Florida’s DH 3040 form is the state’s standardized school-entry health examination record. To use it, a parent completes Part I (medical history), a U.S.-licensed healthcare provider performs the physical and completes Part II within one year before the child’s enrollment date, and you submit the signed original to the school during registration.1Florida Department of Health. School Enrollment Blank copies are available in English and Spanish on the Florida Department of Health’s school enrollment page, and most pediatric offices keep them on hand.
Who Has to Turn One In
Every child making an initial entrance into a Florida public or private school needs this exam on file, from Pre-K through 12th grade. That includes children starting kindergarten, students transferring in from another state or country, and older students entering the Florida system for the first time.2The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 1003.22 – School-Entry Health Examinations; Immunization Against Communicable Diseases; Exemptions; Duties of Department of Health A student who already attended a Florida school and simply moves to a different one within the state does not need a new exam. The record follows the child.
Florida law allows one exemption from the exam itself: a parent may submit a written request objecting to the examination on religious grounds, and the child is excused from the requirement.2The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 1003.22 – School-Entry Health Examinations; Immunization Against Communicable Diseases; Exemptions; Duties of Department of Health No special form is needed; a signed parent letter is enough. This exemption covers the health exam only. Immunization exemptions run through a separate process.
Filling Out Part I (Parent Section)
Part I is the parent’s page. Enter the child’s name, date of birth, sex, home address, school name, grade, and phone number, along with your name as parent or guardian. Below the identifying fields is a set of yes-or-no questions about the child’s medical history: general health concerns such as eating, sleep, and weight; medical, social, emotional, or behavioral problems; food, insect, medication, or other allergies; prescription medications; vision, hearing, or speech aids; hospitalizations and major illnesses; significant injuries or accidents; and whether you want to talk with the school nurse about anything.
Check yes or no on each item and explain any yes answers in the space provided. Sign and date the bottom of Part I before handing the form to the provider. Completing this section before the appointment saves time, because the provider uses your answers to guide the exam.
Filling Out Part II (Provider Section)
Part II is completed entirely by the healthcare provider. Florida requires that the exam be performed and signed by a provider licensed to conduct physical exams in the United States, which in practice includes a medical doctor, osteopathic physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant.1Florida Department of Health. School Enrollment
The provider records screening results for height, weight, and BMI percentile; blood pressure; hemoglobin or hematocrit; lead; urinalysis; vision with and without corrective lenses, scored per eye; and hearing, marked pass, fail, or referred per ear. A physical assessment follows, with each body system (teeth and gums, head and scalp, eyes, ears, nose and throat, chest and lungs, heart, abdomen, and posture) marked normal, abnormal, or referred. The provider also completes a tuberculosis risk assessment.
At the bottom of Part II, the provider checks one of two boxes: the child may participate fully in school activities including physical education, or the child may participate with specific restrictions. If restrictions apply, the provider writes the reason and the accommodation needed. The provider then signs, dates, and stamps or prints their name and office address. A form missing the provider’s signature or date will almost certainly be sent back.
Turning the Form In
Bring the completed original to the school registrar or front office, usually during registration before the first day of classes. Staff will check that both parts are complete and that the exam date falls within one year of enrollment. If anything is missing or the exam is too old, you will be asked to fix it before the child can attend. The school files the DH 3040 in the child’s permanent health record, so a later transfer to another Florida school does not require a new form.
If You Cannot Get It Done Before the First Day
Florida law allows individual school boards to give students up to 30 school days after enrollment to submit a health exam certification. Whether your district uses that option is a matter of local policy, so ask the school before assuming you have extra time.2The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 1003.22 – School-Entry Health Examinations; Immunization Against Communicable Diseases; Exemptions; Duties of Department of Health
Two groups get the 30-school-day window automatically under state law regardless of district policy: children and youths experiencing homelessness, and children known to the Florida Department of Children and Families as defined in Section 39.0016.2The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 1003.22 – School-Entry Health Examinations; Immunization Against Communicable Diseases; Exemptions; Duties of Department of Health Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, schools must enroll students experiencing homelessness immediately even without health records. Military families may also receive enrollment accommodations under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, with specific terms varying by school; contact the enrollment office if this applies to you.
If Your Child Had a Physical in Another State
If your child had a physical in another state within the past year, Florida schools may accept it, and the exam does not have to be recorded on the DH 3040 specifically. The Florida Department of Health treats the DH 3040 as recommended but accepts any form signed by a U.S.-licensed provider that documents the same exam components.1Florida Department of Health. School Enrollment The out-of-state paperwork needs to cover the same screenings and assessments and include the provider’s signature and office information. If it falls short, the school can require a new exam.
Immunization Records Are Separate
The DH 3040 does not double as an immunization record. Schools require both the DH 3040 and the DH 680 immunization certificate, and each is certified separately. The DH 680 must be completed through a Florida healthcare provider or the Florida SHOTS registry.3Florida Department of Health. Child Immunizations If your child sees a regular pediatrician, the office can usually handle both forms in one visit. For out-of-state transfers, the provider can transcribe existing vaccination records onto a DH 680, and lost records can be retrieved through Florida SHOTS.4Florida SHOTS. Home
Where to Get the Form and the Exam
A blank DH 3040 is available for download on the Florida Department of Health’s school enrollment page at floridahealth.gov, with a Spanish version on the same page. Many provider offices already stock the form. The most straightforward place to get the exam done is your child’s pediatrician or family doctor. Walk-in clinics and urgent care centers also perform school physicals, with prices that vary by location. County health departments are another option and often provide school-entry exams at reduced cost for uninsured families; contact your local county health department to ask about availability and fees.