Consent Form Template

A consent form template is a reusable document that explains an activity, treatment or use of information and records a person’s voluntary agreement to it, usually with a signature and date. Good consent forms are short, plain and specific, so the signer knows exactly what they are agreeing to and how to withdraw.

This guide covers the common types of consent forms, the sections every template should include and how to collect consent online with e-signatures.

What is a consent form?

A consent form documents that a person was informed and agreed. It protects the individual, who gets clear information, and the organization, which gets a record that consent was given.

Consent forms are used across many settings:

• Healthcare treatments and procedures
• Research studies and surveys
• Photos, video and testimonials for marketing
• School trips and youth activities
• Data collection and processing
• Background checks for employment

Some consent forms are governed by specific rules, such as federal research regulations or the Fair Credit Reporting Act for background checks. Check the requirements for your use case.

Types of consent form templates

What to include in a consent form template

1. Title. Name the consent clearly, for example “Photo and Video Release Consent.”
2. Organization details. Name, address and contact person.
3. Purpose. What the activity, treatment or data use is, in plain language.
4. What will happen. Procedures, duration and what the person will be asked to do.
5. Risks and benefits. Honest description of possible risks and expected benefits.
6. Alternatives. Other options, including not participating.
7. Confidentiality and data use. How information is stored, who sees it and how long it is kept.
8. Voluntary participation. A clear statement that consent is voluntary.
9. Right to withdraw. How to withdraw and what happens to data already collected.
10. Questions and contacts. Who to contact with questions or concerns.
11. Acknowledgment. “I have read this form, my questions were answered and I agree.”
12. Signature block. Name, signature, date and, for minors, the parent or guardian’s details.

Consent form template example

[Organization name] Consent Form: [Activity or treatment]

• Purpose: We are asking for your consent to [describe activity] for the purpose of [describe purpose].
• What will happen: If you agree, [describe steps], which will take about [time].
• Risks and benefits: Possible risks include [risks]. Possible benefits include [benefits].
• Your information: We will store your information [where] and share it only with [who]. We will keep it for [period].
• Voluntary consent: Your participation is voluntary. You may refuse or withdraw at any time by contacting [contact] without penalty.
• Questions: Contact [name, email, phone].
• Agreement: By signing below, I confirm I have read and understood this form and agree to participate.
• Signature fields: Participant name, signature, date. Parent or guardian name, signature, relationship and date (if participant is under 18).

Keep the reading level simple. Many research ethics boards recommend writing consent forms at roughly an eighth-grade reading level so most adults can understand them.

Paper vs online consent forms

Paper consent forms are slow to distribute, easy to lose and hard to search. Online consent forms solve most of these problems:

• Faster completion. Participants sign on a phone or tablet.
• Required fields. The form will not submit until the signature and key answers are complete.
• Conditional logic. Guardian sections appear only when the participant is a minor.
• Secure storage. Signed copies are stored centrally with timestamps.
• Easy retrieval. Staff can find a consent record in seconds during an audit.

For healthcare organizations, make sure your form tool and storage meet your HIPAA obligations before collecting protected health information.

Common consent form mistakes

• Legal jargon. If people cannot understand the form, consent may not be informed.
• Bundled consent. Combining unrelated permissions, such as treatment and marketing photos, in one checkbox.
• No withdrawal process. Always explain how to withdraw.
• Missing guardian signatures. Minors generally cannot give valid consent on their own.
• Outdated versions. Track which version each person signed.
• Unclear retention. State how long records are kept.

How to automate consent collection

An automated consent process typically works like this:

1. A participant receives a link or scans a QR code.
2. They complete an online consent form with built-in signature capture.
3. Conditional fields appear for minors, medical conditions or optional permissions.
4. A signed PDF is generated automatically and emailed to the participant.
5. The record is saved to your CRM, EHR, HR system or secure storage.
6. Staff are notified, and reminders go out for missing consents.

How Noca helps

With Noca, you can build a consent form from a prompt or by drag and drop, add signature capture and conditional logic, generate a signed PDF and sync the record to systems such as Salesforce, SharePoint or Google Drive. Explore the Noca AI form builder or book a demo.

This article is for general information and is not legal advice.

Related guides

• Work Order Form Template
• Fill Out Form W-9 Online (Free, With E-Signature)

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a consent form include?

A consent form should include the purpose of the activity, what will happen, the risks and benefits, alternatives, how information will be used and stored, a statement that participation is voluntary, how to withdraw, contact details for questions, an acknowledgment statement and a signature block with the date.

Is an electronic signature valid on a consent form?

In most cases, yes. The ESIGN Act and state UETA laws make electronic signatures legally valid in the US. Some regulated settings, such as FDA-regulated clinical research, have additional rules for electronic records and signatures, so check the requirements that apply to your organization.

Can a minor sign a consent form?

Generally, minors cannot give legally valid consent on their own, so a parent or legal guardian signs on their behalf. Some situations allow minors to consent, such as certain healthcare services depending on state law. Many research studies also ask minors for their assent alongside parental permission.

How long should consent forms be kept?

Retention depends on the type of consent and the rules that apply. Research records, medical records and employment records each have their own retention requirements under federal and state law. Set a written retention policy and state the retention period on the form itself.

What makes consent informed?

Consent is informed when the person receives clear information about what they are agreeing to, including the purpose, procedures, risks, benefits and alternatives, understands it, has a chance to ask questions and agrees voluntarily without pressure. Plain language is essential to informed consent.

Can someone withdraw consent after signing?

Yes, in most cases people can withdraw consent at any time. The consent form should explain how to withdraw and what happens to information already collected. Withdrawal usually does not affect actions already taken based on the earlier consent.