Alabama Department of Public Health 2026: Services, Phone & Records
Most people searching for the Alabama Department of Public Health need one practical answer: which official page should I use for a phone number, birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, county health department, immunization record, food score, environmental complaint, health care facility complaint, license or permit?
This guide is written in plain U.S. English for Alabama residents, seniors, caregivers, families, license holders, restaurant customers, health facility staff and out-of-state users who need Alabama records. It is an independent guide, not the official ADPH website. Use it to choose the right official route before you call, pay, mail forms, upload documents, file a complaint or drive to an office.
Quick answer: what Alabama Department of Public Health helps with in 2026
The Alabama Department of Public Health, often searched as ADPH, Alabama Public Health, Alabama Department of Health, Alabama health department or Alabama public health department, helps with statewide and county-level public health services. The highest-intent user tasks are vital records, county health department services, immunization records, food safety, food scores, environmental complaints, health care facility licensure, facility directories, health facility complaints, open records, disease reporting, WIC, family health programs and public health contact routing.
| What you need | Best official route | Prepare first | Senior-friendly tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Department of Public Health phone number | ADPH Contact Us page | Your topic, county, callback number and any order or facility details | Ask, “Which ADPH program handles this, and what page should I use?” |
| Alabama birth certificate | ADPH Vital Records or county health department | Full name, date of birth, place of birth, ID, relationship/legal right proof if required, payment | For restricted records, check ID rules before mailing anything. |
| Alabama death certificate | ADPH Death Certificates page or county health department | Decedent name, date of death, county, your relationship/legal right, ID if restricted | Death certificates less than 25 years old have restricted access. |
| Marriage or divorce certificate | ADPH Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificates page | Names before first marriage, event date, county, mailing address, signature, payment | A divorce certificate is not the same as a divorce decree or full court file. |
| Alabama immunization records or school Certificate of Immunization | Provider, county health department or ImmPRINT-related route | Child or adult name, date of birth, last provider, school/college/employment need | Start with the provider or county health department that gave the vaccines. |
| Food scores, restaurant complaint or foodborne illness | Food Establishment Scores, Foodborne Illness or Environmental Complaints page | Restaurant name, address, county, date, time, food item, symptoms and receipt/photos if available | County and full address help ADPH route the complaint faster. |
| Health care facility license lookup or facility search | ADPH Health Care Facilities Directory | Facility name, type, city, county or administrator details | This is for facilities; individual professional boards may handle individual practitioner licenses. |
| Health care facility complaint | ADPH Health Provider Standards complaint page | Facility type, facility name, address, dates, facts, resident/patient details if appropriate | Use the correct complaint line for nursing home, assisted living, home health, hospice or other facility type. |
For Alabama public health tasks, first decide whether your issue is a record, a county clinic service, a food/environmental issue, a facility licensing issue, a professional license issue, or an open records request. That one decision usually saves the most time.
Alabama Department of Public Health route finder: choose the right official page first
Use this route finder before calling, paying, uploading documents, mailing forms or filing a complaint. It is designed for common searches like Alabama Department of Public Health phone number, ADPH vital records, Alabama birth certificate, Alabama food scores, Alabama county health department, ADPH login and health care facility complaint.
ADPH task router
Select your need. The answer appears below with the safest next step.
Alabama Department of Public Health phone number, hotlines and call script
The ADPH Contact Us page lists 1-800-252-1818 for general information during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays. ADPH also lists topic-specific hotlines, including Vital Records at (334) 206-5418, Immunization at 1-800-469-4599, Health Care Facilities complaint line at 1-800-356-9596, and Assisted Living Facilities complaint line at 1-866-873-0366.
Use a short call script
Say: “I need help with [birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, immunization record, food complaint, county health department, facility complaint, food score, permit, license or open records]. My county is [county name]. Which official ADPH page or phone number should I use next?”
Call the specific program when you already know the service
If your need is a certificate, use Vital Records. If your need is immunization or a Certificate of Immunization, use the immunization/provider/county route. If your need is a restaurant or foodborne illness complaint, use food safety or environmental complaint routes. If your need is a health care facility complaint, use Health Provider Standards.
If you live in Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Dothan, Auburn, Decatur, Hoover, Madison, Florence, Anniston, Gadsden, Selma or any rural county, say your county early. County health departments and local environmental offices often handle location-based services.
Alabama Department of Public Health vital records: birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates
ADPH Vital Records, through the Center for Health Statistics, files, stores and issues certified copies of Alabama birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates for events that occurred in Alabama. ADPH says most vital records can be obtained through county health departments, usually while you wait, and that mail requests may also be used.
Birth, death, marriage, divorce
Use ADPH Vital Records for Alabama events. Do not use Alabama for records that happened in another state.
Open vital recordsSame-state county service
ADPH’s ViSION system allows vital records to be issued through Alabama county health departments.
Find locationsVitalChek online or phone
ADPH does not accept online requests directly; it points users to VitalChek for online or phone orders, with extra fees.
Check vendor note| Record need | Useful official details | Watch for this |
|---|---|---|
| Standard certified copy search | The fee to search for a birth, death, marriage or divorce record is generally listed as $15, including one certified copy or a Certificate of Failure to Find. | Fees are usually not refundable if the record is not found. |
| Additional copies | Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are generally listed as $6 each. | Order extra copies at the same time only if you truly need them. |
| Expedited request | ADPH pages list an additional $15 fee to expedite certain requests. | Expedite is not the same as guaranteed same-day delivery. |
| Mail request | Mail certificate requests to Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5625 when the official form instructs you to do so. | Do not send cash; ADPH pages commonly instruct users to make checks or money orders payable to Center for Health Statistics. |
Use the official ADPH Vital Records page before paying any website. If you use VitalChek, understand that ADPH notes additional fees and shipping options may apply. If you mail a request, use the current ADPH form and current mailing instructions.
Alabama birth certificate: ID, restricted records, county pickup and mail checklist
Use the ADPH Birth Certificates page when you need an Alabama birth certificate, a keepsake birth certificate, a birth certificate correction, an adoption-related record route, parentage or a sealed-file request. Birth certificates less than 125 years from the date of birth are restricted records, so ID and eligibility matter.
| Prepare | Why it matters | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Full name on the birth record | Helps match the exact Alabama birth certificate. | Using a current married name when the birth record has a different name. |
| Date and place of birth | Needed for record search and county routing. | Not knowing the county or city of birth. |
| Valid identification | Required for restricted Alabama vital records. | Mailing an expired, unclear or incomplete ID copy. |
| Relationship or legal right | Restricted records require eligibility. | Ordering before checking who is allowed to request the record. |
| Correct form and payment | ADPH uses official forms and fee rules for mail and special requests. | Using an old PDF or sending cash. |
Start with the official Alabama Birth Certificates page
ADPH lists online or telephone ordering through VitalChek, local county health department options, mail options, keepsake birth certificates, corrections and adoption-related routes.
Use a county health department when local service is easier
Many users can request Alabama vital records through a county health department. This may be easier for seniors, caregivers and families who prefer in-person help, but you should still check hours, location status and required documents before going.
Alabama death certificate: restricted 25-year rule, estate use and certified copy planning
ADPH says the Alabama Center for Health Statistics began filing death certificates in 1908 for persons who died in Alabama. Alabama death certificates are confidential records with restricted access for 25 years from the date of death. Death certificates more than 25 years old may be obtained by anyone upon payment of the proper fee.
Less than 25 years old
Restricted access applies. Eligible requesters may include close family, legal representative, informant or others who demonstrate entitlement.
More than 25 years old
ADPH explains that death certificates more than 25 years old may be obtained by anyone upon payment of the proper fee.
Ask the receiving agency what it needs
Before ordering, ask the bank, insurance company, attorney, probate office, benefit office or funeral-related agency how many certified copies it needs and whether a copy is acceptable.
Do not order a large number of certified copies until you know who truly needs originals. Many offices accept copies, while certain banks, insurance companies or legal processes may require certified copies.
Alabama marriage and divorce certificates: certificate, court decree and probate court warning
ADPH issues Alabama marriage certificates and divorce certificates for events that occurred in Alabama, but the certificate route is not always the same as a court record. Marriage certificate filing rules and divorce decree needs can confuse users, so check the purpose before you order.
ADPH certificate copy
Alabama marriage certificates may be requested through ADPH after the marriage certificate is properly recorded. ADPH’s marriage FAQ warns that completed marriage certificates must be delivered to an Alabama county probate court for recording, not directly to the Center for Health Statistics.
Marriage certificatesCertificate versus decree
ADPH began filing divorce certificates in 1950 for divorces that occurred in Alabama. For divorces before 1950, or for actual divorce decrees, use the circuit court in the county where the divorce was granted.
Divorce certificatesKnow what the receiving office is asking for
If a passport office, Social Security office, bank, insurance company, school, court or immigration-related process asks for proof, confirm whether it wants a certified certificate, a court decree, an apostille/exemplified copy or a different document.
Alabama immunization records, ImmPRINT and Certificate of Immunization for school, childcare or work
If you searched “Alabama Department of Public Health records” but need a vaccine record, school immunization certificate or Certificate of Immunization, you likely need the immunization provider, a county health department or an ImmPRINT-related route. ADPH says users who need an immunization record or Certificate of Immunization should contact the provider or county health department that administered the vaccines, and may ask a current provider if they have access to ImmPRINT.
Start with the provider or county health department
For school, childcare, college or employment forms, gather the person’s full name, date of birth, last known vaccination provider, school or employer requirement, and any previous shot records you have.
Understand what ImmPRINT is
ImmPRINT is Alabama’s immunization registry. Providers and authorized users can use it for immunization record tasks, but patients often need to work through a provider or county health department rather than trying to access every record directly.
Do not wait until the day school, childcare, college or employment starts. If older shots were given out of state or by a closed clinic, the record may take longer to verify.
Alabama food scores, foodborne illness, restaurant complaints and environmental health
Alabama users often search ADPH for food establishment scores, restaurant inspections, food poisoning complaints, hotel/lodging complaints, tattoo facility complaints and environmental health concerns. ADPH provides separate routes for food scores, foodborne illness complaints and broader environmental complaints.
Check Alabama food establishment scores
Use the Food Establishment Scores database to look up restaurant and food establishment scores across Alabama.
Check food scoresReport a meal that made you sick
Use the Foodborne Illness Complaint Form route when someone got sick after eating at a restaurant or food establishment.
Food illness routeFood, lodging, body art and other environmental complaints
Use the Environmental Complaints page for issues under ADPH environmental jurisdiction, including food facilities and foodborne illness, hotels/lodging and tattoo/body art.
Environmental complaint| Collect this | Example | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Business name and full address | Restaurant name, street, city and county | County environmental staff need location details to route the complaint. |
| Date and time | When you ate, bought or handled the food | Helps connect illness timing to the food event. |
| Food item | Dish, drink, packaged food, buffet item or takeout order | Helps identify the item that may need follow-up. |
| Symptoms and timing | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, onset time and who else became ill | Supports foodborne illness investigation details. |
| Proof if available | Receipt, order number, photos, packaging, label or leftovers | Gives investigators more than memory alone. |
If someone has severe dehydration, trouble breathing, confusion, blood in stool, severe allergic reaction, poisoning symptoms, chest pain or life-threatening symptoms, use emergency medical services. Do not wait for a complaint response.
Alabama health care facility license lookup, facility directory and health provider standards
ADPH’s Bureau of Health Provider Standards is Alabama’s regulatory agency responsible for licensing and/or certifying health care facilities. This route is useful for nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, home health, hospice, ambulatory surgical centers, dialysis-related facilities, rural health clinics and other facility categories listed by ADPH.
Use the Health Care Facilities Directory for facility lookup
The directory is an interactive listing of health care facilities currently licensed by the Alabama State Board of Health, as well as certain providers and suppliers that are not subject to state licensure but participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Search by facility type, county or city
Use facility type, county, city, facility name or business details. Directory results can include facility type, address, phone and administrator listings.
ADPH facility search is not the same as every individual professional license. For physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and other professionals, the correct route may be the related Alabama professional licensing board. For EMS individual or service licensing, use the ADPH Office of EMS route.
Alabama Department of Public Health complaints: health care facility, nursing home, assisted living and environmental complaints
Complaints should go to the right ADPH program or outside regulator. ADPH provides health care facility complaint routes, environmental complaint forms and foodborne illness routes. The details you provide matter more than a long emotional paragraph.
Health care facility complaint
Use ADPH Health Provider Standards for complaints against Alabama health care facilities, including specific routes for acute/continuing care, assisted living, home health, hospice and nursing homes.
File facility complaintFood, lodging, tattoo and environmental issue
Use ADPH Environmental Complaints for food facilities, foodborne illness, hotel/lodging, body art and other environmental issues under ADPH jurisdiction.
Environmental complaint| Complaint type | Official route | Prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing home care complaint | ADPH nursing home complaint route / complaint hotline | Facility name, resident name if appropriate, dates, facts, staff names, photos or documents if available |
| Assisted living complaint | ADPH assisted living complaint route / 1-866-873-0366 | Facility name, address, resident details if appropriate, dates, issue summary |
| Home health or hospice complaint | ADPH home health and hospice complaint route / 1-800-356-9596 | Agency name, patient details if appropriate, care dates, missed visits or care concerns |
| Food establishment or illness complaint | ADPH Foodborne Illness or Environmental Complaints | Restaurant name, full address, county, food item, symptom timeline, receipt or photos |
Write facts in a timeline: who, what, where, when, what happened, what evidence exists and whether anyone is in immediate danger. Avoid sending private medical or financial details through any route unless the official form specifically requires it.
ADPH certificates, licenses, permits and login portal: use the right doorway
The phrase “Alabama Department of Public Health license” can mean different things: vital records certificates, health care facility licensure, EMS licensure, CLIA certificates, environmental/onsite sewage permits, lead contractor certification, managed care compliance or internal partner login access. ADPH has a Certificates, Licenses and Permits page and a central Login Portal for employee, partner and health provider applications.
ADPH certificate/license/permit list
Use this page to select the right official ADPH-issued certificate, license or permit category.
Open certificatesEmployee, partner and provider applications
Use the central ADPH login portal to reach the specific login page for listed applications.
Open login portalEMS public license search
Use ADPH EMS public license search for EMS provider service and individual license information.
EMS license searchDo not enter Social Security numbers, payment cards, birth dates, medical information or facility credentials into unofficial pages. Start from AlabamaPublicHealth.gov or another verified official Alabama government route.
Alabama public records, open records request and health statistics data request
An Alabama Open Records Act request is not the same as ordering a birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate. Open records are for agency/public records, while vital records and personal health records use different official paths.
Check whether the information is already public
Before making a broad records request, check ADPH’s A-Z Index, program pages, health statistics publications, food scores, facility directories and public data pages. Many common records are already published.
Make the request narrow
Use a specific program name, date range, record type, facility name, county, report title or subject. A narrow request is easier to process than “send me everything about public health.”
If you received care at a county health department clinic, your personal medical record may need to be requested from that clinic or county health department. Do not assume an open records request is the fastest route for your own patient chart.
Find an Alabama county health department: local clinics, vital records, WIC, environmental health and status dashboard
ADPH location pages include the central office and county health departments. Local county health departments can be important for vital records, immunizations, WIC, family planning, disease reporting, environmental health, food and lodging questions, onsite sewage, well water and county-specific services.
Appointments and services
Call your county office for clinic hours, available providers, eligibility, insurance questions and appointment needs.
Local certificate service
ADPH says most vital records can be obtained through county health departments, often while you wait.
Food, lodging and septic
County environmental offices may handle address-based food, lodging, onsite sewage and local environmental issues.
Check providers by day
ADPH location guidance points users to the County Health Department Status Dashboard for department status and providers by day of week.
For Jefferson, Mobile, Madison, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Baldwin, Shelby, Lee, Morgan, Calhoun, Houston, Lauderdale, Etowah, Marshall, Cullman and every other Alabama county, check the county page first. Hours, services, providers, clinic days and environmental contacts can vary by location.
Alabama Department of Public Health Montgomery map, central office address and visit warning
Many ADPH central office listings use The RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104, and many mailing addresses use P.O. Box 303017, Montgomery, AL 36130-3017 or specific program P.O. boxes. Do not assume the central office is the correct walk-in service counter for your certificate, complaint, permit, health facility, immunization or county clinic need.
| Need | Better than driving first |
|---|---|
| Birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate | Check Vital Records, county health department, mail and VitalChek options before visiting. |
| Immunization record or school COI | Contact the provider or county health department that administered vaccines, or ask a current provider about ImmPRINT access. |
| Food complaint or food score | Use Food Scores, Foodborne Illness or Environmental Complaint official pages first. |
| Health care facility complaint | Use Health Provider Standards complaint routes and hotlines before mailing or visiting. |
| County clinic, WIC, environmental health or local permit | Find and call your county health department before using the central office address. |
Call or check the official page first. Many public health tasks are handled by mail, county health department, online vendor, program form, hotline or complaint portal rather than a central office walk-in visit.
People also search for: Alabama Department of Public Health Google and Bing intent guide
These common search-style keywords match real user intent. Use the matching official route instead of opening random third-party pages.
Alabama department of public health phone number
Use ADPH Contact Us for general information, hotlines and program-specific phone routing.
Phone routeAlabama department of public health vital records
Use ADPH Vital Records for birth, death, marriage and divorce certificate guidance.
Vital records routeAlabama birth certificate
Use ADPH Birth Certificates and ID Requirements before ordering a restricted record.
Birth routeAlabama death certificate
Use ADPH Death Certificates and check the 25-year restricted access rule.
Death routeAlabama department of public health food scores
Use Food Establishment Scores to search Alabama restaurant and food establishment scores.
Food scores routeAlabama department of public health immunization records
Use the provider/county/ImmPRINT route for vaccine records or school Certificate of Immunization help.
Immunization routeAlabama department of public health license lookup
Use the correct path: facility directory for facilities, EMS public search for EMS, or professional boards for individual practitioner licenses.
License routeAlabama department of public health locations
Use ADPH Locations to find county health departments, central office details and county status information.
Locations routeOfficial Alabama Department of Public Health links used in this guide
Use these official pages for final details, forms, current fees, hours, eligibility rules, complaint submission, locations, status updates and program-specific instructions. This independent guide does not collect records, renew licenses, process complaints, verify identities or accept payments.
Safety, privacy and independent guide notice
HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent help guide. It is not the official Alabama Department of Public Health website, not AlabamaPublicHealth.gov, not VitalChek, not a county health department and not an Alabama licensing board.
Do not send Social Security numbers, birth certificates, death certificates, driver licenses, passports, immunization records, medical records, payment cards, license documents, complaint evidence or patient information to an independent guide page. Use official secure pages and official forms only.
Fees, forms, eligibility rules, office hours, certificate availability, shipping, processing times, provider schedules, complaint routes, hotlines and login requirements can change. Confirm final details on the official ADPH, county health department, VitalChek, ImmPRINT, professional board or Alabama government page before taking action.
Alabama Department of Public Health FAQs
What is the Alabama Department of Public Health phone number?
The ADPH Contact Us page lists 1-800-252-1818 for general information during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays. Vital Records is listed at (334) 206-5418, and ADPH also lists topic-specific hotlines for immunization, health care facility complaints, assisted living complaints and other programs.
What is the official Alabama Department of Public Health website?
The official website is AlabamaPublicHealth.gov. Use that site for final contact information, forms, certificates, fees, county health department locations, food scores, complaint routes, provider standards, permits and public health program details.
How do I order an Alabama birth certificate?
Start with the ADPH Birth Certificates page. Prepare the full name on the record, date and place of birth, valid ID, relationship or legal right proof if the record is restricted, the correct form, mailing address and payment method. Birth certificates less than 125 years from the date of birth are restricted records.
How do I get an Alabama death certificate?
Use the ADPH Death Certificates page. Alabama death certificates are restricted for 25 years from the date of death. For recent death records, prepare your relationship or legal right, valid ID, the decedent name, date of death, county and payment method.
Can I get Alabama vital records from a county health department?
Yes. ADPH says the ViSION system allows vital records to be issued through Alabama county health departments, and most vital records can be obtained through county health departments, usually while you wait. Check the county location, hours, required documents and status before visiting.
Is VitalChek used for Alabama vital records?
ADPH says the Center for Health Statistics does not accept online requests directly and that users may request Alabama vital records online through VitalChek Network, Inc. Additional fees and shipping charges may apply. ADPH also lists 1-888-279-9888 for VitalChek phone orders or order status.
How do I find Alabama immunization records or a school Certificate of Immunization?
ADPH advises users who need an immunization record or Certificate of Immunization to contact the provider or county health department that administered the vaccines. You can also ask a current provider if they have access to Alabama’s immunization registry, ImmPRINT, to locate the record.
How do I check Alabama restaurant food scores?
Use the ADPH Food Establishment Scores page. It provides a database for looking up food establishment scores throughout Alabama. For current closure status or specific environmental questions, contact the local county health department environmental office when directed by ADPH guidance.
How do I file a complaint about an Alabama health care facility?
Use the ADPH Health Provider Standards Filing Complaints page. ADPH lists different complaint routes for acute and continuing care facilities, assisted living facilities, home health, hospice and nursing homes. Prepare facility name, address, dates, facts and supporting documents if available.
Is HealthDepartmentGuide.org the official Alabama Department of Public Health website?
No. HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide that helps users find the right official route. It does not process records, collect payments, verify identities, file complaints, issue permits, renew licenses or replace AlabamaPublicHealth.gov, county health departments, VitalChek, ImmPRINT or Alabama professional licensing boards.