Online Medical Certificates

Yes. Medical certificates issued via an online telehealth platform are legally valid in Australia under the Fair Work Act 2009 when issued by an AHPRA-registered practitioner. Hola medical certificates are legit documents that are acceptable for sick or carer’s leave. Read the Australian Medical Association’s guidelines here.

Yes. Doctor’s certificate, medical certificate, sick certificate, dr certificate, and med cert all refer to the same document — different people use different names for it. What matters is that it is issued by an AHPRA-registered practitioner following a proper clinical assessment. Hola Health issues all of these online, starting from $14.90.

An online medical certificate is typically the fastest option. With Hola Health, you fill in a short secure form and an AHPRA-registered practitioner reviews your case — typically within 15 minutes* of submitting your request. If approved, your certificate is emailed to you shortly after. No appointment needed, available 24/7.

*Based on typical wait times; may vary by demand and practitioner availability. Certificates are issued only if clinically appropriate following assessment — no certificate is guaranteed.

The cost of an online medical certificate varies based on the type and duration: 

• Student medical certificate (1 day): From $14.90  

• Work medical certificate (1 day): From $16.90  

• Carer’s leave certificate (1 day): From $16.90  

• Multi-day medical certificate (2+ days): From $39  

All certificates are reviewed by AHPRA-registered practitioners. 

With Hola Health, the process is straightforward. Fill in a quick, secure form from your phone or computer, and an AHPRA-registered practitioner will review your case. If clinically appropriate, your certificate is emailed to you shortly after your assessment — no travel, no waiting room, no appointment needed. Available 24/7 from anywhere in Australia, starting at $14.90.

Yes. In Australia, online medical certificates are valid under the Fair Work Act 2009. To be accepted, they must meet the same standards as a traditional in-clinic note. Criteria for a valid certificate (like Hola Health med certs) include –

• AHPRA Registered: Issued by a practitioner (GP/ Nurse Practitioner) registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
• Clinical Review: Issued after a real clinical assessment (video, phone, or digital review), never by an automated bot.
• Essential Details: Must display the practitioner’s name, signature, and AHPRA registration number.
• Australian Entity: Provided by a legitimate Australian platform with a valid ABN and ADHA registration.

Find more details about medical certificates that employers actually accept.

Any medical certificate when approved and issued by an AHPRA-registered health practitioner, either online with Hola or via in-person consultation, is typically accepted. It meets all the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009. However, some employers or universities might have specific policies regarding work sick leave. It’s always best to check their guidelines.

Hola Health is also happy to validate certificates for employers or institutions (that is, confirm that the certificate is real). All they need to do is contact support@hola.health, and we can chat to them for you.

More info on why Hola medical certificates accepted in Australian employers.

Yes, many workplaces require a medical leave certificate even for a single day of sick leave to approve your time off.

Under the Fair Work Act 2009, employers have the right to request evidence to support an employee’s need for leave. This evidence should be sufficient to convince a reasonable person of the need for the absence. While the Act does not specify a precise timeframe for providing evidence, it emphasises that it should be provided as soon as practically possible. This means that employees are expected to inform their employers promptly about their need for leave and provide supporting documentation in a timely manner.

Unfortunately, we do not provide a backdated medical certificate. In Australia, doctors are generally discouraged issuing a backdated Dr certificate. It is considered unethical and may have legal implications. Doctor’s certificates are intended to provide an accurate reflection of a patient’s health status at the time of consultation. Therefore, doctors are expected to issue certificates with the date of assessment to maintain integrity and accuracy.

Here’s details on why backdated medical certificates are not allowed.

At Hola, we do not provide medical clearance certificates for any reason, certificates for Centrelink, workers’ compensation, or legal matters (e.g., bail hearings), COVID exemptions, fit-to-fly, or returning to work.

Here’s the list of medical certificates not provided by Hola.

• Patient name
• Doctor details include name and AHPRA registration number.
• Dates on which the patient was unable to attend work or study
• The date on which the certificate is issued
• The medical practitioner’s electronic signature

Note: To protect your privacy, your diagnosis is not mentioned in our medical certificates.

Yes. Hola Health is an AHPRA-compliant Australian telehealth service. We use secure, encrypted platforms to protect your personal details. As an Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) registered provider, Hola Health adheres to strict privacy protocols set out in the Australian Privacy Principles.

Yes, you can request a medical certificate for stress leave or mental health-related absence via a telehealth assessment. Your request will be reviewed by an AHPRA-registered practitioner, and a certificate will be issued if clinically appropriate following assessment.