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Are Online Medical Certificates Legal in Australia? A Complete Guide

Introduction

In today’s digital world, online healthcare services are becoming increasingly popular, including the issuance of medical certificates. But many Australians wonder: Are online medical certificates legal in Australia? The answer is yes, but certain conditions must be met to ensure their validity.

This guide explores the legal status of online medical certificates in Australia, the requirements for legitimacy, and what you should know before obtaining one.

What Is an Online Medical Certificate?

An online medical certificate is a document issued by a registered medical practitioner after a telehealth consultation (via phone or video). It serves as proof of illness or medical incapacity for work, school, or other obligations.

Are Online Medical Certificates Legal in Australia?

1. Legality and Recognition

Yes, online medical certificates are legally recognised in Australia if they comply with the following criteria:
✅ Issued by a registered medical practitioner with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
✅ Based on a genuine medical assessment, even if conducted via telehealth.
✅ Contains essential details such as the doctor’s name, qualifications, date of issue, and signature.

2. Telehealth Consultations and Medical Certificates

Since the rise of telehealth services, the Australian government has recognised online consultations as legitimate medical assessments. Under Medicare, doctors can conduct phone or video consultations and issue medical certificates as long as they follow professional guidelines.

3. Employer and Legal Acceptance

Most employers, schools, and government agencies accept online medical certificates. However, they may verify:

  • The doctor’s AHPRA registration.
  • The authenticity of the document (digital signatures or verification codes).
  • Whether the certificate was issued after a valid consultation.

What Should an Online Medical Certificate Include?

To be legally valid, an online medical certificate must contain:
🔹 Doctor’s full name and AHPRA registration number
🔹 Date of consultation and issue
🔹 Medical assessment details (without revealing personal health info)
🔹 Duration of medical leave
🔹 Doctor’s signature or digital verification method

Are There Risks with Online Medical Certificates?

While online medical certificates are legal, some risks include:
🚨 Scam websites – Only use trusted telehealth services with AHPRA-registered doctors.
🚨 Non-recognition by employers – Some workplaces may require an in-person consultation.
🚨 Fraudulent claims – Falsifying medical certificates is illegal and may lead to disciplinary action or fines.

How to Get a Legal Online Medical Certificate in Australia

1️⃣ Choose a trusted telehealth provider (e.g., Instant Consult, Qoctor, or Doctors on Demand).
2️⃣ Book a video or phone consultation with a licensed doctor.
3️⃣ Get assessed and receive your digital certificate via email.
4️⃣ Verify that the certificate contains the necessary legal details.

FAQs

1. Can I get a medical certificate without seeing a doctor?

No, a genuine consultation (via telehealth or in person) is required. Any service offering certificates without an assessment is not legal.

2. Do employers have to accept online medical certificates?

Most employers accept online medical certificates, but some may have specific policies requiring in-person visits.

3. Can pharmacists issue online medical certificates?

Yes, some pharmacists can issue absence-from-work certificates for minor illnesses, but only for short-term leave.

4. Is it illegal to fake a medical certificate?

Yes, falsifying a medical certificate is considered fraud and can result in serious penalties.

5. Are there free online medical certificates?

No, legitimate medical certificates require a consultation with a registered doctor, which usually involves a fee.

Conclusion

So, are online medical certificates legal in Australia? Yes, as long as they are issued by an AHPRA-registered doctor following a valid medical assessment. If you need one, always choose reputable telehealth services to ensure your certificate is legitimate and widely accepted.

What people are saying about My Med Cert

Testimonials

Kane5/5
My consult with Matt from MyMedCert was really helpful. He took the time to talk with my about my situation and provide guidance on how I could improve my health. Much more than I expected and am quite grateful.
Jarmahn5/5
Really great service, very simple and helpful! Highly recommend! 😊
Stella5/5
Exceptional doctor that did my consult, i've always just chosen random online medical companies for my doctors certificates however will be staying with you guys after such a great experience. Excited for the app!

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact us.

Can you do retrospective medical certificates?

Yes. Perhaps the majority of the medical certificates issued are, in fact, retrospective because you, the patient, are often too sick to get to the doctor at the time you need the certificate. We can date the certificate the day of the consultation and state the dates you were unwell within the certificate if this is deemed appropriate by the attending doctor. Many services don’t offer this, and some who do will only retrospect a day or so. If your My Med Cert doctor believes it appropriate, we can retrospect a certificate a week or more. Be aware, however, that your consulting doctor may request some evidence.

No, because backdating is illegal. What this really means is the doctor stating the consult occurred a day earlier than it actually did. Technically, this is lying and is illegal. However, we do retrospective medical certificates.

A My Med Cert medical certificate is only $29.

If you require an extension within 7 days, you’ll get the next one at 20% off.

There are over 50 telehealth services in Australia that provide medical certificates. Of these, about ten only provide tick and flick, or asynchronous care, which the Medical Board of Australia does not support, as it is, frankly, dangerous and illegitimate medicine for you, the patient. Of the remaining 40 or so that provide “real-time” consultations, at least five have non-doctors providing an “absence certificate”. This is legally different to a medical certificate because it is not supplied by a medical doctor but rather by a nurse or a pharmacist. Of the remaining 35 or so, their prices range from about $25 to $100 for a consultation (the average price is around $43 for a one- to two-day medical certificate only). Because these services also provide general consultations, you are left to compete with other patients who often need much more time with the doctor and, therefore, may have extended wait periods. My Med Cert is one of the cheapest services that provides legitimate medical certificates with less wait time.

We have created an easy-to-use portal to order your medical certificates, which are QR code-verified and trusted by childcare services, schools, employers and others.

Creating an account allows us to quickly action your certificate request.

You can log in at any time to access your past medical certificates.

We are Australian doctors, and My Med Cert is proudly owned and operated in Australia.

While other medical certificate providers utilise these types of practitioners online, they can only provide an absence certificate, not a medical certificate, which is legally different and may be invalid for your needs.

We only have doctors providing legitimate medical certificates after a proper medical consultation.

My Med Cert platform is one of, if not the most secure, telehealth services available, having gone through rigorous testing and approvals from government agencies.

With most other services, yes, you would. But not with My Med Cert. We understand that these things often come in pairs/multiples and we do not want to double-dip into your pocket.

For example: If you have an ill child and you are staying home to care for them, we can do the medical certificate for you and your child in the same consultation.

Patient care and follow-up are important to us. Other services provide so little follow-up care that different doctors working for the same telehealth service might not even know that you’ve been seen previously by another doctor from the same service. However, one of the benefits of having a regular GP you see in person is having that hub of care. Your regular face-to-face GP is in a unique position in terms of the medical care model to coordinate various aspects of healthcare for you and pick up things earlier that may be missed otherwise. However, with the lack of GPs in Australia only set to worsen and the number of sick days Australians take each year, having a legit, professional medical certificate service online can help. But we don’t want to leave your regular GP out of the loop.

Let us know, we can fix it. However, we endeavour to have all of your information correct the first time.

Our doctors are not simply providing a medical certificate service, but a thorough medical consultation.

Because at My Med Cert, we endeavour to only have doctors who will conduct thorough medical consultations, ensuring the medical certificate that is provided is legitimate, legal and appropriate.

Not a worry. We can still have a consultation and, if appropriate, issue a medical certificate, but we will encourage you to find a regular GP in person.

We do not issue “clearance” or return-to-work certificates. These should be issued after an in-person assessment to determine whether you are thoroughly well enough to return to work.

My Med Cert also does not do Centrelink certificates or complete other forms for things such as University, Insurance purposes, or cancellation of memberships. We do not do driver authorisation certifications. We advise you to attend your regular GP in person if you require these.

Another benefit of using MyMedCert is that we understand sometimes you need an extension of your certificate because you haven’t quite recovered fully. At MyMedCert we offer a reduced rate if you return within 7 days for this purpose.

Online Medical Certificates

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About My Med Cert

We are doctors that care about your health and believe you should be able to get medical certificates quickly when needed.

We offer a low price when compared to other medical certificate services.

There are other telehealth services out there that offer a variety of different services, including prescriptions, consultations, mental health care plans, etc. This all takes time, and for someone simply wanting a medical certificate, it doesn’t help to be placed in a queue with other patients and have to wait an hour or more.

At My Med Cert, that’s all we do – medical certificates. Quick and straightforward, reducing wait times for you. If you are unhappy with our service for any reason, we would like to hear from you so we can make any necessary changes to improve our service.
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