Nevada Vax Watch · Pre-launch resources
Nevada Vaccine Exemptions
A welcome from Matt
A starting place for you and your family
Welcome. I’m glad you’re here. Finding your way through Nevada’s vaccine laws can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re making decisions for your child or family. My hope is to make that information easier to find and understand.
As we prepare to launch Nevada Vax Watch, we’re sharing these early resources: plain-language explanations, links to the actual laws and official forms. You can take your time, start with the question that matters to you and return whenever you need to.
Over time, we plan to offer more comprehensive materials and additional assistance for Nevadans and their families. For now, I hope this page gives you a clearer place to begin and helps you feel more confident about the questions to ask next.
Thank you for being here as we build this resource for our Nevada community.
Matt Shiel
Founder, Nevada Vax Watch
You do not need to read every law to find a place to begin. Choose the question that fits your family. Each topic offers a short explanation, links to the actual legal wording and answers to common questions.
General educational information, not legal or medical advice. We provide resources, not exemptions or eligibility decisions. Exempt children may be excluded during an outbreak. Sources checked September 14, 2026.
Exemptions for children
Start here for public schools, charter schools, private schools and child care.
Where does your child attend?
School
Public, charter or private school.
Child care
Daycare, child care or an accommodation facility.
Preschool requirements depend on the setting. Ask the operator whether school or child care rules apply.
Can my child have a religious exemption?
Nevada allows a religious exemption when a parent’s or guardian’s religious belief prohibits the child’s immunization. Use the state form for the school or child care setting.
Go straight to forms for this topic
Frequently asked questions
Does this include charter and private schools?
Yes. Public and charter schools use NRS 392.437. Private schools use NRS 394.193. The state school form covers all three.
Is personal preference a separate exemption?
These statutes provide religious and medical grounds. They do not create a separate personal-preference or philosophical exemption. A religious statement must accurately reflect the signer’s beliefs.
Do I need a clergy letter or a notary?
The cited child exemption statutes and state forms do not list either as a requirement. Complete the required signatures and acknowledgments. If additional material is requested, ask which rule requires it.
Forms for this topic
These links open the official PDF in a new tab. Use its download or save control to keep a copy.
School religious exemption form
The parent or guardian completes and signs the form. Submit it to the school’s enrollment or health office.
Renewal: Submit annually on the school’s enrollment schedule.
Keep a dated copy. Send completed forms to the school, facility or university—not this website.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NRS 392.437 — Public and charter schools: protects enrollment when the required religious statement is submitted.
their religious belief prohibits immunization of such child
Exact excerpt, not the complete provision.
NRS 394.193 — Private schools: provides the corresponding religious exemption for enrollment.
their religious belief prohibits immunization of such child
Exact excerpt, not the complete provision.
NRS 432A.240 — Child care and accommodation facilities: requires a parent- or guardian-signed statement submitted to the operator.
a written statement of this fact signed by the parents or guardian
Exact excerpt, not the complete provision.
Can my child have a medical exemption?
A medical exemption may apply when a child’s medical condition prevents some or all required immunizations. A licensed physician or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) must document the medical basis.
Go straight to forms for this topic
Frequently asked questions
Must the exemption cover every vaccine?
No. These statutes allow a full or partial exemption according to the medical limitation.
Can it be temporary?
Yes. The official medical forms provide temporary and permanent categories. Temporary exemptions include an end date.
Can I complete the medical section myself?
The clinician completes that section. You complete the parent or guardian section and submit the form. The school or facility completes its own section.
Forms for this topic
These links open the official PDF in a new tab. Use its download or save control to keep a copy.
School medical exemption form
A licensed physician or APRN completes the medical section. Complete the parent or guardian section and submit the form to the school.
Renewal: Check the end date for a temporary exemption. The medical-form rules do not impose the same annual renewal requirement as religious exemptions.
Keep a dated copy. Send completed forms to the school, facility or university—not this website.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NRS 392.439 — Public and charter schools: the statement must be signed by the physician or APRN and the parent or guardian.
shall exempt the child from all or part
Exact excerpt, not the complete provision.
NRS 394.194 — Private schools: a physician- or APRN-signed statement is presented by the parent or guardian.
shall exempt such child from all or part
Exact excerpt, not the complete provision.
NRS 432A.250 — Child care: a physician- or APRN-signed statement is presented to the operator by the parent or guardian.
exempts such child from all or part
Exact excerpt, not the complete provision.
Can my child attend child care with an exemption?
Nevada law provides religious and medical exemptions from child care immunization requirements when the required statement is submitted. Use the state child care form and submit it to the facility operator. An exemption does not guarantee attendance during an outbreak.
Go straight to forms for this topic
Frequently asked questions
Does this apply to my child’s daycare or preschool?
Start with the facility’s legal classification. NRS 432A.024 defines child care facilities and exclusions. A preschool may operate as a school or a child care facility; ask the operator which requirements and state form apply.
What is an accommodation facility?
It is child care offered by a business for its customers alongside its main business. NRS 432A.235 has specific documentation rules for these facilities. The religious and medical exemptions also apply to those requirements.
How do the two exemptions differ?
For a religious exemption, the parent or guardian states that their religious belief prohibits immunization. For a medical exemption, a licensed physician or APRN documents the medical reason. These statutes do not provide a separate personal-preference exemption.
Who completes the form, and where do I submit it?
Complete the parent or guardian section of the state child care form. For medical exemptions, the clinician completes the medical section. Submit it to the facility operator, leave the facility’s section for its staff, and keep a dated copy.
How often must I renew it?
Religious exemptions follow the facility’s renewal schedule or must be submitted annually, whichever is more frequent. The medical-form rule does not impose that same annual requirement. Check any temporary exemption end date and ask about updated documentation.
Can my child attend during an outbreak?
Not always. NRS 432A.270 covers both religious and medical exemptions. When the specified health-board determination is made, it requires immunization or exclusion. Ask the facility who determines when attendance can resume.
What if the facility rejects the paperwork?
Ask for the reason, any missing information, the applicable statute or rule and any deadline in writing. Contact the Nevada State Immunization Program for process questions. A disputed denial may require individual legal advice.
Forms for this topic
These links open the official PDF in a new tab. Use its download or save control to keep a copy.
Child care religious exemption form
The parent or guardian completes and signs the form. Submit it to the facility operator.
Renewal: Renew on the facility’s schedule or annually, whichever is more frequent.
Child care medical exemption form
A licensed physician or APRN completes the medical section. Complete the parent or guardian section and submit the form to the facility operator.
Renewal: Check the end date for a temporary exemption and ask the facility about updated documentation.
Keep a dated copy. Send completed forms to the school, facility or university—not this website.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NRS 432A.240 — Religious exemption: the parent or guardian signs a statement that their religious belief prohibits the child’s immunization and submits it to the operator.
NRS 432A.250 — Medical exemption: a licensed physician or APRN documents the medical limitation; the parent or guardian presents the statement to the operator. It may cover some or all required immunizations.
NRS 432A.230 — Child care admission: sets immunization-certificate and conditional-admission requirements, subject to exemptions.
NRS 432A.235 — Accommodation facilities: sets their documentation and conditional-admission requirements.
NRS 432A.260 — Changing requirements: addresses additional documentation when new immunization requirements are imposed after admission.
NRS 432A.270 — Outbreaks: provides for immunization or exclusion when the designated health board determines a dangerous contagious disease exists in the facility.
NRS 432A.280 — Required removal: refusing to remove a child when attendance is legally prohibited under the listed provisions is a misdemeanor.
NRS 432A.0205 — Accommodation facility: child care operated by another business as an auxiliary service for its customers.
NRS 432A.024 — Scope: defines child care facilities and lists settings excluded from that definition.
NAC 432A.512 — Religious filing rule: use the state form and renew on the facility’s schedule or annually, whichever is more frequent.
NAC 432A.514 — Medical filing rule: use the state medical form.
NAC 432A.516 — Medical exemptions may be audited by a local health officer under specified circumstances.
Using your child’s exemption
The practical details: forms, renewal, attendance and other family questions.
How do I submit or renew the exemption?
Submit the correct state form to your child’s school or child care facility. Keep a dated copy and confirmation that it was received.
Frequently asked questions
Does a religious exemption last until graduation?
No. Schools require annual submission. Child care may require more frequent renewal according to its schedule.
Do medical exemptions also need annual renewal?
The cited medical-form rules do not impose the same annual requirement. Check the exemption’s end date and ask how the institution handles updated records and transfers.
Where do I send the form?
Use the school’s or facility’s designated enrollment or health office. The state forms directory is linked below; completed forms should not be sent to Nevada Vax Watch.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NAC 392.120 — Public and charter schools: religious form submitted annually on the enrollment schedule.
NAC 394.255 — Private schools: religious form submitted annually on the enrollment schedule.
NAC 432A.512 — Child care: religious form renewed on the facility’s schedule or annually, whichever is more frequent.
NAC 392.125 — Public and charter schools: use the state medical form.
NAC 394.260 — Private schools: use the state medical form.
NAC 432A.514 — Child care: use the state medical form.
Can my child be excluded during an outbreak?
Yes. An enrollment exemption does not guarantee attendance during an outbreak. When the designated health board makes the required disease determination, the law provides for immunization or exclusion.
Frequently asked questions
Does this apply to medical exemptions too?
Yes. The outbreak provisions cover both medical and religious exemptions.
How long could exclusion last?
The official forms describe a public health assessment, not a fixed number of days for every outbreak. Ask the institution who determines when your child may return.
Is claiming an exemption a misdemeanor?
The listed penalties concern refusing to remove a child when attendance is legally prohibited. They do not make claiming a valid exemption a misdemeanor.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NRS 392.446 — Public and charter schools: immunization or exclusion after the specified dangerous-disease determination.
NRS 394.198 — Private schools: corresponding outbreak rule.
NRS 432A.270 — Child care: corresponding outbreak rule.
NRS 392.448 — Public schools: refusing required removal can be a misdemeanor.
NRS 394.199 — Private schools: corresponding removal penalty.
NRS 432A.280 — Child care: corresponding removal penalty.
What if my child is behind on vaccines or the requirements change?
Conditional enrollment gives eligible families time to meet certain requirements. It is different from a medical or religious exemption. Requirements may also change after enrollment.
Frequently asked questions
Which vaccines does my child need for enrollment?
Age, grade and setting matter. Use the official state requirements directory below and ask the school or facility which schedule applies. Vaccine checkboxes on an exemption form are not a universal schedule.
Can I use conditional enrollment instead of an exemption?
Conditional enrollment has its own eligibility, documentation and deadlines. Ask which provision applies to your child; do not treat it as an indefinite waiver.
What if we are transferring because of military service?
NRS 392.435(5) has special public-school enrollment rules and refers to the military interstate compact. Have the school identify the applicable timeline.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NRS 392.435 — Public schools: immunization records, conditional enrollment and military-transfer provisions.
NRS 394.192 — Private schools: immunization records and conditional-admission provisions.
NRS 432A.230 — Child care: certificate and conditional-admission requirements.
NRS 432A.235 — Accommodation facilities: separate documentation and conditional-admission requirements.
NRS 392.443 — Public schools: additional certificates when new requirements are imposed.
NRS 394.196 — Private schools: corresponding additional-certificate requirement.
NRS 432A.260 — Child care: corresponding additional-documentation requirement.
What if I receive public assistance for my child?
Nevada law includes an immunization waiver for religious belief or medical condition in its public-assistance provisions. This is a separate submission to the Division of Social Services.
Frequently asked questions
Is the school form automatically enough for my benefits case?
Filing with a school does not establish submission to the Division. Ask your caseworker what to provide and how.
Will every benefit program apply the same rule?
Do not assume identical procedures or consequences. Ask which rules apply to your particular program.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NRS 422A.332 — Subsection 3 requires the waiver when the specified written statement is submitted; the section also addresses TANF noncompliance.
NRS 422A.365 — Benefits cannot be denied, reduced or terminated in violation of federal requirements.
Universities and employment
These settings have their own requirements and processes.
How do university exemptions work?
University religious and medical exemptions are addressed in NAC 441A.755. Use the university form and its submission process.
Go straight to forms for this topic
Frequently asked questions
Do religious exemptions need renewal?
Yes, annually according to the university’s registration schedule.
Who signs the medical form?
The regulation says licensed physician, but the state form lists MD, DO or APRN. Confirm acceptance with the university or state immunization program before relying on an APRN-only signature.
What if I only study online?
Subsection 10 exempts students enrolled in distance education who do not attend a class on campus. Ask the institution how it records that status. Clinical placements may have separate requirements.
Forms for this topic
These links open the official PDF in a new tab. Use its download or save control to keep a copy.
University religious exemption form
Use the university religious form and submit it through your university’s designated process.
Renewal: Submit annually according to the university’s registration schedule.
University medical exemption form
NAC 441A.755 says licensed physician, while the state form lists MD, DO or APRN. Confirm acceptance with the university or state program before relying on an APRN-only signature.
Renewal: Check any exemption end date and the university’s requirements for updated documentation.
Keep a dated copy. Send completed forms to the school, facility or university—not this website.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NAC 441A.755 — Covers required immunity, religious and medical exemptions, annual religious renewal, outbreak exclusion and the distance-education exception.
Can I use these forms for my job?
School exemption forms do not establish a workplace accommodation. Ask the employer for its vaccination policy and accommodation process.
Frequently asked questions
Can religious beliefs or disability be relevant at work?
Yes. State and federal protections may apply, but a request needs review in its employment context. The EEOC resource below explains federal religious accommodations.
Does an exemption guarantee continued employment or a clinical placement?
No universal guarantee follows from these school statutes. Request the rules and any decision in writing; an individual dispute may require legal advice.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NRS 613.310 — Defines who is covered by the state employment-discrimination provisions.
NRS 613.320 — Sets limits on when those provisions apply.
NRS 613.330 — Prohibits specified discrimination, including on religious and disability grounds.
Records, rights and understanding the law
Supporting information to explore when it is relevant to your situation.
Is opting out of the vaccine registry the same as an exemption?
No. Registry participation concerns information. An enrollment exemption concerns the vaccination requirement.
Frequently asked questions
Does a registry opt-out remove school requirements?
No. It does not replace the school’s immunization records or exemption process.
Where can I learn about the registry?
Use the Nevada WebIZ policies resource below or contact its help desk.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NRS 439.265 — Establishes immunization reporting and allows a parent or guardian to decline inclusion of the child’s information.
How do consent and treatment rights relate to exemptions?
Nevada has laws about consent and refusing treatment. Their limits and context matter; they do not replace the specific school or child care filing rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rely on these laws instead of filing an exemption?
They do not replace the enrollment procedures described above. Use the provision that applies to your setting.
Does parental consent work the same way in every situation?
No. Age, emancipation, the service and other circumstances can matter. Ask the provider to explain the legal basis for consent in your situation.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NRS 439.530 — Addresses prayer or spiritual treatment, with sanitary and quarantine compliance conditions.
NRS 441A.210 — Addresses people with communicable disease who rely exclusively on prayer; isolation and quarantine duties remain.
NRS 441A.530 — Addresses refusal of treatment during isolation or quarantine, with a court-order exception.
NRS 449A.112 — Includes patient treatment-refusal rights to the extent permitted by law.
NRS 129.010 — Addresses adulthood and emancipation.
NRS 129.030 — Addresses circumstances in which minors can consent to certain health services.
Why are both NRS statutes and NAC rules listed?
NRS contains Nevada’s statutes. NAC contains regulations that add details such as forms, schedules and renewal. Reading both helps explain the process.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bill or proposed regulation already the law?
Not necessarily. Read the current official text and check adoption and effective dates. Old COVID material does not establish a current universal requirement.
What if an institution gives me a different answer?
Ask for the specific statute, regulation or policy, the reason for its decision and any deadline in writing. The state immunization program can answer process questions; a disputed decision may need individual legal help.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NRS 439.200 — Authorizes State Board of Health regulations.
NRS 441A.120 — Authorizes communicable-disease regulations.
NRS 439.550 — Addresses local enforcement and immunization schedules.
NRS 439.560 — Addresses enforcement duties of public officers.
NRS 439.535 — Provides for childhood immunization clinics and limited personnel liability protection.
NRS 441A.190 — Addresses school and child care disease reporting and exclusion.
NAC 392.130 — Allows medical-exemption audits in public schools under specified circumstances.
NAC 394.265 — Provides the corresponding private-school audit rule.
NAC 432A.516 — Provides the corresponding child care audit rule.
NAC 392.105 — Adds public-school disease and grade-related requirements.
NAC 394.250 — Adds private-school disease and grade-related requirements.
NAC 432A.500 — Child care: mumps.
NAC 432A.501 — Child care: hepatitis A.
NAC 432A.502 — Child care: hepatitis B.
NAC 432A.503 — Child care: varicella.
NAC 432A.504 — Child care: pneumococcal disease.
NAC 432A.505 — Child care: Hib.
NRS 432A.0205 — Defines an accommodation facility.
NRS 432A.024 — Defines child care facilities and exclusions.
Other Nevada Vaccine Laws
Explore related laws about who may give vaccines, insurance coverage and public-health enforcement. These selected provisions provide context alongside the exemption guidance above.
Consent, information and who may give vaccines
Nevada sets qualifications and conditions for professionals who administer vaccines. Some settings also have specific requirements for information, consent and records.
Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist, paramedic or dental professional give vaccines?
These laws authorize certain professionals when the applicable training, endorsement, supervision or protocol requirements are met. Ask the provider which authorization applies to the service being offered.
What information must a dental professional provide before vaccination?
NRS 631.2852 requires the current CDC Vaccine Information Statement, an opportunity for questions, informed written consent and a medical-history review. It identifies when the parent or guardian receives the information for a minor.
Does the dental consent law apply to every vaccine provider?
That section governs the dental professionals it names. For other providers, ask which consent and information requirements apply. The consent and treatment-rights topic above provides additional context.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NRS 454.213 — Identifies people authorized to possess and administer certain drugs, including conditions for pharmacists administering immunizations.
NRS 450B.1975 — Allows advanced emergency medical technicians and paramedics with the required endorsement to administer immunizations and perform specified public-health services.
NRS 631.285 — Establishes a special immunization endorsement for qualified dental professionals.
NRS 631.2851 — Sets conditions for immunization by endorsed dental professionals, including standing orders, emergency readiness and vaccine handling.
NRS 631.2852 — Requires covered dental professionals to provide vaccine information, obtain informed written consent and review medical history before immunization.
NRS 631.2853 — Sets recordkeeping requirements for immunizations administered by covered dental professionals.
Insurance coverage and access
Nevada has vaccine-coverage provisions for several kinds of health plans and Medicaid. Start with the law for your plan type, then confirm eligibility, provider network and any out-of-pocket cost with the plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does a coverage requirement mean I must receive the vaccine?
A requirement for a plan to cover a vaccine does not itself require you to receive it. School, child care and other attendance or participation requirements are addressed separately.
Does coverage mean every vaccine visit will be free?
Do not assume that from the word coverage alone. Ask the plan to confirm coverage for the specific vaccine, your eligibility, the provider and administration fee, and any cost to you before the appointment.
Which statute applies to my insurance?
Ask the insurer or benefits administrator to identify your plan type and the governing coverage rules. The links above help you locate the relevant wording; they do not establish that every plan is governed by every listed statute.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NRS 689A.0419 — Individual health insurance: wellness coverage includes recommended vaccinations, subject to the section’s conditions.
NRS 689A.044 — Individual health insurance: addresses coverage for specified HPV tests and vaccines.
NRS 689B.03785 — Group and blanket health insurance: includes coverage provisions for certain recommended vaccinations.
NRS 689C.1678 — Small-employer health benefit plans: includes coverage provisions for certain recommended vaccinations.
NRS 695C.1698 — Health maintenance organizations (HMOs): includes coverage provisions for certain recommended vaccinations.
NRS 695G.1717 — Managed care organizations: includes coverage provisions for certain recommended vaccinations.
NRS 695B.19195 — Nonprofit hospital or medical services corporations: includes coverage provisions for certain recommended vaccinations.
NRS 695A.1875 — Fraternal benefit societies: includes coverage provisions for certain recommended vaccinations.
NRS 422.27174 — Medicaid: addresses coverage for certain recommended vaccinations.
Enforcement and special situations
Related statutes describe how public-health requirements may be enforced. A separate interstate compact addresses school transfers for eligible military children, including immunization timing.
Frequently asked questions
Do these enforcement laws make a valid exemption illegal?
They do not remove the religious and medical exemptions described above. Enforcement depends on the requirement and conduct involved. Outbreak exclusion and required-removal rules can still apply to exempt children.
Does a military transfer create a permanent vaccine exemption?
The compact addresses transfer and enrollment arrangements, including immunization timing. It should not be treated as a permanent exemption. Ask the school to confirm compact eligibility and the applicable timeline alongside NRS 392.435.
What should I do if I receive an exclusion or enforcement notice?
Keep the notice and ask the issuing office for the legal basis, deadline and available review process in writing. A specific dispute or court matter may require individual legal advice.
Read the Nevada laws behind this guidance
NRS 439.565 — Allows court injunctions concerning violations or proposed violations of specified public-health and childhood-immunization laws and regulations.
NRS 439.570 — Addresses reporting alleged violations to the district attorney and enforcement proceedings.
NRS 439.580 — Provides penalties for specified public-health violations and failures to perform official duties; the applicable subsection and exceptions matter.
NRS 388F.010 — Article IV of the military interstate compact addresses enrollment for eligible military children, including immunization timing.
Helpful resources
- State forms and current enrollment requirements
- Nevada WebIZ policies
- EEOC: religious discrimination and accommodations
- CDC: vaccine benefits and risks — Vaccine Information Statements
Nevada State Immunization Program: 775-684-5900 · nviz@health.nv.gov.
Send completed forms to the receiving institution, not this website. This page covers principal exemption pathways and related laws. Specialized settings may involve additional requirements.