The DH 680 is Florida’s official Certification of Immunization, required for school and childcare enrollment statewide. Only a licensed Florida physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a county health department can certify it. Parents can leave with a printed certified copy at the visit, or retrieve a PDF later through Florida SHOTS using a provider-issued PIN.
TL;DR:
- A certified DH 680 must be completed and signed by a licensed Florida provider or health department; parents cannot fill it out themselves for school acceptance.
- Parents can retrieve a certified form from Florida SHOTS using a provider-issued PIN, but the PIN expires if not used within the active window.
- The form’s Part A, Part B, or Part C must match the child’s immunization status; incorrect selection can cause rejection or delays.
- Bring complete immunization records, including out-of-state shots, and a photo ID to ensure quick certification during appointments.
- Schools accept any color of certified DH 680 as long as it bears a valid signature or certification number, with no preference for paper color.
Table of Contents
- How to Get a Certified DH 680 From a Provider or Health Department
- Using Florida SHOTS to Certify and Retrieve the DH 680
- Which Part of the DH 680 Applies to Your Child
- What to Bring So the Visit Goes Smoothly
- What Temporary and Permanent Exemptions Mean for Your Family
- What Schools Actually Accept When You Submit the DH 680
- A Clinic’s-Eye View of DH 680 Requests
- Get Your Child’s Certified DH 680 the Same Day
- Sources
- FAQ
How to Get a Certified DH 680 From a Provider or Health Department
You cannot fill out a DH 680 yourself and expect a school to accept it. The Florida Department of Health is clear that only a licensed physician, an APRN, or a county health department can complete and certify the form. That certification, whether it’s a wet signature or an electronic one through Florida SHOTS, is what makes the document valid for enrollment.
Getting one is usually straightforward:
- Call ahead or walk into a clinic or county health department that offers immunization services.
- Bring your child’s shot history so the provider can confirm what’s current and what’s due.
- Ask whether the office prints the certified DH 680 on the spot or generates it electronically through Florida SHOTS.
- Request both a printed copy for your records and a Florida SHOTS PIN, so you can reprint the form later without another office visit.
Some offices keep paper DH 680 stock on hand for quick turnaround; others generate every form electronically. Either method produces a valid, certified document as long as an authorized provider signs off.
Using Florida SHOTS to Certify and Retrieve the DH 680
Florida SHOTS is the state’s immunization registry, and it’s also the fastest way to get a certified DH 680 without waiting on paperwork. Providers create the certified form directly in the system, and parents can pull their own copy later using two pieces of information.
Here’s how it works on the provider side:
- The provider reviews the child’s record in Florida SHOTS and generates the certified Form 680.
- The system embeds an authorized signature, a unique electronic certification number, and the Florida SHOTS logo directly onto the certified PDF.
- The provider can also create a parent access PIN at this stage, tied to the child’s State IMM ID.
Parents then log in to flshots.com, enter the State IMM ID and PIN, and download a printable PDF. Adobe Reader (or a similar PDF viewer) is required to open and print it correctly.
Pro Tip: Ask your provider to write down the State IMM ID and PIN before you leave the office. Losing that slip of paper is the single most common reason parents end up back at the front desk asking for a reprint.
One catch worth knowing: PINs don’t last forever. If the certified form isn’t generated within the PIN’s active window, the system deletes it, and the provider has to issue a new one. If your retrieval fails, double check that you typed the IMM ID correctly before assuming the PIN expired.
Which Part of the DH 680 Applies to Your Child
The DH 680 has three parts, and using the wrong one is a fast way to get your form bounced back by a school registrar.
- Part A covers standard immunization compliance and uses numbered codes. Code 1 applies to children entering kindergarten through 6th grade; Code 8 applies to the additional requirement students face entering 7th grade.
- Part B documents a temporary medical exemption. It must carry an expiration date, and once that date passes, the provider needs to update the record or issue a new form. This part is common for kids catching up on a delayed vaccine schedule.
- Part C documents a permanent medical exemption, backed by a physician’s written clinical justification explaining why a specific vaccine is contraindicated for that child.
Providers choose the Part based on the child’s actual status, not on parent preference. If your child is mid-catch-up on shots, expect Part B with a firm follow-up date rather than a blanket exemption.
What to Bring So the Visit Goes Smoothly
Providers can only certify what they can verify, so incomplete records are the number one reason DH 680 requests take longer than expected.
Bring these items to your appointment:
- Your child’s personal immunization card or shot record
- Any prior school immunization paperwork, especially if you’re new to Florida
- Dates written or confirmed in mm/dd/yyyy format
- A photo ID for the parent or guardian, plus current contact information
When a family moves from another state, the Florida Department of Health recommends securing a complete immunization history before the visit, since the provider has to manually reconcile those out-of-state dates into Florida SHOTS. Our guide on getting immunization records in Florida walks through that process in more detail.
Pro Tip: Illegible handwriting on an old paper record is one of the quietest causes of delay. If your child’s old shot card is hard to read, call the previous provider for a typed copy before your appointment instead of hoping the new office can decipher it.
What Temporary and Permanent Exemptions Mean for Your Family
Part B and Part C exemptions aren’t interchangeable, and each carries its own follow-up responsibility.
- A Part B temporary exemption is a stopgap, not a solution. The provider sets an expiration date, and once your child receives the needed vaccine, the record has to be updated before that date arrives.
- A Part C permanent exemption requires the certifying physician to document the specific medical contraindication in writing, along with a signature or electronic certification number.
- Schools track exemption expiration dates the same way they track any other compliance deadline. A lapsed Part B without an update can trigger the same enrollment hold as missing shots entirely.
- If circumstances change, whether a temporary exemption needs renewing or a family wants to explore telehealth options for follow-up care across state lines, it’s worth understanding how cross-state telehealth rules can affect follow-up documentation.
What Schools Actually Accept When You Submit the DH 680
Schools don’t care whether your DH 680 printed on blue paper or plain white. County health department guidance confirms either paper color is acceptable as long as the form carries a genuine certification, either a provider’s signature or the Florida SHOTS certification number and logo.
Registrars are trained to look for that certification mark, not the color of the paper it’s printed on. Once a school accepts a certified DH 680, it keeps that record on file and monitors it the same way it monitors any other compliance document, meaning a Part B exemption on file gets flagged automatically when its expiration date arrives.
A Clinic’s-Eye View of DH 680 Requests
Most delays we see with the DH 680 come down to incomplete records showing up at the appointment, not confusion about the form itself. Families who bring a complete shot history, even a messy one, walk out with a certified copy and a printed PIN slip the same day. Families who show up without records often need a second visit just to track down missing dates before we can certify anything.
The single best habit: ask for your Florida SHOTS PIN every time, even if you’re walking out with a paper copy in hand. It costs nothing to request, and it saves you an office visit the next time a school or camp asks for a fresh copy.
— Lisa
Get Your Child’s Certified DH 680 the Same Day
A walk-in clinic can be an alternative to pediatrician waitlists and county health department limited hours. Some clinics offer same-day printing of a certified DH 680 and provide a Florida SHOTS PIN for parents to reprint the form later without returning.
Our team enters prior immunization records, including out-of-state ones, directly into Florida SHOTS, checks what’s current, and administers any catch-up vaccines your child needs before certifying the form. We also handle school and sports physicals at the same visit, so you’re not scheduling separate appointments before the school year starts. We accept major insurance plans, Medicaid, and self-pay, and same-day appointments mean you’re not waiting weeks for a slot. Bring your child’s shot card and any prior records, and book your visit or contact us to check today’s availability.
This article is general information, not a substitute for advice from a qualified doctor. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about your own circumstances before acting on anything here.
Sources
FAQ
What is a DH 680 form?
The DH 680 is Florida’s Certification of Immunization, the official document schools and licensed childcare centers require confirming a child’s vaccination status. Only a licensed provider or county health department can certify it.
How do I get an immunization exemption form in Florida?
Temporary (Part B) and permanent (Part C) medical exemptions are sections built into the DH 680 itself, not separate forms. A licensed physician or APRN documents the exemption directly on the form, with Part B requiring an expiration date and Part C requiring written clinical justification.
Where do I get my child’s immunization forms?
Any licensed Florida physician, APRN, or county health department can issue a certified DH 680. Your Family Walk-In Clinic offers same-day appointments in Lutz and can print a certified copy or set you up with a Florida SHOTS PIN before you leave.
Where do I get a religious exemption form in Florida?
Religious exemption documentation is a separate process from the medical exemptions built into the DH 680 and is typically handled through your county health department, which can confirm current local procedures and paperwork.
Can I print the DH 680 myself at home?
Only if a provider already certified it electronically through Florida SHOTS and gave you a State IMM ID and PIN. A blank template filled out without a provider’s certification will not be accepted for enrollment.
