040 covers. If you are relocating to Florida and your child already had a well-child visit within the past year, bring the documentation to the new school and let the registrar confirm it is complete.
When and How to Submit It
Bring the completed form to the school’s registrar or health office at enrollment. Florida law allows each school district to set its own policy granting up to 30 school days for families to present the health exam certification, but this grace period is not automatic and depends on the district.1Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 1003.22 – School-Entry Health Examinations; Immunization Against Communicable Diseases Districts that grant the 30-day window must include provisions in their local school health plan to help families obtain the exam, so ask the school for help if you cannot get an appointment in time.
Thirty school days means school days, not calendar days. Weekends, holidays, and breaks do not count. Once submitted, the form stays in your child’s cumulative health file for the duration of enrollment.
Exemptions
Florida recognizes a religious exemption from the health exam. A parent submits a written request stating an objection to the examination on religious grounds, and the child is exempt.3Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 1003.22 No specific form is required; a signed letter is sufficient.
Children experiencing homelessness and children known to the Department of Children and Families receive a temporary 30-school-day exemption to present the certification. During that window, the child must be enrolled and attending classes immediately. Schools cannot delay enrollment while waiting for paperwork.1Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 1003.22 – School-Entry Health Examinations; Immunization Against Communicable Diseases The Florida Department of Education’s McKinney-Vento program applies the same rule.4Florida Department of Education. Title IX, Part A: Florida McKinney-Vento Program
Immunization Records Are Separate
The DH 3040 covers the physical exam only. Florida separately requires the Florida Certification of Immunization, Form DH 680, before a child can attend school. Noncompliance with immunizations specifically is what can lead to a child being refused admittance or temporarily excluded.1Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 1003.22 – School-Entry Health Examinations; Immunization Against Communicable Diseases Your pediatrician can usually handle both forms at the same well-child visit, so schedule them together.
Cost and Insurance
Most private insurance plans, including all Marketplace plans under the Affordable Care Act, cover well-child visits as preventive care with no copay or coinsurance when you use an in-network provider.5HealthCare.gov. Preventive Care Benefits for Children The school entry exam typically falls within a standard well-child visit. Children on Medicaid are covered under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment benefit, which includes comprehensive physical exams from birth through age 20.
Families without insurance can contact their local Florida county health department about low-cost or sliding-scale school physicals. Many county health departments offer reduced rates, particularly during back-to-school season. If your district grants the 30-school-day grace period, it is also required to help families find resources for the exam.
Sports Physicals Do Not Count
A sports physical, formally a preparticipation physical evaluation, is not the same as the school entry health exam, and one does not replace the other. Sports physicals focus narrowly on whether a child can safely handle strenuous activity, concentrating on the heart, lungs, joints, and muscles. The DH 3040 exam is broader, covering growth, lab screenings, vision, hearing, dental health, and a full assessment across multiple body systems. If your child needs both, schedule them at the same appointment and tell the provider so both forms get completed.