How to Verify a Medical Certificate in Australia
A practical guide for employers and HR — how to confirm any medical certificate is genuine, and how to verify a Doctors Note certificate in seconds with its QR code and reference number.
To verify a medical certificate, confirm the issuing doctor’s AHPRA registration and check the certificate’s details against the issuer. A Doctors Note certificate is fastest — scan its QR code or enter the reference number at doctorsnote.com.au/verify, and you instantly see the issuing doctor, date and reference confirmed in seconds, without calling the clinic.
Why verify a medical certificate?
Under the Fair Work Act 2009, a medical certificate from an AHPRA-registered practitioner is accepted evidence for personal (sick) and carer’s leave. Verifying it protects everyone: it confirms the certificate is genuine, that a registered doctor issued it, and that there is an audit trail if the absence is ever questioned. Fake or altered certificates are a real risk — a quick check removes the doubt.
How to verify any medical certificate
Any valid Australian medical certificate names the issuing practitioner and their AHPRA registration number. To verify one:
- Find the practitioner’s detailsLocate the issuing doctor’s name and AHPRA registration number on the certificate.
- Check AHPRA’s public registerSearch that registration on AHPRA’s public register at ahpra.gov.au — it confirms the doctor is currently registered to practise.
- Confirm the detailsCheck the certificate states the patient’s name and the specific dates of unfitness. A certificate does not need to disclose the diagnosis to be valid.
How to spot a questionable certificate
| Genuine certificate | Worth a closer look | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Names an AHPRA-registered practitioner | No named doctor or registration number |
| Verification | Has a QR code / reference that resolves online | No way to independently check it |
| Details | Consistent fonts, dates and formatting | Mismatched fonts or altered-looking text |
| Source | Verifiable on the issuer’s own domain | Emailed image with no verifiable link |
If a certificate cannot be independently verified, that alone is a reasonable basis to ask the worker for verifiable evidence — which is exactly what a QR-coded certificate provides.
How to verify a Doctors Note certificate
Every Doctors Note certificate is built to be verified — it carries a unique reference number and a QR code. To confirm one:
- Scan or enter the referenceScan the QR code, or enter the reference number at doctorsnote.com.au/verify.
- See the result instantlyYou will see the certificate’s status, the certificate type, the issuing GP (Dr Rupinder Singh Walia, FRACGP, AHPRA MED0001647256) and the issue date.
- Privacy preservedYou will not see the patient’s diagnosis — that stays private under the Australian Privacy Principles.
The check takes seconds and confirms authenticity without a phone call. Verify a certificate now.
The CASI verification layer
Behind every Doctors Note certificate is CASI, our clinical governance system. Every certificate is reviewed by one named GP and logged with a full audit trail — the date of application, the date of review, the reference and the QR code. That is why a Doctors Note certificate stands up if questioned: there is an identified doctor and a verifiable record behind it. See our clinical process & governance.
Verifying certificates across your workforce
If your organisation handles absences at scale, the Workforce Certificate Pilot gives your team consistent, verifiable certificates from one accountable GP, with verification built in. Request the pilot pack to see how it works.
How employers verify a medical certificate
How does an employer verify a medical certificate in Australia?
An employer verifies a medical certificate by confirming the issuing doctor’s AHPRA registration on the public register at ahpra.gov.au, and by checking any QR code or reference number on the certificate. A Doctors Note certificate is confirmed instantly at doctorsnote.com.au/verify, showing its status, type, issuing GP and issue date without revealing the diagnosis.
Can an employer check if a medical certificate is genuine?
Yes. An employer can confirm a certificate is genuine by verifying the named doctor’s AHPRA registration and checking the certificate’s QR code or reference number. If a certificate cannot be independently verified, that alone is a reasonable basis to ask the employee for verifiable evidence.
Can an employer call the doctor to verify a certificate?
An employer can contact the issuing practice, but a doctor cannot disclose your medical details without consent. With a Doctors Note certificate there is no need to call: the QR code and reference number confirm authenticity online in seconds, while your diagnosis stays private under the Australian Privacy Principles.
How do I verify a Doctors Note certificate?
Scan the QR code on the certificate, or enter its reference number at doctorsnote.com.au/verify. You will instantly see the certificate’s status, type, the issuing GP (Dr Rupinder Singh Walia, FRACGP) and the issue date. The diagnosis is never shown, keeping medical information private.
Verify a Certificate
Confirm any Doctors Note certificate in seconds by its QR code or reference number. Need a verifiable certificate yourself? Standard certificates are reviewed by an AHPRA-registered GP for $14.95 flat.
Verify a Certificate