West Virginia Department of Health 2026: Services, Phone & Records
Most people searching for the West Virginia Department of Health need a simple answer: which official office handles my issue, what phone number should I call, what record can I order, what form do I need, and should I use the state office, a local health department, Vital Registration, WVSIIS, OHFLAC, or a professional licensing board?
This page is written in clear U.S. English for West Virginia residents, families, caregivers, seniors, facility operators, employers, nurses, applicants, and out-of-state users who need West Virginia records. It is an independent guide, not an official state website, and it helps you choose the correct official route before you call, mail documents, pay fees, file a complaint, verify a facility, or visit an office.
Quick answer: what the West Virginia Department of Health helps with in 2026
The West Virginia Department of Health, often searched as WV Department of Health, WVDH, WV DHHR health department, West Virginia health department, or WV Bureau for Public Health, connects users to statewide public health programs, vital records, disease reporting, immunization record resources, local health departments, health facility licensing and complaint routing, food safety rules, environmental health services, public records requests, and official contact offices.
| What you need | Best official route | Prepare first | Senior-friendly tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia Department of Health phone number | WV Department of Health Contact Us page or Bureau for Public Health Contact Us page | Your topic, county, callback number, mailing address if relevant and program name if known | Ask, “Which office handles this, and what official page should I use next?” |
| West Virginia birth certificate | Vital Registration Certificate Requests page | Full name, date of birth, place of birth, valid ID, relationship or proof if needed, payment and mailing details | West Virginia does not have direct state online ordering, so check the official mail or in-person route first. |
| West Virginia death certificate | Vital Registration Certificate Requests page | Decedent name, date of death, county, requester details, ID, fee and mailing or in-person plan | Ask the bank, insurance company or attorney how many certified copies they truly need. |
| West Virginia marriage record | Vital Registration or county clerk depending on year and purpose | Names, date of marriage, county where license was issued and copy type needed | For older or county-specific records, the county clerk may be the correct office. |
| West Virginia immunization records | MyIRMobile, WVSIIS, provider or local health department | Name, date of birth, prior provider, school requirement or vaccine history needed | Ask your doctor or local health department to print a copy if online access does not find the record. |
| West Virginia health facility lookup | OHFLAC Health Care Facility Search | Facility name, city, county, facility type or state ID if known | Use facility lookup for hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living, hospice, home health and other regulated facility types. |
| West Virginia nurse aide verification | OHFLAC Nurse Aide Verification | Name or state-assigned registration number | This is different from RN or LPN license lookup, which belongs to the nursing boards. |
| Restaurant complaint, food permit or mobile food question | Local health department and WV Office of Environmental Health Services food safety pages | Business name, address, county, date, time, food item, symptoms or permit question | In West Virginia, food service permitting, inspections and complaints usually start with the local health department. |
| Public records / FOIA request | WV Department of Health FOIA contact route | Agency, record type, date range, subject, names and your contact method | Use a narrow request. “All health records” is too broad and may cause delay. |
If your issue is a certificate, start with Vital Registration. If it is a shot record, start with MyIRMobile, WVSIIS, your provider or local health department. If it is a regulated health facility, start with OHFLAC. If it is a food establishment, septic, well, inspection or local permit, start with your local health department.
West Virginia Department of Health route finder: choose the correct service before calling or mailing forms
Use this simple router for common searches like West Virginia Department of Health phone number, WV birth certificate, WV death certificate, WV health department records, WV immunization records, WV facility lookup, WV nurse aide verification, local health department, food complaint and FOIA request.
WV health service router
Select your task. The safest next step appears below.
West Virginia Department of Health phone number, email and call script
The West Virginia Department of Health Office of the Secretary lists 304-558-0684, fax 304-558-1130, email DHSecretary@wv.gov, and hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. For Bureau for Public Health general information, the official contact page lists 304-558-2971.
| Office or need | Phone / route | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| WV Department of Health Office of the Secretary | 304-558-0684 | You need high-level department contact or are not sure where the issue belongs. |
| WV Bureau for Public Health | 304-558-2971 | You need general public health program routing. |
| Vital Registration | 304-558-2931 | You need birth, death, marriage certificate help or vital certificate correction help. |
| WV DAVE Help Desk | 304-558-2931, option 6 | You are a funeral home, medical certifier or authorized user needing WV DAVE system help. |
| WVSIIS immunization registry questions | 1-877-408-8930 | You have questions about the West Virginia Statewide Immunization Information System. |
| OHFLAC / health facility licensing and certification | 304-558-0050 | You need health facility licensing, survey, lookup, nurse aide or facility complaint routing. |
| Home Health & Hospice Complaint Hotline | 833-734-0965 | You need to report a home health or hospice complaint. |
| Public health emergency / disease reporting after hours | 800-423-1271 or 304-558-5358 | You need public health emergency or epidemiology consultation routing. |
| General complaints route listed by WV contact pages | 1-800-642-8589 | You need complaint routing for certain department programs and services. |
Use a short call script
Say: “I need help with [birth certificate, death certificate, marriage record, immunization record, local health department, food complaint, facility lookup, nurse aide verification, FOIA request or health facility complaint]. My county is [county name]. Which official office or web page should I use?”
Call the program directly when you already know the service
If your task is a birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate or correction, call Vital Registration. If your task is facility lookup, nurse aide verification or health facility complaint, use OHFLAC. If your task is a restaurant, septic, well or local permit issue, use a local health department.
If you live in Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Wheeling, Martinsburg, Beckley, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Bluefield, Logan, Lewisburg, Elkins or a rural county, say your county early. Many services in West Virginia are handled locally even when the state health department page is your starting point.
West Virginia Department of Health records: birth, death, marriage, stillbirth, genealogy and WV DAVE
When users search “West Virginia Department of Health records,” they may mean certified vital records, public records, medical records, immunization records, genealogy records or facility inspection records. West Virginia Vital Registration handles certified birth, death, marriage and birth resulting in stillbirth records. That is different from FOIA, WVSIIS shot records, OHFLAC facility records or medical charts from a hospital or clinic.
Certificates
Birth, death, marriage and births resulting in stillbirth certificates through Vital Registration.
Open certificate requestsWVSIIS / MyIRMobile
Vaccine record access can involve MyIRMobile, WVSIIS, your provider or local health department.
Use vaccine guideOHFLAC lookup
Health facility lookup shows public facility information and survey details for regulated facilities.
Open facility searchKnow that West Virginia does not have direct state online vital record ordering
The official Certificate Requests page explains that the state does not have direct online ordering. Websites advertising online ordering are third-party vendors that charge extra convenience and shipping fees and send the order to the state on your behalf. Mail and in-person options should be checked first.
Use mail or in-person service with correct identification
For mail requests, prepare the application form, a color copy of acceptable identification and correct payment. Vital Registration’s office address for certificate requests is 350 Capitol Street, Room 165, Charleston, WV 25301-3701. The walk-up window is commonly used for same-day in-person service when available.
Vital records are not open record documents in the same way as general agency records. Eligibility, identification, record year, relationship and copy type can matter. Always check the official WV Vital Registration page before mailing forms, ID copies or payment.
West Virginia birth certificate: application, ID, fee, in-person and mail checklist
Use this section if you need a West Virginia birth certificate for a passport, Real ID, school, job, Social Security, benefits, insurance, family matter, court matter or personal record.
| Prepare | Why it matters | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Full name on the birth record | Vital Registration must match the exact record. | Using a married name or nickname instead of the birth record name. |
| Date and place of birth | Helps locate the correct West Virginia event record. | Not knowing the county or city where the birth occurred. |
| Parent names if requested | Can help verify the correct birth certificate. | Leaving blanks on the application form. |
| Valid identification | West Virginia Vital Registration requires acceptable ID or alternate ID combination. | Mailing an unclear, expired or black-and-white ID copy when a color copy is required. |
| Correct fee and payment type | Incorrect payment can delay mail processing. | Using an outdated fee from an old PDF or third-party site. |
| Mailing address and phone number | Helps staff contact you if something is missing. | Forgetting a callback number or return address. |
Download the current certificate request form
Do not reuse an old saved form. Use the current official Certificate Request Forms page, then choose the right application for birth records.
Decide between mail and in-person service
The fastest official method is often in-person walk-up service when available. Mail works when you cannot visit Charleston, but missing ID, wrong payment or incomplete forms can delay the request.
If you are helping a parent, grandparent, spouse or adult child, check eligibility and proof rules before mailing the application. A family relationship by itself may not be enough if the official form requires specific proof or identification.
West Virginia death certificate: estate, insurance, bank, probate and family checklist
A West Virginia death certificate is commonly needed for banks, probate, insurance, real estate, pensions, veterans benefits, Social Security, genealogy and family records. Before ordering, ask the receiving agency how many certified copies it needs.
Certified death certificate
Often required for legal, estate, bank, insurance, benefit and official agency use.
Order the right number
Some offices return certified copies; others keep them. Ask before ordering too many or too few.
Collect record details before contacting Vital Registration
Prepare the decedent’s full legal name, date of death, county or city of death, your relationship or role, your valid identification, mailing address, phone number and payment details.
Ask the receiving agency what it accepts
Before ordering, ask the bank, insurer, attorney, court, pension office or benefits office whether it requires a certified death certificate and whether photocopies are accepted for any part of the process.
Keep a small notebook with every office that requested a certificate, the date you sent it, whether they returned it and the contact person. This makes estate and benefit work less confusing.
West Virginia marriage records: state certificate route versus county clerk route
West Virginia marriage record searches can require the state Vital Registration Office, a county clerk, or a genealogy record source depending on the year, copy type and use. Do not assume that every marriage record is available from one online search result.
Certified state-level certificate route
Use Vital Registration for current official certificate request guidance and forms.
Open Vital RegistrationCounty-issued marriage license records
Older records or county-specific marriage license questions may belong with the county clerk where the license was issued.
Use WV phone directoryFor legal use, ask the receiving agency if it needs a certified marriage certificate, a county license copy, a court record or an apostille-related document. The words sound similar, but the office may require a specific document.
Correct or amend a West Virginia birth, death or marriage certificate
A certificate correction is different from ordering a copy. Corrections and amendments may require an affidavit, court order, paternity document, proof document, fee and review by the Vital Registration corrections unit.
Use the official correction page first
West Virginia’s correction guidance explains that amendments can involve fees and that certified copies have their own separate fee. Some changes may be simple; others may require stronger proof or a court order.
Do not mark up the certificate and mail it without instructions
Use the correct official affidavit, proof document or correction method. Write down the exact error, the correct spelling or date, and why the record should be changed.
Name changes, parentage changes, adoption-related changes and legal corrections can be sensitive. Do not rely on a general guide for final legal instructions. Use the official WV page or speak with the proper legal or records office.
West Virginia immunization records: MyIRMobile, WVSIIS, school forms and provider copies
If you searched for “West Virginia Department of Health records” but need shot records, school vaccine history, work vaccine proof, travel vaccine history or a child’s immunization record, you are likely looking for MyIRMobile, WVSIIS, your health care provider or your local health department.
MyIRMobile
WV announced MyIRMobile to let residents review immunization history and print official vaccine records.
Open MyIRMobileWVSIIS
The West Virginia Statewide Immunization Information System is the central registry route used by authorized users.
Open WVSIIS infoProvider or local health department
If online access does not show the record, ask the doctor, clinic, school nurse or local health department.
Find local healthTry MyIRMobile for personal vaccine record access
MyIRMobile can help residents view immunization history and print official records when the record is matched. Use the name, date of birth and account details exactly as records may appear.
Use WVSIIS, provider or local health department when records are missing
Some older shots, out-of-state vaccines or provider records may not appear automatically. WVSIIS guidance says users needing a current shot record may ask their provider or local health department to print a copy during an office visit.
For school, college, job, travel or childcare vaccine proof, ask exactly which vaccine record format is accepted. Some offices accept a printed official immunization record; others need a signed provider copy or school-specific form.
West Virginia health facility lookup: OHFLAC facility search, inspections and licensing
For “West Virginia Department of Health license lookup,” many users are actually looking for a health care facility, nursing home, home health agency, hospice, assisted living facility, behavioral health facility or other regulated facility. In West Virginia, the OHFLAC Health Care Facility Search is the key public lookup route for regulated facilities.
Use Health Care Facility Search for regulated facilities
The online lookup provides public information for health care facilities operating in West Virginia and may include survey or investigation information from the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification.
| Search need | Best field to try | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing home or long-term care facility | Facility name, city or facility type | Status, address, surveys, life safety results and inspection details if listed. |
| Home health or hospice | Business name, county or facility type | Facility identity, address and whether a complaint hotline route applies. |
| Assisted living, intermediate care or behavioral health facility | Facility name or facility type | State ID, status, survey history and deficiency documents if available. |
| Employer credentialing or family placement decision | Exact legal facility name | Save the search date, facility name, address and public survey details you reviewed. |
Do not rely only on a Google business listing or a third-party profile. Use the official OHFLAC facility search for state facility information, then call the facility or appropriate regulator if the information needs clarification.
West Virginia nurse aide verification, CNA registry and nursing license confusion
West Virginia nurse aide verification is different from RN or LPN nursing license lookup. Nurse aides route through OHFLAC Nurse Aide Verification. Registered nurses and APRNs generally route through the West Virginia RN Board. Licensed practical nurses route through the West Virginia LPN Board.
OHFLAC Nurse Aide Verification
Search by nurse aide name or state-assigned registration number.
Verify nurse aideWV RN Board
Use the nursing board route for RN or APRN license lookup and verification.
Open RN BoardWV LPN Board
Use the practical nursing board route for LPN licensure status and renewals.
Open LPN BoardUse the right license type before searching
If the person is a CNA or nurse aide, use OHFLAC Nurse Aide Verification. If the person is an RN or APRN, use the RN Board. If the person is an LPN, use the LPN Board. Searching the wrong site can make it look like the person is missing when they are simply in a different registry.
West Virginia food safety, food permits, restaurant complaints and local health departments
For West Virginia restaurant complaints, food service permits, mobile food vendors, inspections and food safety questions, the state Office of Environmental Health Services provides rules and guidance, but local health departments handle many permitting, inspection and complaint tasks.
Use the local health department for food service permits and complaints
West Virginia’s food safety page says permitting and inspecting food service establishments is the responsibility of local health departments. Permit applications, inspection requests and complaint filing should be made to the local health department.
Prepare strong restaurant complaint details
Before calling or filing locally, write down the business name, full address, county, date, time, food item, symptoms, who became sick, receipt, online order number, photos and packaging if available.
Mobile food vendors should check statewide permit notes
West Virginia OEHS notes that in-state mobile food establishment vendors need the Statewide Mobile Food Establishment Permit from the local health department in their county of residence and must notify the local health department before operation.
Do not call only the state office with “a restaurant in West Virginia made me sick.” Local health staff need the county and address. A complete location and timeline can make the report much more useful.
West Virginia Department of Health complaints: facility, home health, hospice, local food and program routing
Complaint routing depends on what happened. A health facility complaint is not the same as a restaurant complaint, a benefit complaint, a child or adult abuse report, a provider licensing issue, a Medicaid question or a FOIA request.
OHFLAC complaint route
Anyone with knowledge or concerns about a health care facility can file a complaint. OHFLAC lists online, phone and other filing options.
Open OHFLAC complaintLocal health department route
Restaurant, food permit and inspection complaints usually go to the local health department responsible for the county.
Find local office| Complaint type | Likely route | Prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing home, assisted living, hospice, home health or regulated facility | OHFLAC complaint route | Facility name, address, date, time, what happened, who was involved and proof if available. |
| Restaurant, food truck, grocery or food service complaint | Local health department | Business name, address, county, date, food item, symptoms and receipt or photos. |
| Immunization record missing or inaccurate | Provider, local health department, WVSIIS or MyIRMobile support | Name, date of birth, vaccine date, provider and missing vaccine details. |
| Public records request | FOIA email route | Agency, record type, date range, subject and preferred contact method. |
| Immediate danger, severe symptoms or emergency | Emergency services or urgent medical care | Location, symptoms and immediate safety details. |
If someone is in immediate danger, has severe symptoms, trouble breathing, chest pain, signs of stroke, poisoning, severe dehydration, serious allergic reaction or urgent medical distress, call emergency services. Do not wait for an online complaint response.
West Virginia Department of Health public records and FOIA request help
FOIA requests are for government records. They are not the same as ordering a birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, immunization record, nurse aide verification or personal medical record from a hospital or clinic.
Use the correct agency email for the request
WV Department of Health FOIA requests for public records prepared, owned and retained by the Department of Health should be directed to DHFOIA@wv.gov. Health Facilities and Human Services have separate FOIA email routes, so agency selection matters.
Make the request narrow and searchable
Include the department name, office, program, topic, record type, date range, county, facility name, license or registration number if relevant, and your email or mailing address. A narrow request is easier to process than “send me all health department records.”
Your own patient chart usually comes from the hospital, clinic, doctor office or health care provider that treated you. Do not use a state FOIA request as the first route for a personal medical chart unless the records are actually state agency records.
Find a West Virginia local health department: county offices, inspections, vaccines, WIC, septic and wells
Local health departments are essential in West Virginia because many public health services happen at the county or regional level. Use a local health department for many food safety, septic, well, nuisance, permit, inspection, local clinic, vaccination and county-level questions.
Vaccines and health services
Some local offices provide immunization, public health nursing, screening, family planning or community health services.
Permits and complaints
Food establishment permits, inspections and complaints usually route through the local health department.
Septic, wells and nuisance
Address-based environmental health questions often start locally.
Use the WV local directory
Search by county or local office name before driving or mailing forms.
For Kanawha, Cabell, Monongalia, Wood, Berkeley, Raleigh, Ohio, Harrison, Marion, Mercer, Greenbrier, Logan, Randolph, Putnam, Jefferson and every other West Virginia county, check the local office’s current hours, services and phone route before visiting. Small offices may have limited walk-in hours or appointment-only services.
West Virginia Department of Health Charleston map, addresses and before-you-visit checklist
West Virginia health services use multiple Charleston addresses. The Department of Health Office of the Secretary is listed at One Davis Square, Suite 100 East, Charleston, WV 25301. Vital Registration and the Bureau for Public Health use 350 Capitol Street addresses. Always confirm the exact office before visiting.
| Office | Address | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| WV Department of Health Office of the Secretary | One Davis Square, Suite 100 East, Charleston, WV 25301 | Department-level contact, secretary office and general department routing. |
| Bureau for Public Health | 350 Capitol Street, Room 702, Charleston, WV 25301 | General Bureau for Public Health program contact and routing. |
| Vital Registration Office | 350 Capitol Street, Room 165, Charleston, WV 25301-3701 | Birth, death, marriage certificate requests and corrections. |
| OHFLAC | 1 Players Club Drive, Suite 301, Charleston, WV 25311 | Health facility licensure, certification, nurse aide and facility complaint routes. |
Call first. A Charleston address may be a program office, mailing address or service counter with limited hours. For certificates, check Vital Registration instructions. For food, septic, wells and inspections, your local health department may be the better destination.
Official West Virginia Department of Health links used in this guide
Use these official pages for final details, forms, fees, identification rules, phone numbers, office hours, complaint submission, license or facility lookup and public record requests. This independent page does not collect records, payments, IDs, complaints or private health information.
People also search for: West Virginia Department of Health Google and Bing intent guide
These are common search-style intents around “West Virginia Department of Health.” Use the matching route instead of opening random third-party pages or outdated DHHR links.
West Virginia Department of Health phone number
Use WV Health Contact Us for 304-558-0684 or BPH Contact Us for 304-558-2971.
Phone routeWest Virginia Department of Health vital records
Use Vital Registration for birth, death, marriage and stillbirth certificate guidance.
Records routeWV birth certificate
Use Certificate Requests and current forms. Do not rely on random online certificate vendors.
Birth routeWV death certificate
Use Vital Registration. Prepare decedent details, ID, payment and mailing or in-person plan.
Death routeWV immunization records
Use MyIRMobile, WVSIIS, your provider or local health department for vaccine record help.
Immunization routeWest Virginia health facility lookup
Use OHFLAC Health Care Facility Search for regulated facility information.
Facility routeWest Virginia nurse aide verification
Use OHFLAC Nurse Aide Verification, not the RN or LPN board sites.
Nurse aide routeWest Virginia health department complaint
Use OHFLAC for facility complaints and local health departments for food or inspection complaints.
Complaint routeSafety, privacy and independent guide notice
HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent help guide. It is not the official West Virginia Department of Health website, not WV.gov, not Vital Registration, not WVSIIS, not MyIRMobile, not OHFLAC, not a nursing board and not a local health department.
Do not send birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, Social Security numbers, driver licenses, passports, payment cards, medical records, immunization records, facility complaint evidence or license documents to an independent guide page. Use only official secure pages or official mail routes for final submission.
Fees, forms, addresses, office hours, certificate rules, record availability, ID requirements, local health department services, complaint procedures and facility lookup systems can change. Confirm the final instructions on the official West Virginia page before taking action.
West Virginia Department of Health FAQs
What is the West Virginia Department of Health phone number?
The WV Department of Health Office of the Secretary lists 304-558-0684. The Bureau for Public Health general information number is 304-558-2971. Vital Registration for birth, death and marriage certificate help is 304-558-2931.
What is the official West Virginia Department of Health website?
The main official department website is health.wv.gov. Some older or program-specific pages still use dhhr.wv.gov, oehs.wvdhhr.org, ohflac.wvdhhr.org, wvdhhr.org or WV.gov routes for official services.
How do I order a West Virginia birth certificate?
Use the official West Virginia Certificate Requests page and current Certificate Request Forms. Prepare the full name on the record, date and place of birth, valid identification, proof documents if needed, correct fee and mailing or in-person plan.
Does West Virginia have direct online vital record ordering?
The official Certificate Requests page says West Virginia does not have direct online ordering. Websites advertising online ordering are third-party vendors that charge extra convenience and shipping fees and send the order to the state on your behalf.
How do I get a West Virginia death certificate?
Start with West Virginia Vital Registration Certificate Requests. Prepare the decedent name, date of death, county or city, your valid identification, payment and mailing or in-person details. Ask the receiving agency how many certified copies it needs before ordering.
How do I correct a West Virginia birth, death or marriage certificate?
Use the official Correct or Amend a Certificate page. A correction may require an affidavit, proof document, court order, amendment fee and separate certified copy fee depending on the change requested.
How do I get West Virginia immunization records?
Try MyIRMobile for personal vaccine record access. If a record is missing or does not match, ask your provider or local health department, or review WVSIIS information. WVSIIS questions can route to 1-877-408-8930.
How do I look up a West Virginia health care facility?
Use the OHFLAC Health Care Facility Search. It provides public information for regulated health care facilities operating in West Virginia and may include survey information from the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification.
How do I verify a West Virginia nurse aide?
Use OHFLAC Nurse Aide Verification and search by name or state-assigned registration number. RN and APRN license lookup belongs with the West Virginia RN Board, and LPN lookup belongs with the West Virginia LPN Board.
How do I file a West Virginia restaurant complaint?
Food service permitting, inspections and complaints usually start with the local health department. Prepare the business name, address, county, date, time, food item, symptoms, receipt and photos if available.
How do I file a West Virginia health facility complaint?
Use the OHFLAC complaint route for regulated health care facility concerns. OHFLAC lists health care facility complaints at 304-558-0050 and the Home Health & Hospice Complaint Hotline at 833-734-0965.
How do I submit a West Virginia Department of Health FOIA request?
Use the official FOIA request route. Public records prepared, owned and retained by the West Virginia Department of Health should be directed to DHFOIA@wv.gov. Health Facilities and Human Services have separate FOIA email routes.
Is HealthDepartmentGuide.org the official West Virginia Department of Health website?
No. HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide. It does not process records, collect fees, verify facilities, file complaints, change certificates, provide immunization records or replace official West Virginia government pages.