A guide to medical certificates
Stay home and get a medical certificate online
It's 10am on a Monday morning. You're in bed with a runny nose and pounding headache. You've let your boss know you've come down with a cold that’s making its way through the office. You need to rest, but first you have to drag yourself out of bed, get dressed, drive to the doctor's office, find a park and wait for half an hour (if you're lucky) to see a GP. And then, as you're handed your medical certificate, the doctor will probably tell you to get some rest.
Imagine instead: you chat to a doctor on the phone from the comfort of your own bed, then pull up the doona and catch up on Netflix, only dragging yourself out of bed to brew some chicken noodle soup for lunch. This is actually a possibility thanks to online consultations through nib’s partner, hub.health, opens in a new tab.
nib members can access a medical certificate online signed by an Australian Registered Health Practitioner, so you can skip the trip to the medical centre and rest at home.
We spoke with hub.health’s Doctor Cedric Ng Liet Hing to find out everything you need to know about getting a medical certificate.
What is a medical or doctor's certificate?
A doctor’s certificate, also known as a medical certificate, opens in a new tab or sick note, is a document you get from a healthcare professional. It shows that you were sick or injured and need time off from work or school, or needed to care for a loved one because they were unwell or dealing with an unexpected emergency.
When do I need to provide a medical certificate?
You need to let your employer know as soon as possible if you're taking sick or carer’s leave.
According to Dr Cedric a medical certificate should ideally be given on the day you miss a commitment. “In some cases, and after careful review by the doctor, it might be okay to provide a certificate for an illness either for a day before the assessment (but not more than one day if you’re going through hub.health) or extend it for a few more days in the future (up to three days total if you're using hub.health services).”
Most workplaces and institutions will have a policy or registered agreement which outlines the type of evidence you need to provide and when you need to give it. However, employers can ask employees to provide evidence for as little as one day, opens in a new tab or less off work.
If you don’t give your employer a medical certificate when asked, you might not be entitled to get paid for taking sick or carer’s leave.
How long do medical or doctor's certificates last?
You can often take up to two consecutive sick days without a medical certificate, known as self-certified sick days. During this time, your employer should accept your explanation without needing a doctor’s note. But check your employer's policies around this.
You'll need a medical certificate to continue receiving paid sick leave or carer’s leave after this. Typically, a doctor’s certificate covers a specific period of illness, from a few days, opens in a new tab to several weeks. For longer absences, you might need a follow-up certificate.
What do medical certificates cover?
“You should get a medical certificate if you're personally ill, or if you're taking care of someone who is sick, like a child,” Dr Cedric explains.” A medical certificate is also needed to confirm your attendance at a medical appointment, whether it’s for you as the patient or as caregiver.”
There are some situations when you’ll need to visit your GP in-person to get a medical certificate. “If you're recovering from an illness and need to show you're ready to return to work, that’s a case where a certificate might be needed, but it's generally not provided through telehealth services,’ explains Dr Cedric.
Dr Cedric adds, "A medical certificate isn’t suitable for workplace injury claims, life insurance claims, or accident compensation claims."
What information should be included on a medical certificate?
Medical certificates have to cover specific details, opens in a new tab so employers can make sure the document is genuine, including:
The name and address of the medical practitioner issuing the certificate
The patient’s name
The date of the examination.
The patient’s degree of incapacity
The date the patient can go back to work
The name of the employer, insurer or magistrate requiring the certificate
The date the certificate was written and signed.
They may also include any specific medical restrictions or recommendations for a return to normal activities.
Who can provide a medical certificate?
You can get a doctor’s certificate from your regular GP or from an online, telehealth service, opens in a new tab like hub.health who provide access to accredited medical professionals across Australia.
Some pharmacies also issue ‘absence from work’, opens in a new tab certificates, but usually only for minor ailments.
In some states like NSW, physiotherapists and psychologists can also issue medical certificates, opens in a new tab, usually after you’ve seen a doctor first. These are known as ‘certificates of capacity’ or ‘certificates of fitness’ and are often used for workers' compensation claims and compulsory third-party motor accident injuries.
How do I get a medical certificate?
You can get a medical certificate through either an in-person or online telehealth consultation with a doctor. Dr Cedric explains that your GP will normally ask you a few questions before providing the medical certificate:
What symptoms are you experiencing?
How long have you had these symptoms?
How severe are your symptoms?
What have you done to treat them so far?
What event or commitment have you missed because of your symptoms?
How long do you think you’ll be unwell? (this can be discussed with your doctor)
Have you thought about going to the emergency room? If so, why?
The more details you provide, the easier it will be for your doctor to give a diagnosis and suggest how much time you might need to recover.
What are the benefits of getting a medical certificate online?
Getting a medical certificate online is extremely convenient. "I hear a lot of feedback from patients saying how easy it is to get a doctor’s note online without having to travel to a GP, which is really helpful when you’re feeling unwell and just need to rest at home. This is especially helpful if you live far from a GP, in busy areas with long wait times, or if you work fly-in fly-out and can’t easily get to a GP,” says Dr Cedric.
Dr Cedric says getting a medical certificate online can also ease the pressure on medical practices., allowing GPs to focus on more urgent cases.
And if you’re worried about the risk of misdiagnosis online vs in-person, don’t be. "Misdiagnoses can happen whether you see a doctor in-person or online. The important thing is that doctors provide clear advice to help you recognise serious symptoms and know when to seek more help,” says Dr Cedric.
How do nib members get an online medical certificate?
We’ve partnered with hub.health to help nib members save time and energy with access to online medical certificates.
1 Fill in a simple questionnaire to help the doctor assess your current illness
2 The doctor will call you to gather more information or provide helpful advice
3 If the doctor approves your request, they’ll send the certificate quickly and securely to your email address.
Get started with hub.health today, opens in a new tab.
The information in this article is general in nature and should not replace personalised advice provided by your health professional.
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