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I want to obtain a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption

   Review general exemption requirements prior to continuing.

A nonmedical exemption is an exemption to one or more school-required vaccines based upon a religious belief whose teachings are opposed to immunizations or a personal belief that is opposed to immunizations. This process may be completed by parents or guardians, emancipated students, or students 18 years or older.

There are two ways to obtain a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption. 

Obtain a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption by completing the Online Immunization Education Module.

(This does not require the signature of my or my child’s health care provider.)

 

 

 


OR

Obtain the signature of your or your child’s health care provider who


1) meets the criteria to sign the Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption, and 
2) is willing to provide immunization consultation and sign the Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption.

CDPHE’s Online Immunization Education Module

 

  • CDPHE published an updated version of the module on Oct. 27, 2025.
  • The Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption generated following completion of the Module was updated in July 2025 and has a new look and feel from the previous version.
  • The new Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption should be accepted by schools as valid documentation, effective immediately.
  • Prior versions of the Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption remain valid until they expire. 

You are responsible for providing the Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption that is made available upon completion of CDPHE’s Online Immunization Education Module (Module) to each school or child care you or your child attends.

Completing a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption this way does not require the signature of a health care provider. 

Review the following information: 

  • In order to successfully move through the Module and obtain the Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption, first review the Technical guidance and troubleshooting document.
  • We do not recommend using a mobile device or tablet to complete the Module and electronic form, as they may not function correctly on these types of devices.
  • The information collected in the electronic form to obtain a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption is sent to CDPHE for entry into the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS). If you or your child has opted out of CIIS, completing the Online Immunization Education Module will not opt you back into CIIS and your nonmedical exemptions will not be processed into CIIS.

 Access CDPHE's Online Immunization Education Module

View information on requirements for the timing and frequency of submission of a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption.

For help with or technical questions related to the Module, contact the CIIS School Coordinator at cdphe_ciis_schools@state.co.us.

Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption signed by a health care provider

You are responsible for providing a copy of the signed Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption to each school or child care you or your child attends.

Completing the Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption this way requires the signature of one of the following health care providers who are authorized to administer immunizations and licensed in the state of Colorado:

  • Advanced practice nurse (APN)
  • Pharmacist (Pharm)
  • Physician (Medical Doctor [MD] or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine [DO])
  • Physician assistant (PA)
  • Registered nurse (RN)

Per Colorado law (SB 20-163), there is no requirement for providers to sign a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption. 

Parents or guardians, emancipated students, or students 18 years or older have the option of obtaining a nonmedical exemption without a provider's signature by completing the Online Immunization Education Module. 

Downloadable Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption:

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Per Colorado Revised Statutes 25-4-2403(2.5) and 25-4-2403, immunizing providers are required to submit immunization, medical exemption, and nonmedical exemption data to the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS). 

Required timing and frequency for the submission of a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption: 

The individual is attending:

Frequency of submission:  

 

A licensed preschool or child care

A Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption is to be submitted by the student’s parent or guardian upon entry and at each interval immunizations are due following the ACIP immunization schedule.

  • 2 months (will expire at 4 months)
  • 4 months (will expire at 6 months)
  • 6 months (will expire at 12 months)
  • 12 months (will expire at 18 months)
  • 18 months (will expire prior to kindergarten entry)

Kindergarten through 12th grade or school-age child care 

 

A Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption is to be submitted by the student’s parent or guardian upon entry and will expire annually on June 30 unless it is submitted as a part of a school’s designated early registration period for the upcoming school year.

   

A licensed day camp or a resident camp

A Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption is to be submitted by the student’s parent or guardian upon entry. A Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption is an annual requirement in this age group and is valid if it is dated within the past 12 months.

A Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption that was valid for the prior school year continues to be valid through the summer camp season. 

A Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption that is intended for the upcoming school year and completed during an early registration process may also be valid for the current camp season (reference K-12 requirements above).

College or university 

A Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption must be submitted upon enrollment. 

Note: Certificates of Nonmedical Exemption expire if the student changes their college or university. A new Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption will be required if they enroll in another Colorado college or university.