Is it possible to get a medical certificate for a mild illness?

A doctor may issue a medical certificate for a mild illness if, following assessment, the condition affects the person's ability to work or poses a risk to others. For example, a doctor may issue a medical certificate if a person with a mild illness (such as a heavy cold) poses a risk to colleagues' health or is significantly less able to perform their job due to the nature of the illness.

Can students benefit from the online medical certificate system?

Indeed, students from universities and institutes may access telehealth consultations, subject to service availability and institutional requirements. Nonetheless, check with your university whether it has its own "Special Consideration" forms for missed exams.

Can a carer make a request online?

Yes. If you are caring for a family member, you can schedule an appointment to request a Carer's Certificate, provided the patient is present.

Am I required to have a Medicare card to be eligible?

Not at all. Prime Medic is a private billing service. A Medicare card is just one of the means of identification, and hence, you can still use the service if you are paying privately (e.g., international students or tourists) even without a ????????card.

Eligibility Rules & Scenarios for Medical Certificates

Introduction

While telehealth has significantly increased healthcare accessibility, it cannot be regarded as a "one-size-fits-all" solution. Also, patients inquire about specific eligibility criteria and common scenarios for medical certificate fraud prevention, including who qualifies for a digitally administered assessment and which conditions are suitable for remote care.

In Australia, getting a medical certificate is mainly based on your legal status (as an employee, student, or carer) as well as the nature of your illness. Although doctors on digital health platforms are easily accessible, they still issue any document based on their medical judgment.

This content will help you understand the requirements for an online medical certificate and the most common uses of telehealth. It will also cover the safety boundaries of telehealth.

For a complete overview of how the digital certification system operates, see the main article titled "Online Medical Certificates."

Who Can Request an Online Medical Certificate?

In practice, anyone who feels unwell can schedule a telehealth appointment. Nevertheless, the generated document serves different purposes for various groups.

Categories of Eligibility

Employees: Under the Fair Work Act 2009, employees may be eligible for paid or unpaid personal or carer's leave depending on their employment type. Employers may request reasonable evidence, such as a medical certificate, to support an absence.
Students: University and school students must submit a medical certificate (sometimes referred to as "special consideration form" proof) if they miss an exam or a mandatory attendance requirement due to illness.
Carers: People who care for ill family members can request a certificate to verify their absence from work.
Travellers: Individuals who require documentation for travel cancellation or fitness-to-fly (typically, specific forms are required).

Clinical Discretion is Paramount: Merely qualifying as an "eligible employee" does not mean that you will be issued a certificate. It is necessary to attend a consultation where an AHPRA-registered doctor will assess your condition and provide an opinion on whether you may be unfit for work, based on the information available during the consultation.

All consultations are conducted in line with applicable Australian healthcare regulations and professional standards. You can verify our doctors' credentials by checking our guide to AHPRA registration checks or by reviewing our quality compliance framework.

Everyday Situations Where Certificates Are Given

Telehealth can be really helpful for regular, non-emergency, short-term cases that don't need a physical examination, for instance, cases where a doctor can reasonably assess the situation based on the patient's history, symptoms, and visual information provided during the consultation.

Examples of Situations That Are Usually Talked about in Telehealth Consultations

Telehealth consultations are option for short-lived, non-urgent medical problems when a doctor can make a diagnosis solely based on the information given during the consultation. For instance:

Cold or flu symptoms for a short time, which cause one to be unable to function normally
General viral symptoms, where one may be allowed to have rest or take leave from work or study for a short time
Symptoms of the digestive system, such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea, may make one unable to go to work or school
Headache or migraine symptoms that make it difficult to concentrate or use the computer screen
Symptoms related to the menstrual cycle, which may affect normal activities for a short time
Minor musculoskeletal complaints, such as a sprain or strain, where one is less mobile or uncomfortable

It is up to the doctor's professional judgement, the nature of the symptoms discussed, and whether telehealth is considered suitable for the case to decide whether a medical certificate should be issued.

The Inappropriateness of a Certificate

Not everything can be done through telehealth. Among the scenarios whereby a doctor may decline to give a certificate via an online platform and recommend that you have a face-to-face consultation for your own safety are:

Medical Emergencies: Symptoms like chest pain, difficulty in breathing, massive bleeding, or stroke should be dealt with by calling the 000 emergency department or seeking urgent medical care at an emergency department.
Long-Term Absences: Typically, a couple of weeks of a worker's absence is not sufficient for a video consultation. In most cases, these long-term care plans require a physical GP to oversee the patient's care and provide the necessary documentation.
Restricted Medications: Telehealth consultations through this service are not suitable for requests involving restricted medications or controlled substances, which are managed under separate regulatory requirements.
Backdating: In most cases, doctors cannot issue medical certificates for dates before the consultation, in accordance with professional and legal standards. Hence, date requests for the document before the consultation are almost always rejected to maintain the SOPs.

Employer and Institutional Requirements

When you present a digital certificate, employers or institutions may look for specific details when reviewing the medical certificate eligibility criteria.

What Employers Look For

Readability: Digital PDFs are more readable than handwritten notes.
Medical Practitioner Details: The doctor's name, provider number, and signature should be visible.
Timestamps: The exact period of unfitness should be clearly indicated.
Authentication: Some organisations use QR codes or verification links to confirm authenticity, depending on their internal processes

Submission Norms

Most new-age organisations have no problem with employers sending PDF files via email or by uploading them through an HR portal. Printing a document is generally unnecessary if your employer has a stock policy for hard copies.

If privacy is an issue for you, employers can check the authenticity of a certificate without knowing your diagnosis. Find out who can validate your Online Medical Certificate and read our strict privacy policies.