Medical Certificates in Australia: What They Must Include and Who Can Issue Them

In Australia, a valid medical certificate is a document from a registered health practitioner that confirms you were assessed and states the dates you were, or will be, unfit for work, study or your usual duties. It doesn’t have to name your diagnosis. Certificates from a telehealth consultation are valid, as long as the doctor has genuinely assessed you in a real-time phone or video consultation.

This article explains what a medical certificate should include, who can issue one, what a doctor can and can’t certify, and how to check that a certificate will be accepted. If you’re wondering whether you need one at all, see our companion article When do you need a medical certificate in Australia?

What a medical certificate should include

There’s no single government template, but employers, universities and other organisations generally expect a certificate to show:

• Your name, so it’s clear who the certificate is about
• The date of the consultation, meaning the day the practitioner assessed you
• The period of unfitness, with a start date and an end date (or an expected return date)
• What it covers, for example unfit for work, unfit for study, or that you’re caring for a family or household member who is unwell
• The practitioner’s name and qualifications, plus the practice name and contact details
• A signature (handwritten or electronic) and, for doctors, usually a provider number or registration details so the certificate can be checked

A certificate may also describe any limits on what you can do, such as “fit for light duties only” or “unable to sit an exam”. This can be more useful to an employer or university than a diagnosis.

Does it have to say what’s wrong with me?

No. Your health information is private. A certificate can simply say you have “a medical condition” and were unfit for work. A doctor will only include a diagnosis if you ask them to and agree to it being shared. Medical indemnity provider Avant notes that a diagnosis is optional on a medical certificate, and that other details belong in your medical record.

Some situations, such as an insurance claim or a request for special consideration at university, may need more detail. In that case the organisation usually supplies its own form, and you can decide what to share.

Who can issue a medical certificate?

• GPs and other medical practitioners, including specialists, are the most common source.
• Other registered health practitioners, such as dentists, nurse practitioners or psychologists, may issue certificates for conditions within their scope of practice.
• Pharmacists can issue a “certificate for absence from work” for short, minor illnesses they can assess in the pharmacy. These are typically used for a day or two off and aren’t suitable for every purpose.

Whoever issues the certificate should be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). You can check any practitioner on the public register. Our article on why your telehealth doctor should be AHPRA registered explains how.

What a doctor can and can’t certify

A medical certificate is a legal document. Under the Medical Board of Australia’s code of conduct, doctors should only sign documents they know, or reasonably believe, to be true. In practice this means:

• The doctor must assess you. They’ll ask about your symptoms and how they affect your ability to work or study. They won’t issue a certificate just because you request one.
• The certificate is dated the day you’re seen. Certificates shouldn’t be backdated or post-dated. If you were unwell before the consultation, the doctor may record that you reported being unwell from an earlier date, but they can only certify what they can reasonably assess.
• The length should match your condition. A doctor will give a period that fits your illness, and may ask you to check in again if you’re not improving.
• Some things need an in-person assessment. Fitness-for-duty checks, injury assessments for workers’ compensation and anything that needs a physical examination can’t be done properly by phone or video.

Giving false information to get a certificate, or altering one, can have serious consequences, including dismissal or legal action.

Are telehealth medical certificates valid?

Yes. A certificate from a telehealth consultation with an AHPRA-registered doctor carries the same weight as one from an in-person visit. The key is that there’s a genuine consultation. Since 1 September 2023, the Medical Board’s telehealth guidelines say that issuing certificates through questionnaire-only websites, without a real-time consultation, is not good practice. A phone or video consultation with a doctor meets that standard.

Checking a certificate will be accepted

• Check your award, enterprise agreement or workplace policy. Some set out what evidence is needed and when.
• Check your university or TAFE’s special consideration rules. Many have their own form or a strict deadline.
• Ask for the right wording. Tell the doctor whether the certificate is for work, study or carer’s leave, and the dates you need covered.
• Keep a copy. Digital certificates are easy to forward and store.

For step-by-step tips on getting a certificate online, including for uni and carer’s leave, read Medical certificates: your guide to getting one online.

Getting a medical certificate through Teldoc

Teldoc’s AHPRA-registered GPs consult by phone or video, 7 days a week from 9 am to 7 pm (Sydney time), and most patients are seen within 15 minutes. If the doctor assesses that you’re unfit for work or study, they can issue a medical certificate that is sent to you electronically. We can provide certificates for work, university and carer’s leave.

General consultations are $55 on weekdays and $75 on weekends and public holidays, with no Medicare rebate. See our fees page for details, including which consultations are bulk billed for eligible patients.

Telehealth isn’t for emergencies. If you have severe symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing or signs of a stroke, call 000.

Frequently asked questions

What must a medical certificate include in Australia?

It should include your name, the date you were assessed, the dates you’re unfit for work or study, the practitioner’s name and practice details, and a signature. It doesn’t need to state your diagnosis.

Can a doctor backdate a medical certificate?

No. A certificate should be dated the day of the consultation. A doctor may note that you reported being unwell from an earlier date, but they can only certify what they can reasonably assess.

Is a medical certificate from a telehealth doctor valid?

Yes. A certificate from a real-time phone or video consultation with an AHPRA-registered doctor is valid in Australia, in the same way as one from an in-person visit.

Does my employer have the right to know my diagnosis?

Generally, no. A certificate can say you have a medical condition without naming it. A diagnosis is only included if you ask for it and agree to it being shared.

Can a pharmacist give me a medical certificate?

Pharmacists can issue a certificate for absence from work for short, minor illnesses they can assess. These are usually for a day or two and may not be accepted for every purpose, such as university special consideration or insurance claims.

This article is general health information and isn’t a substitute for advice from your own doctor. If you’re worried about your health, speak to a GP. In an emergency, call 000.

Medically reviewed by Dr Vafa Derakshan (MBBS, FRACGP), September 2026