Medical Certificates via Telehealth Consultations

This page covers medical certificates specifically in the context of a 13CURE telehealth consultation: what can be issued, how it's verified, what to expect. For the broader rules on certificate types beyond telehealth, our dedicated Medical Certificates guide covers that ground in full.

What Certificates Can Be Issued Online

Where a doctor judges it clinically appropriate, a telehealth consultation can result in a standard fitness-for-work or fitness-for-school certificate, or a carer's certificate covering a short period of leave to care for a family member. As with any consultation, the doctor decides based on your specific situation rather than issuing one as a matter of course.

Verification and Record Keeping

Every certificate issued after a 13CURE telehealth consultation comes from an AHPRA-registered doctor and includes what you'd expect on a valid Australian medical certificate: the consultation date, the doctor's details and registration, and the period covered. The consultation itself gets documented and retained as part of your clinical record, consistent with how 13CURE verifies and records every telehealth appointment.

How Employers Can Validate Certificates

Employers or schools wanting to confirm a certificate's authenticity can usually do so by contacting 13CURE directly with the certificate details. Because every certificate ties back to a documented consultation with a registered doctor, it's verifiable the same way an in-person clinic's certificate would be.

How Long Does It Take to Receive Your Certificate?

Where a certificate is appropriate, it's typically issued shortly after the consultation ends and sent to you electronically, often within the same session, rather than needing a separate follow-up appointment.

Can a Telehealth Certificate Be Backdated?

Generally, no. A medical certificate reflects the doctor's assessment on the day of the consultation itself and can't be backdated to cover a period before you were actually seen. Were you unwell a day or two earlier but didn't consult a doctor at the time? Explain that timeline clearly during your telehealth appointment so the doctor can address it properly in the certificate they issue.

What Information Appears on a Telehealth Medical Certificate?

A standard certificate includes the consultation date, the period it covers, the doctor's name and AHPRA registration, and a general statement of unfitness for work, school, or duties as clinically assessed, without private diagnostic detail beyond what's necessary. It doesn't guarantee acceptance by every employer or institution. Some workplaces run their own specific policies on which certificate formats they'll accept, so check yours in advance if you're unsure.

Certificates for Study and University Commitments

The same process applies to students who need documentation to cover a missed exam, an assignment extension request, or a tutorial absence. Universities and TAFEs generally have their own process for lodging a medical certificate for a specific assessment, so check your institution's requirements in addition to getting the certificate itself. Some institutions also require the certificate to be submitted within a set number of days, so it pays to act promptly once you've recovered enough to do so.

What If Your Employer Requires a Specific Certificate Format?

Occasionally a workplace will ask for a certificate on a particular template or with specific wording. Tell the doctor during your consultation if your employer has specific requirements. They'll issue what's clinically appropriate and, where reasonable, in a format that meets your workplace's standard documentation expectations.

Multiple Certificates for the Same Illness

If an illness runs longer than your original certificate covered, you can book a follow-up telehealth consultation to extend the documentation, provided the doctor assesses that it's still clinically warranted. Each certificate reflects a genuine reassessment rather than an automatic extension, so be prepared to talk through how your symptoms have progressed since the first consultation.