Online Medical Certificates

Yes. AHPRA-registered practitioners assess every request. Medical certificates are issued only when clinically appropriate and are valid in Australia under the Fair Work Act 2009. Hola medical certificates are legit documents that are acceptable for sick or carer’s leave. Read the Australian Medical Association’s guidelines here.

Yes. Online medical certificates are legally valid in Australia when issued by an AHPRA-registered doctor or nurse practitioner after a clinical assessment. The Fair Work Ombudsman accepts certificates issued online in the same way as certificates provided during an in-person consultation. 

To be valid, a medical certificate should include the practitioner’s name and signature (digital signatures are accepted if they meet Australian Medical Association standards), the date of assessment, the duration of leave, and accurate patient details. 

Under the Fair Work Act 2009, employers must accept valid online medical certificates at face value. A valid certificate entitles an employee to paid sick leave even if the diagnosis is not shared. Employers should not contact the issuing practitioner unless genuine clarification is required. Note that some employers may still prefer an in-person certificate — it is always worth checking your workplace policy before submitting. 

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 after 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. An Australian-registered practitioner reviews your case — typically within 15 minutes*. 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.

Yes. Hola Health uses 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. 

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  

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. 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 – 

• Issued by an AHPRA-registered practitioner 

• Based on a clinical assessment 

• Includes the practitioner’s signature 

• Includes an AHPRA number 

• Issued by an Australian provider 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. 

Employers can ask for evidence to support your leave. An online medical certificate issued after a clinical assessment may be accepted in the same way as an in-person certificate under the Fair Work Act 2009. 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. 

• 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.

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.

Yes, you can request a medical certificate for stress leave or mental health-related absence via an online assessment. Your request will be reviewed in minutes, and a certificate will be issued if clinically appropriate after assessment.