Medical certificate

A medical certificate or doctor's certificate is a written statement from a physician or another medically qualified health care provider which attests to the result of a medical examination of a patient. It can serve as a sick note (UK: fit note) (documentation that an employee is unfit for work) or evidence of a health condition.

An aegrotat (/ˈiːɡroʊtæt/; from Latin aegrotat 'he/she is ill') or 'sick note' is a type of medical certificate excusing a student's absence from school for reasons of illness.

Medical certificates are sometimes required to obtain certain health benefits from an employer, to make an insurance claim, for tax purposes, or for certain legal procedures. Medical certificates are used to indicate eligibility of activity, such as the use of disabled parking. Medical certificates can also be used to describe a medical condition a person has, such as blindness. Medical certificates are often used to certify that someone is free of contagious diseases, drug addiction, mental illness, or other health issues.

Health criteria are often required when making an application for something, such as an eye examination to get a driver's license. Other times medical criteria are presented voluntarily by an applicant in a self-assessment, without either a doctor or access to the person's medical record. Specific health criteria or medical history are required for certain jobs.

In the United States, most aviators are required to possess a valid medical certificate that certifies sound health as part of the requirements for piloting an airplane or helicopter. While airman certificates are issued for life, the medical certificate expires and must be renewed periodically in order continue flying privileges. Sport pilots may use a valid state driver's license in place of a medical certificate, and glider and hot air balloon pilots are not required to obtain them.

A Fit to Fly Health Certificate (also known as Fit to Fly Letter or Fit for Travel Health Certificate) is a type of doctor's note assessing the risk of an individual that they might pose to either themselves or others during air travel. This type of letter was traditionally most relevant for pregnant passengers—particularly while in the third trimester or pregnancy. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, many airlines now require a Fit to Fly Certificate for international travel to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infections through air travel. It can be issued by most general practitioners or via telemedicine services like QuickMD.

Since January 26, 2021, the CDC requires a Documentation of Recovery letter for all travelers to the United States who had a documented COVID-19 infection within the past 3 months but have now recovered. This type of letter, which needs to be signed by a licensed healthcare provider, needs to state that the patient has met the criteria to end quarantine and is no longer infectious and cleared to travel. This document may be obtained through a telemedicine service like QuickMD or by an in-person general practitioner. A Documentation of Recovery may also be required by some schools, universities or employers for persons who have recently tested positive for COVID-19.

The term aegrotat (abbreviated as aegrot) is used primarily in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations. In the context of British undergraduate degrees a student who is too ill to finish may be awarded an aegrotat degree if the student otherwise would have passed exams or other requirements.