Tennessee Department of Health 2026: Services, Phone & Records
Most people searching for the Tennessee Department of Health need a practical answer, not a long agency history. They need the correct official route for a phone number, birth certificate, death certificate, marriage or divorce record, county health department, immunization record, restaurant inspection, foodborne illness report, license lookup, nursing license, complaint, public records request or vital records office visit.
This guide is written in plain U.S. English for Tennessee residents, seniors, caregivers, parents, health professionals, employers, families, and out-of-state users who need Tennessee records. It is not the official Tennessee Department of Health website. It helps you pick the right official page before you call, pay, mail forms, file a complaint, renew a license, or drive to an office.
Quick answer: what the Tennessee Department of Health helps with in 2026
The Tennessee Department of Health, often searched as TDH, TN Department of Health, Tennessee health department, or Tennessee Department of Health records, handles statewide public health programs, Tennessee vital records, local health department services, health professional licensing boards, immunizations, restaurant and environmental health programs, foodborne illness reporting, public health data, complaints, and public records routing.
| What you need | Best official route | Prepare first | Senior-friendly tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Department of Health phone number | TDH Contact page or program-specific hotline | Topic, county, city, callback number, license number, order number or complaint type | Ask, “Which program handles this, and what official page should I use?” |
| Tennessee birth certificate | Tennessee Office of Vital Records or county health department | Full name, date of birth, place of birth, valid ID, entitlement proof and payment method | You usually do not need to travel to the county where the birth happened. |
| Tennessee death certificate | Tennessee Office of Vital Records or county health department | Decedent name, date of death, place of death, your relationship or legal right, ID and payment | Ask the bank, insurer, attorney or benefits office which certificate it accepts. |
| Tennessee marriage or divorce certificate | Tennessee Office of Vital Records | Names, event date, county, ID, proof of right if needed and payment | A divorce certificate may not be the same as a court decree. |
| Tennessee county health department | TDH Local Health Departments page | County, service needed, appointment question, insurance or ID details, language or mobility needs | Call before visiting because not every county offers every service. |
| Tennessee immunization record | TDH Immunization / TennIIS route or local health department | Name, date of birth, prior provider, paper shot record and school or work requirement | TennIIS records are only as complete as provider reporting. |
| Tennessee license lookup or nursing license verification | TDH Licensure Verification or Health Related Boards | License number, name, profession, city, employer or board type | Search fewer fields if no result appears. |
| Restaurant complaint or foodborne illness | TDH Foodborne and Environmental Health route | Restaurant name, full address, county, date, time, food item, symptoms and receipt/photos if available | Illness reports are stronger when details are fresh. |
If your issue is about a certificate, start with Vital Records. If it is about a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, therapist or other licensed health professional, start with Health Related Boards and license verification. If it is about a restaurant, pool, hotel, tattoo studio, rabies exposure, local clinic, WIC, immunization or STD testing, start with your county health department or Environmental Health route.
Tennessee Department of Health route finder: choose the right service before calling or paying
Use this simple route finder for common Tennessee Department of Health searches like phone number, vital records, birth certificate, death certificate, license lookup, license renewal, nursing license, food complaint, immunization record, public records and county health department.
TDH task router
Select your task. The safest next step appears below.
Tennessee Department of Health phone number, hotlines and call script
The Tennessee Department of Health contact page lists many program phone numbers. Do not rely on one generic number for every task. Use the specific hotline when your issue is vital records, health professional licensing, environmental health, foodborne illness, facility complaints, HIV/STD questions, HIPAA, Title VI or local health services.
| Need | Phone listed by TDH | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| State operator | 615-741-3011 | You need broad state routing and do not know the right program. |
| Vital Records | 615-685-4700 | You have birth, marriage, divorce or death certificate questions. |
| Medical records / licensed practitioners | 615-532-3202 | You need health professional licensure help or licensed practitioner routing. |
| Nursing license | 615-532-5166 | You need Tennessee Board of Nursing license routing. |
| Medical doctors license | 615-532-4384 | You need Board of Medical Examiners / physician license routing. |
| Health Related Boards complaint hotline | 1-800-852-2187 | You need to file or ask about a complaint against a licensed health professional. |
| Health care facilities complaint hotline | 1-877-287-0010 | You have a care problem at a licensed or certified health care facility in Tennessee. |
| Environmental hotline | 1-800-404-3006 | You have environmental pollution, chemical exposure, or environmental health concern. |
| Restaurant / foodborne illness reporting | 1-800-293-8228 | You need to report foodborne illness or restaurant sanitation concerns. |
Use a short Tennessee DOH call script
Say: “I need help with [birth certificate, death certificate, marriage record, divorce record, license lookup, license renewal, nursing license, restaurant complaint, foodborne illness, immunization record, county health department, facility complaint, professional complaint or public records]. The county is [county name]. Which official page or phone number should I use next?”
Say your county early. Shelby, Davidson, Knox, Hamilton, Madison and Sullivan have locally governed metropolitan health departments, while many other county health departments are grouped under TDH regional offices. County routing changes the best answer.
Tennessee Department of Health records: birth, death, marriage, divorce, corrections, amendments and genealogy
The Tennessee Office of Vital Records reviews, registers, amends, issues and maintains original certificates for births, deaths, marriages and divorces that occur in Tennessee. The main office is in Downtown Nashville, and county health departments can also issue many Tennessee birth and death certificates that are registered statewide.
Birth, death, marriage and divorce
Use the Tennessee Office of Vital Records for certificate categories, corrections, fees, applications and help topics.
Open vital recordsIn person, local county, mail or online
TDH’s vital records help center explains certificate ordering routes and application requirements.
Order guideCertified copies are restricted
Qualified applicants may need ID and entitlement documents, such as custody orders or legal papers.
Certificate helpDecide if you need certified copy, verification, amendment or genealogy record
A certificate order is not the same as a correction, amendment, delayed record, adoption update, apostille, verification of information or genealogy request. Choose the right category before paying.
Use a county health department when local service is easier
TDH states that all county health departments can issue any birth or death certificates that have been registered statewide with the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. You do not need to travel to the county where the birth or death occurred, but ID and fees are required.
Certificates are not available through the Vital Records Help Center itself for security and privacy reasons. Use the official application process and confirm fees, ID and entitlement rules on the official page before submitting payment.
Tennessee birth certificate: ID, entitlement, county office and out-of-state requester checklist
Use this section if you need a Tennessee birth certificate for a passport, driver license, REAL ID, Social Security, school, benefits, employment, marriage, adoption-related process or family records.
| Prepare | Why it matters | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Full name on the birth record | Helps match the correct Tennessee birth certificate. | Using a married name instead of the birth name. |
| Date and place of birth | Confirms that the record belongs to Tennessee and helps locate the record. | Writing only “Tennessee” without city or county. |
| Parent names | Can help identify the correct certificate and support entitlement review. | Leaving parent names blank when they are known. |
| Valid government-issued ID | TDH requires identification for certificate requests. | Submitting unreadable, expired or mismatched ID. |
| Entitlement documents if not qualified by relationship | Custody orders, letters testamentary, insurance documents or other proof may be needed. | Assuming any relative can order a certified copy without proof. |
Use the official application and ID requirements
Before ordering, review the application, identification rules, entitlement guidelines and current fee instructions. Do not reuse an old PDF from a third-party website.
If the birth occurred in Tennessee but you live in another state, Tennessee is still the issuing state. Use Tennessee Vital Records, an approved online route, mail route or a Tennessee county health department route if you can visit in person.
Tennessee death certificate: estate, insurance, county office and cause-of-death planning
A Tennessee death certificate can be needed for bank accounts, estate, probate, life insurance, pensions, Social Security, veterans benefits, real estate, Medicaid estate questions, funeral records, genealogy and family records.
For legal and financial use
Ask the receiving agency if it needs a certified copy, how many originals it keeps, and whether any special version is required.
Local health department service
Many registered Tennessee death certificates can be issued through county health departments, not only Nashville.
Ask the receiving agency what it accepts
Before ordering multiple copies, ask the bank, attorney, insurer, pension office, court or government office whether it needs a certified death certificate and how many copies are required.
Do not order more certified copies than needed until you know which offices keep originals. Some offices may return certified copies; others may keep them with the file.
Tennessee marriage and divorce records: certificate versus court record
A Tennessee marriage certificate or divorce certificate is not always the same as a marriage license application, divorce decree, final judgment or complete court file. This is one of the most common records mistakes.
Use Tennessee Vital Records
Use the Tennessee Office of Vital Records for marriage and divorce certificate guidance when the event occurred in Tennessee.
Open vital recordsUse court or county clerk when needed
If an agency asks for a divorce decree, final judgment or full case file, contact the court or county clerk route.
Open courtsIf the receiving agency uses the words decree, judgment, order, case file or court-certified copy, do not assume a TDH divorce certificate is enough. Ask the agency for the exact document name before paying.
Tennessee county health departments: local clinics, WIC, immunizations, STD testing, dental, primary care and vital records
Tennessee’s county health departments provide public health services across the state. TDH states that it operates 89 primarily rural county health departments served by seven TDH regional offices, while six primarily urban health departments are governed locally in Madison, Shelby, Knox, Davidson, Hamilton and Sullivan counties.
Clinic and prevention
County health departments may offer immunizations, WIC, family planning, STD/HIV screening, tuberculosis control, pregnancy testing and health education.
Birth and death certificates
County offices can help with registered Tennessee birth and death certificates, subject to ID, fee and entitlement rules.
Availability varies
Some county health departments offer dental services or primary care, but not every county provides every service.
Restaurants, pools, hotels and rabies
Local environmental health staff can help with inspections, permits, rabies exposure and local complaints.
Call before visiting. Service availability, appointment rules, eligibility, documents, payment methods and hours can vary by county and by program. This is especially important for seniors, families with small children, people needing transportation help, and out-of-county visitors.
Tennessee immunization records, TennIIS and school vaccine forms
If you searched “Tennessee Department of Health records” for shot records, school vaccine forms, work immunization proof or vaccine history, you likely need the Tennessee Immunization Information System route, also called TennIIS, or your local health department.
Understand what TennIIS can and cannot show
TDH notes that not all immunization providers choose to record immunizations in TennIIS, so records are only as complete as the information reported by providers. Paper records can be entered by a local Tennessee health department or a medical office with TennIIS access.
Use your provider or county office for missing shots
If a record is missing, ask the provider who gave the vaccine, a prior school, a prior employer, a military record office, or your county health department. Bring paper shot records if you have them.
Ask the school, employer, college, child care center or clinical program exactly what form or vaccine proof it needs. A general shot history may not match the required Tennessee school certificate or workplace requirement.
Tennessee restaurant inspection, foodborne illness, hotel, pool, tattoo and environmental health complaints
The Tennessee Environmental Health Program permits, inspects and enforces public health rules for food service establishments, hotels, public swimming pools, tattoo establishments, body piercing establishments and related environmental health programs. Foodborne illness and restaurant complaints need strong location details.
Report foodborne illness
Use the Tennessee Foodborne Illness Survey or call 1-800-293-8228 if you believe food from a Tennessee restaurant made you sick.
Report illnessRestaurant sanitation complaint
For restaurant cleanliness or sanitation concerns without illness, TDH lists 1-800-293-8228 and geh.health@tn.gov.
Complaint routeRestaurant inspection reports
Use TDH Environmental Health resources for restaurant inspection reports and environmental health links.
Open environmental| Collect this | Example |
|---|---|
| Restaurant name and full address | Name, street, city and county |
| Date and time | When you ate, bought or handled the food |
| Food item | Dish, drink, packaged food, buffet item or ingredient |
| Symptoms and timeline | When symptoms started and who else became sick |
| Proof if available | Receipt, photos, online order number, product label or package |
If someone has severe dehydration, blood in stool, trouble breathing, confusion, chest pain, signs of stroke, severe allergic reaction, poisoning, or life-threatening symptoms, call emergency services or seek urgent medical care. Do not wait for an online report response.
Tennessee Department of Health license lookup, nursing license, medical license and online renewal
For searches like “Tennessee Department of Health license lookup,” “TN health license verification,” “Tennessee nursing license,” “Tennessee medical license,” or “Tennessee Department of Health license renewal,” use the official Tennessee Health Related Boards and licensure systems.
Official verification portal
The Tennessee Health Related Boards verification system is the official licensure verification site and is updated from primary sources.
Verify licenseOnline Licensure System
Use Tennessee’s online licensure system for many initial and renewal tasks. If there are issues, the portal lists Health Licensure phone contacts.
Open LARSHealth Related Boards
Use the board page for profession-specific applications, renewals, rules, meetings, continuing education and complaint routes.
Open boards| Search need | Best route | Check in the result |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor, nurse, pharmacist, dentist, therapist or other provider | TDH Licensure Verification | Status, profession, license number, expiration, board and discipline/public action if shown |
| Tennessee nursing license | Board of Nursing plus verification portal | RN, LPN, APRN or related status, expiration, verification and renewal route |
| Written verification sent to another state | Profession-specific board instructions | Fee, form, address, email or board-specific process |
| License renewal | LARS / online licensure system | Renewal window, continuing education, fee, address/name change, board-specific requirements |
TDH board pages warn that licensing scam calls can spoof board phone numbers. Investigators should not demand Social Security number, date of birth, bank account or credit card details over the phone. Verify suspicious calls using official TDH board contacts before sharing personal information.
Tennessee Department of Health complaints: health professional, facility, home health, restaurant and billing routing
Complaint routing depends on the type of problem. A licensed health professional complaint, nursing home complaint, hospital complaint, home health complaint, restaurant illness report, restaurant sanitation complaint and billing dispute do not all go to the same office.
Licensed health professional complaint
Use Health Related Boards complaint route or call 1-800-852-2187.
Provider complaintHealth care facility complaint
For care problems at licensed or certified health care facilities, TDH lists 1-877-287-0010.
Facility hotlineHome Health Agency complaint
For home health agency concerns in Tennessee, TDH lists 1-800-541-7367.
Home health routeRestaurant or foodborne illness
Use the Foodborne Illness Survey or 1-800-293-8228 for Tennessee food illness reports.
Food complaint| Complaint type | Prepare | Use this route first |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed doctor, nurse, pharmacist, dentist, therapist or provider | Name, license number if known, office address, dates, facts, records and short timeline | Health Related Boards complaint route |
| Hospital, nursing home or licensed facility care problem | Facility name, address, resident/patient name, dates, safety issue and documents | Health Care Facilities Complaint Hotline |
| Home health agency concern | Agency name, patient name, dates, missed visits, unsafe care details and documents | Home Health Agency Complaint Hotline |
| Restaurant illness or sanitation concern | Restaurant name, address, date, time, food item, symptoms, receipt and photos | Foodborne / Environmental Health route |
| Billing dispute or overcharge | Bill, provider, service date, amount, insurance explanation and payment proof | Consumer Affairs may be more relevant than TDH complaint investigations |
If a patient, resident, child, older adult or disabled person is in immediate danger, call emergency services. Do not wait for an online complaint response for abuse in progress, severe symptoms, unsafe discharge, poisoning, missing medication, breathing trouble or life-threatening danger.
Tennessee Department of Health public records request: agency records, data requests and medical record confusion
A public records request is not the same as ordering a birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, immunization record, license verification, complaint outcome, or your personal medical chart. Public records generally involve agency records and may require a specific request route.
Use the official TDH public records route
Before making a request, review TDH’s public records policy and records already posted online. Narrow requests are easier to process than broad requests.
Use data request routes for statistical data
If you need public health statistics, hospital discharge data or population health data, use the correct data request route rather than a generic email.
A strong request says: “I request records from [program/office] about [specific subject] from [date range], related to [county/facility/license/program].” A weak request says: “Send me everything about health records.”
Tennessee Vital Records Nashville office map, hours, parking and before-you-visit warning
The Tennessee Office of Vital Records main office is listed at 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. TDH lists office and lobby hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. The Vital Records entrance is on the Rosa Parks Blvd. side of the building, and parking is located on Rev. Kelly M Smith Way off Rosa Parks Blvd.
| Need | Better than driving first |
|---|---|
| Birth or death certificate | Check county health department options, online route, mail route, ID and entitlement first. |
| Marriage or divorce certificate | Check Tennessee Vital Records help topics and confirm whether you need a certificate or court document. |
| Correction, amendment, adoption or paternity | Use the Special Services or correction route and check required documents first. |
| VRISM technical issue | Use the VRISM Help Desk route, not the public certificate counter. |
| County clinic service | Use your local county health department, not the downtown Nashville Vital Records office. |
Check the official page and call if necessary before traveling. Office hours, parking guidance, payment rules, certificate eligibility, processing time and document requirements can change.
Official Tennessee Department of Health links used in this guide
Use these official pages for final details, payment, forms, eligibility, phone numbers, complaint filing, license verification, public records and submissions. This independent guide does not collect records, process licenses, file complaints, accept payments or replace official TDH pages.
People also search for: Tennessee Department of Health Google and Bing intent guide
These search-style keywords match common Tennessee health department needs. Use the matching official route instead of a random third-party page.
Tennessee Department of Health phone number
Use the TDH Contact page and choose the program-specific phone number for vital records, licensing, complaints or environmental health.
Phone routeTennessee Department of Health birth certificate
Use Tennessee Office of Vital Records or a county health department for registered statewide birth certificates.
Birth routeTennessee Department of Health death certificate
Use Vital Records or county health department service, with ID and entitlement documents ready.
Death routeTennessee county health department
Use the Local Health Departments page for WIC, immunization, STD testing, dental, primary care and vital records.
County routeTennessee Department of Health license lookup
Use the official Health Related Boards license verification portal.
License routeTennessee nursing license renewal
Use the Board of Nursing and LARS online licensure system for renewal and verification tasks.
Nursing routeTennessee restaurant inspection reports
Use TDH Environmental Health and local health department routes for restaurant inspection information.
Inspection routeTennessee health care facility complaint
Use the TDH Health Care Facilities Complaint Hotline and correct complaint route.
Complaint routeSafety, privacy and independent guide notice
HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent help guide. It is not the official Tennessee Department of Health website, not TN.gov, not Tennessee Office of Vital Records, not LARS, not the Health Related Boards, and not a county health department.
Do not send Social Security numbers, birth certificates, death certificates, driver licenses, passports, medical records, immunization records, license documents, complaint evidence, payment cards or patient information to an independent guide page. Use only official secure pages and verified phone numbers.
Phone numbers, fees, forms, eligibility rules, processing times, office hours, complaint routes, licensure rules, county services and payment methods can change. Confirm final details on official TDH, TN.gov, vitalrecords.tn.gov, LARS, license verification or county health department pages before taking action.
Tennessee Department of Health FAQs
What is the Tennessee Department of Health phone number?
The TDH Contact page lists the State Operator at 615-741-3011. It also lists program-specific numbers such as Vital Records at 615-685-4700, Nursing License at 615-532-5166, Health Related Boards Complaint Hotline at 1-800-852-2187 and Health Care Facilities Complaint Hotline at 1-877-287-0010.
Where is the Tennessee Office of Vital Records located?
The Tennessee Office of Vital Records main office is listed at 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. The Vital Records entrance is on the Rosa Parks Blvd. side of the building.
How do I order a Tennessee birth certificate?
Use the Tennessee Office of Vital Records or a Tennessee county health department route. Prepare the full name on the record, date and place of birth, parent details, valid government-issued ID, entitlement documents if needed and payment method.
Can a Tennessee county health department issue a birth or death certificate?
Yes. TDH states that county health departments can issue birth and death certificates registered statewide with the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. ID, fees and entitlement rules still apply.
How do I get a Tennessee death certificate?
Use the Tennessee Office of Vital Records or a county health department route for registered Tennessee death certificates. Prepare the decedent name, date and place of death, your relationship or lawful right, valid ID and payment.
How do I find a Tennessee county health department?
Use the official TDH Local Health Departments page. County health departments may help with WIC, immunizations, STD/HIV screening, family planning, vital records, dental services, primary care, environmental health and other local public health services, depending on the county.
How do I look up a Tennessee health professional license?
Use the official Tennessee Health Related Boards Licensure Verification portal. It is the official licensure verification site for Health Related Boards and is updated from primary sources.
Where do Tennessee nurses renew or verify a license?
Use the Tennessee Board of Nursing page and the official license verification portal. Many online application and renewal tasks route through Tennessee’s Licensure and Regulatory System, also called LARS.
How do I report food poisoning or a restaurant complaint in Tennessee?
Use the TDH Foodborne and Enteric Disease Reporting page. TDH lists the Tennessee Foodborne Illness Survey and 1-800-293-8228 for suspected foodborne illness reports. For restaurant sanitation concerns without illness, TDH also lists 1-800-293-8228 and geh.health@tn.gov.
Is HealthDepartmentGuide.org the official Tennessee Department of Health website?
No. HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide. It does not process records, collect payments, verify licenses, file complaints, renew licenses, manage county services, or replace TN.gov, the Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Office of Vital Records, Health Related Boards, LARS or local health departments.