How to Get a Real Doctor's Note for Work

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Medical excuse notes for illness, injury, FMLA, or disability

Co-authored by Jeffrey Fermin and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: May 6, 2025 Fact Checked

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Getting a Doctor's Note

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What should it say?

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When to Get One

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Can you get a note without seeing a doctor?

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Do employers verify sick notes?

When you're sick and have to take time off work, your employer may request a doctor's note to prove you were ill. The only legal way to obtain a doctor's note for work is to make an appointment with a physician and undergo an examination. Find out how to start that process and the most important elements to include in your medical excuse note. Plus, we'll also cover important reasons to get real a doctor's note, from contracting a contagious illness to taking family medical leave.

How can I get a doctor's note for work?

Schedule and attend an in-person or virtual appointment with your doctor of choice. Tell them your symptoms and ask them to write you a doctor's note. The note should include the date the doctor saw you, the date they approve you to return to work, whether you can perform heavy or light duty, and their signature.

Section 1 of 5:

Obtaining a Doctor's Note for Work

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1
Make an appointment with a doctor. It's up to you if you want your appointment to be in-person or take place via phone or video chat. As long as you see or speak to a licensed medical professional, you can obtain a doctor's note.
- A doctor you see in person will give you your note as a piece of paper, whereas a physician you speak to virtually may send your note as a PDF or some other type of digital file.
2
Ask the doctor for a doctor's note excusing you from work. In most cases, your doctor will comply, though they may set your return date for sooner or later than you wanted. It's up to the physician to decide when you should return to your duties at work based on your symptoms and the nature of your visit.ref>https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/articles/a-guide-to-getting-a-doctors-note-for-work-when-sick-or-disabled</ref>
- Ensure the note is signed by the doctor before giving it to your employer. The note isn't valid unless it has a real doctor's signature on it, so don't leave their office or your virtual appointment before you obtain the full, signed document you came for.

Section 2 of 5:

What should a doctor's return to work note say?

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The note should include the date and capacity you can return to work. The date to return should be the day the doctor feels you'll be sufficiently recovered from an injury, illness, or surgery. Capacity refers to whether you can resume your regular duties or need to work under restrictions, like weightlifting limits. The note may also state that you have a valid reason for missing work, but does not have to explain the reason, illness, injury, or disability you're dealing with.^{[1]
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- If you see a doctor for your annual checkup and you're not sick, your doctor may excuse you for that day and set the next day as your return to work date. But if you seek treatment for an illness like the flu, the doctor may push your return to work date forward a few days to give you time to recover at home.

Section 3 of 5:

When to Get a Doctor's Note for Work

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According to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, employers have the right to require their employees to provide doctor's notes when they're out sick for more than 1 day. The purpose of the note is to prove they were out sick and may be the key to getting paid for the time you took off.^{[2]
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US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
U.S. government agency that enforces civil rights in the workplace

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2
Get a doctor's note when you're sick with an infectious disease. A doctor can usually provide a timeline for when you can expect to no longer be contagious. For example, when you have the flu, you can spread it to other people up to 5-7 days after you get sick, so your return date should be after that.^{[3]
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- Stay home if you contract a highly contagious disease like the flu, COVID-19, Ebola, RSV, or whooping cough. For a full list of contagious diseases, visit the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases website.
3
Ask for a doctor's excuse note when you're injured and can't work. If you suffered an injury, like a twisted ankle or a broken arm, that prevents you from performing your regular duties at work, get a doctor's note restricting your duties.
- For example, your doctor may restrict you from lifting over a certain weight for a few weeks until your injury is healed.
If you were injured or got sick on the job, your doctor can assess your health and provide a medical report that states the extent of your injuries or illness, a treatment plan, and a recovery time. This will help the insurance provider decide how much to pay to cover things like your lost wages and medical expenses.^{[4]
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USA.GOV
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The Department of Labor in the US allows employers to ask for a medical certification whenever you ask for FMLA leave.^{[5]
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US Department of Labor
Federal department responsible for promoting the wellbeing of workers

Go to source} The Family Medical Leave Act provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year to allow employees to recover from serious illnesses or care for sick or injured family members.^{[6]
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US Department of Labor
Federal department responsible for promoting the wellbeing of workers

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If you have a disability that prevents you from working at full capacity, your employer has the right to ask you for a doctor's note. Under the American Disabilities Act (ADA), they can also ask you for additional medical documentation to prove your case. ^{[7]
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US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
U.S. government agency that enforces civil rights in the workplace

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Section 4 of 5:

Can you get a sick note without seeing the doctor?

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No, you can't get a doctor's note for work without seeing a physician. The most important information on the note – the return to work date and the doctor's signature – can only be obtained by attending an appointment with a doctor virtually or in person.
- Avoid faking a doctor's note for work. Not only can your employer find out it's fake if they call the doctor's office, but forging a doctor's signature is a federal crime. The punishment for forgery can involve up to $1000 in fines, 1 year in prison, and 3 years of probation. ^{[8]
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Section 5 of 5:

Do employers verify doctor's notes?

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They can't, however, ask the doctor's office directly for information about you, such as the reason for the visit and what treatments you were prescribed. The only way they can obtain your health details from the doctor is by getting your authorization first.^{[9]
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US Department of Health and Human Services
Federal department responsible for improving the health and well-being of Americans

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