Only if you have supporting evidence. A medical certificate is always dated on the day the clinician writes it. It can say you were unfit for work or study on an earlier day, such as yesterday, only if you have supporting evidence, for example a hospital discharge summary, pathology results or notes from an earlier consultation, and the clinician is satisfied it’s clinically appropriate. That’s never guaranteed. If you’re still unwell today, a certificate can cover today if the clinician decides it’s appropriate.
The rules at a glance
- Date: every certificate is dated on the day it’s written. We never put an earlier date on a certificate.
- Earlier days: a certificate can cover days before it was written only if you provide supporting evidence and the clinician is satisfied it’s clinically appropriate.
- Without evidence: a certificate can only cover the day of your consultation and the days after it, up to 10 days.
- If a certificate isn’t issued: 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. If you have no evidence for the days you need, check your options below before you pay.
What counts as supporting evidence?
Supporting evidence is a record, made at the time, showing you were unwell on the earlier day. For example:
- a hospital or emergency department discharge summary
- pathology or imaging results
- notes or a letter from an earlier consultation with another health practitioner
The clinician decides whether the evidence is enough. Mention it in the symptom details on the form and talk the clinician through it on the call. If they need a copy, they’ll tell you how to send it.
Why can’t a certificate just be backdated?
A medical certificate records what a clinician has assessed. Professional codes for Australian doctors and nurses require certificates to be honest and accurate, so a clinician can only certify days they can support. That’s why your certificate shows the date it was written, and only includes earlier days when there’s evidence for them. For more detail, read our guide to backdated medical certificates.
Sick yesterday but better today? Your options
- Tell your employer. Under the Fair Work Act, you need to let your employer know you’re taking sick leave as soon as possible. That can be after the leave has started.
- Ask what evidence they need. Your employer can ask for evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person that you were unwell. A medical certificate and a statutory declaration are both examples, unless your award, agreement or workplace policy says otherwise. Read more about when your employer can ask for a medical certificate.
- If you have supporting evidence, request a certificate and tell us about it on the form.
- Next time, request a certificate on the day you’re unwell. We’re open 7am–9pm, 7 days a week including public holidays, Brisbane time.
Still unwell today?
Request a certificate as usual. The 1–2 day certificate ($24.95) can cover today, or today and tomorrow. The multi-day certificate ($34.95) covers 3 to 10 days. Tell the clinician when your symptoms started. Most requests are reviewed within 30 minutes during opening hours. Not sure which one you need? Compare all our online medical certificates.
Medical certificate for yesterday FAQs
Can I get a medical certificate for yesterday?
Only with supporting evidence, and it can’t be guaranteed. Your certificate is always dated on the day the clinician writes it. It can cover yesterday only if you have supporting evidence, such as hospital or pathology records or notes from an earlier consultation, and the clinician is satisfied it’s clinically appropriate.
Can an online medical certificate be backdated?
No certificate from us is ever given an earlier date. It’s always dated on the day it’s written. What a clinician can do, with supporting evidence, is state that you were unfit on earlier days. Without evidence, the certificate can only cover the day of your consultation and the days after it. Read our guide to backdated medical certificates for more.
What counts as supporting evidence?
A record made at the time that shows you were unwell, such as a hospital or emergency department discharge summary, pathology or imaging results, or notes from an earlier consultation with another health practitioner. The clinician decides whether it’s enough to cover the earlier day.
What if I don’t have any evidence for yesterday?
A certificate can’t cover yesterday. If you’re still unwell today, the clinician can consider a certificate for today. If you’ve recovered, ask your employer whether a statutory declaration is acceptable: the Fair Work Ombudsman lists it as an example of acceptable evidence. Please don’t request a certificate only for days you can’t support, because the fee isn’t refunded just because a certificate wasn’t issued.
Can I get a medical certificate for yesterday and today?
If you were unwell yesterday and still are today, choose the 1–2 day certificate and explain this on the form. Today can be covered if the clinician decides it’s appropriate. Yesterday can only be included if you have supporting evidence.
Can I get a medical certificate for last week?
The same rule applies however long ago it was. Earlier days can only be covered with supporting evidence and the clinician’s agreement, and the certificate is still dated on the day it’s written. For an illness that lasted more than two weeks, see your GP.
How long do I have to give my employer a medical certificate?
The Fair Work Act doesn’t set a deadline for giving evidence, but your award, enterprise agreement or workplace policy might. You do need to tell your employer you’re taking leave as soon as possible, and say how long you expect to be away. If your employer asks for evidence and you don’t provide it, you may not be paid for the leave.
Will my employer accept a statutory declaration instead?
Often. Under the Fair Work Act, the evidence has to satisfy a reasonable person that you were genuinely unwell, and the Fair Work Ombudsman gives medical certificates and statutory declarations as examples. Your award, agreement or workplace policy can say what type of evidence it needs, as long as that’s reasonable.
Is the fee refunded if the clinician can’t cover yesterday?
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.
Sources: our Terms and Conditions, clauses 11.1–11.3; Fair Work Ombudsman, Notice and medical certificates (checked 17 October 2026); Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) section 107. General information only, not legal advice.
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.