Medical Certificate for Chest Infection and Bronchitis
Coughing too much to work? Speak with a GP about a medical certificate for bronchitis or a chest infection, issued if clinically appropriate.
Book a real-time consult with an AHPRA-registered GP today. If the GP determines that a certificate is clinically appropriate, it's issued and emailed the same day
Full refund if not clinically appropriate • Your diagnosis stays confidential
How Long a Chest Infection Can Affect Your Work
Healthdirect says bronchitis is usually caused by viruses, such as cold or flu viruses. The cough may last 2 to 3 weeks, and for some people up to 8 weeks.
That doesn't mean you'll need weeks away. The dates for your sick leave certificate depend on how unwell you feel now and what your job involves, as the GP sees it.
- A runny or stuffy nose a few days before the chest congestion
- A cough that brings up yellow or green phlegm
- A sore chest from all the coughing
- Fever, headache, aches and tiredness
What a Phone Consult Can and Can't Check
A GP on the phone can't listen to your chest. Lung Foundation Australia says doctors may order imaging if they suspect pneumonia, which a phone call can't include.
A GP can take a careful history. How many days have you been unwell? Is the fever settling or returning? Are you breathless walking to the kettle, or only when you cough? Is the phlegm changing colour? Answers like these shape whether a certificate is supported or whether an in-person check comes first.
Cough Duration Versus the Infection Itself
A cough often outlasts the illness behind it. Lung Foundation Australia notes the infection usually lasts 3 to 10 days, while the cough may continue for several weeks. So a lingering cough alone isn't always a reason to take more time off. Fever, tiredness and breathlessness count alongside the cough. Fitness for work can improve before the cough settles.
What Bronchitis Is and Isn't
Chest infections come in more than one form, and the labels get mixed up.
| Acute bronchitis | Pneumonia | Chronic bronchitis | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Airway infection | Lung infection | A form of COPD |
| Usual cause | Viruses | Virus or bacteria | Usually smoking |
| Time frame | Cough 2 to 3 weeks | Varies | Long term |
Healthdirect calls pneumonia a possible complication of bronchitis. It describes chronic bronchitis as a long-term lung condition usually related to smoking. This page covers the short-term kind.
Who Is More Likely to Get Bronchitis or Pneumonia
Healthdirect names older people, young children, smokers, people with lung conditions and people with weakened immunity as higher risk of acute bronchitis.
So are people breathing in irritating chemicals and people who aren't vaccinated against flu, pneumococcal disease, or whooping cough.
Its pneumonia page says pneumonia can be life-threatening for infants under one year, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people over 70.
If you sit in one of those groups, say so early in the consult.
How to Get Started
We operate as a platform that connects you with trusted Australian medical practices.
Book Your Certificate
Select the sick leave medical certificate type on the OMC Health booking page, and tell us a bit about your situation.
Consult with an AHPRA-Registered GP
Receive Your Certificate If Approved
Ready to get started?
Book a real-time consult with an AHPRA-registered GP. From $9.99.
Working in Close Contact Roles While Recovering
Chest infections spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and viruses can linger on surfaces such as doorknobs. Healthdirect's chest infection page advises against going to work while you feel unwell.
What to Tell the GP
This matters more in childcare, aged care, healthcare and retail.
Close contact roles
Tell the GP if your role involves close contact with vulnerable people.
Fumes at work
If your job exposes you to fumes, tell the GP. Healthdirect lists irritating chemicals as a risk factor.
How the consult runs
Consults begin by phone, and the GP can switch to video.
Under 18
For anyone under 18, the consult is by phone or video, as the GP decides, and a parent or guardian takes part.
Breathlessness That Needs In-Person Assessment
Your GP may recommend an in-person review if they can't safely assess you by phone.
Go to an emergency department
Healthdirect advises this if you're very short of breath, if breathing hurts, or if there's blood in your phlegm.
See a doctor
See a doctor if you have a fever of 38°C or higher, or if your symptoms keep getting worse.
Watch for pneumonia
Pneumonia is the worry here. Healthdirect lists fever, cough, and shortness of breath as signs. A bluish tinge to the lips, or confusion, needs emergency care. A cold or flu that worsens may point to pneumonia.
Call 000 in an emergency. OMC Health does not provide emergency care.
If someone has severe difficulty breathing, call triple zero for an ambulance.
A Chest Infection From Day One to Week Three
Be honest about how you're coping, not how you think you should be. A certificate only covers what the assessment supports.
Day One
Say someone wakes with a blocked nose, then develops a cough and a fever.
Day Four
By day four they can't manage a full shift. After hearing about the fever and the job, the GP may support a short certificate.
Day Ten
By day ten the fever is gone, but the cough stays. Fitness for work looks different now, and a further certificate may or may not be supported. Healthdirect says to see a doctor if the cough lasts longer than 2 to 3 weeks.
The certificate reflects how you are on the day, not the illness label.
No Lab Diagnosis Needed
You don't need a diagnosis from a lab before you book. You need an honest account of your symptoms.
Check your award
Your award or agreement may add rules, so check them.
Telling Your Employer
The Fair Work Ombudsman says employees must tell their employer as soon as possible. Notice can come late, even after leave has started.
Acceptable evidence
That page also lists acceptable evidence. A medical certificate qualifies, and so does a statutory declaration.
General information only, not a substitute for personalised advice; speak with a qualified practitioner.
What Your OMC Health Certificate Includes
If a certificate is clinically appropriate, the issued document includes the key information needed to identify the consultation, certified period and issuing practitioner.
Assessment date
Date of the GP consultation.
Certified period
Dates covered by the certificate.
Practitioner details
Issuing GP's name and professional details.
Practice details
Details of the issuing partner practice.
Signature
Digital or written practitioner signature.
Verification
QR code or unique verification details.
Focused on the Evidence Needed
The certificate's purpose is to document the GP's assessment and the relevant period or work capacity. Clinical details are included only where appropriate to the consultation and document purpose.
Why Book With OMC Health
AHPRA-registered GPs, available 7 days a week
Phone consult, no need to leave home while unwell
Certificate emailed the same day if approved
Full refund if the GP determines a certificate is not clinically appropriate
Your diagnosis stays confidential, the certificate does not disclose it to your employer
Simple, transparent pricing
- Reviewed by AHPRA registered GP
- Delivered on the same day if approved
- Secure and confidential
- Full refund if GP declines
- No hidden fees
Issued through our partner practice network
Your consultation is conducted by an AHPRA-registered GP from one of 20+ partner practices across Australia. The certificate is issued under that GP's own registration.
Frequently asked questions
View all FAQsNot exactly. Healthdirect describes bronchitis as an infection of the airways, and pneumonia as an infection in the lungs. Both count as chest infections. You don't need to know which one you have before booking. The GP asks about your symptoms and decides whether you need in-person tests.
It depends on your workplace and how you feel. Some workplaces want evidence for a single sick day. If the cough stops you from sleeping, talking on the phone or working safely, the GP can assess whether you need a break from work. A mild cough while you feel well may not need a certificate.
You can book another consult. The GP reassesses how you're going and decides whether more time off is supported. Since a cough can last weeks, they may suggest returning to work with it instead. If it lasts beyond 3 weeks, Healthdirect suggests seeing your doctor to check for complications.
That's between you and your employer. If you feel well enough to work from home, you may not need a certificate. If fever, exhaustion, or coughing fits stop you from working anywhere, your GP can assess whether a certificate is appropriate. The certificate covers fitness for work, not where you work.
Yes, but it's a different document. A carer's leave certificate covers time off to look after an unwell family member. Carer's consults are held by phone or video, and the GP may use video if your child needs to be observed. If your child is struggling to breathe, call 000 instead of booking.
Asthma
Medical certificate for asthmaWhen an asthma flare-up, not an infection, is the main problem at work.
Browse Conditions
Browse all conditionsSee the other conditions a GP can assess for a sick leave certificate.
Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a virus, and the cough can last two to three weeks or longer. A GP can assess how your symptoms affect your work and, where appropriate, certify time off. Severe breathlessness or pain when breathing needs urgent in-person care.