Louisiana requires a current Louisiana Immunization Certificate (LIC) under La. R.S. 17:170 before your child can attend school. Louisiana is one of the few states requiring Hepatitis A vaccination for school entry — if your child's records are from another state, this dose is often missing and needs to be addressed before the first day. Here's what Louisiana requires, how to transfer records, and how to avoid the most common enrollment delays.
Last verified: September 8, 2026
La. R.S. 17:170 requires a current Louisiana Immunization Certificate (LIC) for school entry. No child may attend without an LIC or an approved exemption on file.
The most common pitfall for families moving from other states: Hepatitis A. Most states do not require two Hep A doses for school entry. If your child's records are from Texas, Florida, Georgia, or most other states, they may have only 1 or 0 Hep A doses on file. Louisiana requires 2. See your new Louisiana pediatrician before enrollment.
When you enroll at a new Louisiana school, the receiving school typically requests records from your former district. Interstate transfers can take several weeks. Louisiana's school year often starts in early August — which means your enrollment deadline may arrive faster than expected. Keep complete copies of all records in your possession so enrollment doesn't wait on the transfer process.
Source: La. R.S. 17:170; Louisiana Department of Health — Immunizations, accessed Aug 31, 2026
LINKS (Louisiana Immunization Network for Kids Statewide) records doses administered by participating providers across Louisiana. If your child received any vaccines in Louisiana previously, those doses may be in LINKS. Your new Louisiana pediatrician can access LINKS and print your child's record. You can also contact your parish health unit for a printout.
For doses given in your previous state: Out-of-state records do not automatically transfer to LINKS. Bring a signed immunization record from your former pediatrician. Your new Louisiana provider will enter prior documented doses into LINKS at your child's first visit, then complete the LIC.
Important: Even if your child is up-to-date by your previous state's standards, Louisiana's Hepatitis A requirement may mean an additional dose is needed. Confirm with your new pediatrician before the school enrollment appointment.
(Source: LDH — LINKS Immunization Registry, accessed Aug 31, 2026)
Your new Louisiana pediatrician will need your child's complete medical history to continue care. Bring:
Louisiana's early school-start calendar (many districts open in early August) means you may have a tight window between moving and the first day of school. Scheduling the first pediatrician appointment immediately after your move gives the most time to address any missing doses and complete the LIC before enrollment.
Every person in your family gets a private @families.familystork.com email address that stays the same no matter where you live. Your old pediatrician emails records to it. Your new one does too. No portal logins, no faxed requests, no lost paper trail when you cross state lines.
Moving families are the ones who feel the pain of scattered records most sharply. Family Stork is built for exactly this moment — one timeline from birth, wherever you go.
$99/year — or about $10 a month.
Louisiana recognizes medical and religious exemptions from school immunization requirements under La. R.S. 17:170. For current forms and the official exemption process, contact the Louisiana Department of Health or your parish health unit.
Tired of managing health records for yourself and everyone you love? Family Stork organizes them for you automatically. Moving is the best time to start — one email address, every record, wherever you go next.
Start your family's record — freeMore resources:
Juggling logins across multiple hospital portals? See how Family Stork compares to MyChart — one email address vs. a different portal for every clinic.
Keep your family's entire health story in one place: family health timeline software — from first heartbeat and beyond.