You can request a medical certificate online for university or TAFE from $24.95. An AHPRA-registered clinician phones you to assess your symptoms. If a certificate is clinically appropriate, it’s emailed to you as a PDF that you can attach to a special consideration, extension or absence application. Check your institution’s rules before you request one: some need their own form, or need you to be assessed by a certain date. Students under 16 need a telehealth consult instead.
Need a certificate for work instead? See all our online medical certificates.
At a glance
- For: university and TAFE students, and school students aged 16 or over
- Price: $24.95 for 1–2 days · $34.95 for 3 to 10 days. There’s no card surcharge: the price shown is the price you pay.
- Who assesses you: an AHPRA-registered nurse practitioner or doctor, by phone
- Hours: 7am–9pm, 7 days a week including public holidays, Brisbane time
- Medicare: not covered, so there’s no rebate
Before you request: check your institution’s rules
Universities, TAFEs and schools each set their own rules for special consideration and absences. Before you request a certificate, check:
- Whether they need their own form. Some institutions ask the practitioner to complete their own form, sometimes called a professional practitioner certificate or health professional report, instead of accepting a standard certificate. If yours does, mention it in the symptom details when you request a certificate. If a certificate is clinically appropriate, the clinician can complete your institution’s form at no extra cost, and they’ll tell you on the call how to send it to them.
- When you need to be assessed. Many institutions want you to be assessed while you’re unwell, often on or before the exam or due date, and set a deadline for applying. Our certificates are always dated the day they’re written, so request one as soon as you’re unwell.
- What the certificate needs to say. Some institutions want to know how your illness affected your study. Your symptoms are left off our certificates unless you choose to include them on the form, so tick that option if your institution needs it.
- Whether they accept telehealth certificates. Some institutions have rules about certificates from telehealth services. Every request with us includes a phone assessment with a registered clinician.
How it works
- Complete the form. Choose University, TAFE or School as what you’re unable to attend, the first day and how many days you need, and describe your symptoms. If your institution needs your symptoms on the certificate, choose that option. You pay when you submit.
- Take the call. A clinician phones you to talk through your symptoms. Calls may come from a private number, so keep your phone nearby.
- Get your certificate. If the clinician decides a certificate is appropriate, it’s emailed to you as a PDF to upload with your application.
A certificate is only issued if the clinician decides it is clinically appropriate.
School students under 16
Children under 16 need a telehealth consult rather than a certificate request. A parent or guardian books the telehealth consult and stays with their child during it, and the clinician can provide a certificate during the consult if it’s clinically appropriate.
When this service isn’t right for you
- Emergencies: if you have chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding or think your life is at risk, call 000.
- Longer or ongoing illness: if a health condition is affecting your study for more than a couple of weeks, see your GP. Your institution’s disability or accessibility service can also help you set up a longer-term plan.
- More than 10 days: book a telehealth consult or see your GP.
Student medical certificate FAQs
Can I get a medical certificate for uni online?
Yes. Request a 1–2 day or multi-day certificate and choose University as what you’re unable to attend. An AHPRA-registered clinician phones you to assess your symptoms, and if a certificate is clinically appropriate, it’s emailed to you as a PDF. It costs $24.95 for 1–2 days or $34.95 for 3 to 10 days.
Can I use an online medical certificate for special consideration?
Often, but check your institution’s rules first. Many universities and TAFEs accept a certificate from a registered health practitioner, but some require their own form, set rules about when you must be assessed, or have rules about telehealth certificates. We can’t guarantee any institution will accept a certificate.
My uni has its own special consideration form. Can you complete it?
Yes, at no extra cost. Mention the form in the symptom details when you request a certificate, and the clinician will tell you on the call how to send it to them. They’ll complete it if a certificate is clinically appropriate. Check the form’s instructions first, because some institutions need the practitioner to have assessed you on or before the exam or due date.
Can I get a medical certificate for an exam I’ve already missed?
Only with supporting evidence. Our certificates are always dated on the day the clinician writes them. A certificate can say you were unfit on an earlier day only if you have supporting evidence, such as hospital records or notes from an earlier consultation, and the clinician is satisfied it’s clinically appropriate. Many institutions also want you to have been assessed on or before the exam date. Read more about getting a medical certificate for yesterday.
Will my symptoms be on the certificate?
Only if you choose that on the form. By default, your symptoms are left off. Some special consideration applications need the practitioner to describe how your illness affected you, so check your institution’s rules and choose to include your symptoms if they’re needed.
Can I get a medical certificate for school?
Children under 16 need a telehealth consult rather than a certificate request. A parent or guardian books the consult and stays with their child, and the clinician can provide a certificate if it’s clinically appropriate. If you’re 16 or over, you can request a certificate yourself and choose School on the form.
How quickly will I get my certificate?
Most requests are reviewed within 30 minutes during opening hours: 7am–9pm, 7 days a week including public holidays, Brisbane time. That’s an average, not a guarantee. If you have a deadline, request your certificate as soon as you’re unwell rather than waiting until the due date.
How much does a student medical certificate cost?
There’s no separate student price. A 1–2 day certificate costs $24.95 and a multi-day certificate costs $34.95, paid when you submit your request. There’s no card surcharge: the price shown is the price you pay. Medical certificates aren’t covered by Medicare, so there’s no rebate.
How can my uni or TAFE check my certificate?
With your consent, your institution can confirm a certificate by contacting us through our Contact page. Anyone can also check the issuing clinician’s registration on the public register at ahpra.gov.au.
What happens if the clinician can’t issue a certificate?
The clinician will explain why and what to do next, such as seeing someone in person. The fee covers your clinical assessment, so it isn’t refunded just because a certificate wasn’t issued. This doesn’t affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. There are exceptions in clause 6 of our Terms: you’ll get a full refund if we cancel because no clinician is available, because of a technical problem, or because the clinician decides a telehealth consultation isn’t suitable or you need in-person care. If you email us to cancel and we confirm it before a clinician reviews your request, a refund can also be issued.
Clinically reviewed by Assoc. Prof. Christopher O’Donnell, Nurse Practitioner, FACN (AHPRA NMW0001453715). Last reviewed 17 October 2026.
A certificate is only issued if the clinician decides it is clinically appropriate. Review times are averages during opening hours (7am–9pm, 7 days a week including public holidays, Brisbane time) and aren’t guaranteed. Medical certificates aren’t covered by Medicare. There’s no card surcharge: the price shown is the price you pay. In an emergency, call 000.