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How Employers Verify a Telehealth GP Certificate, AHPRA Check and QR Code Guide
25 Sept 2026
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Phone vs Video: Which Telehealth Consultations Need a Camera?
Most OMC Health consultations are phone-only. Video is needed for mental health assessments and some physical injury reviews. Here is the full breakdown.
5 min readMedically reviewedAustralia-wide
A medical certificate consultation does not always require video if a doctor can safely and appropriately assess your situation by phone. The suitable consultation method depends on your symptoms, clinical needs and the doctor's judgement. If a visual examination or further assessment is necessary, the doctor may recommend video, an in-person appointment or another service.
What AHPRA Says About Phone vs Video
AHPRA's October 2025 guidelines do not mandate video; they require a 'genuine real-time consultation'. A real-time phone call meets this standard for conditions that can be adequately assessed through audio alone. The key principle is that the GP must directly interact with the patient and exercise genuine clinical judgement. A questionnaire without a real call, phone does not meet this standard regardless of the medium.
When Phone Is the Default
For most certificate types, a phone consultation is the standard and appropriate mode. The GP can assess your symptoms, history and work capacity through a detailed phone conversation. AHPRA's October 2025 guidelines require a genuine real-time consultation, not specifically a phone call.
| Certificate type | Phone appropriate? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sick leave, flu, cold, gastro, sinusitis, UTI | Yes | Symptoms assessed by description, no visual needed |
| Sick leave, viral infections | Yes | Phone assessment sufficient for standard presentations |
| Sick leave, tonsillitis | Possible | Video preferred, GP can observe throat |
| Sick leave, COVID-19 | Yes | Symptom description sufficient |
| Carer's leave | No, but if GP allows only | Only if caring circumstances could be assessed by description |
| Student medical certificate | Yes | Academic impact assessed by description |
| Medical cancellation letter | Yes | Circumstances assessed by description |
When Video Is Required or Strongly Preferred
| Situation | Video required/preferred? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mental health, anxiety, depression, burnout, PTSD | Required | Affect, presentation, and demeanour inform the clinical assessment |
| Significant physical injuries, back, knee, shoulder | Strongly preferred | Mobility, posture and visible signs were observed |
| Skin conditions, dermatitis, rashes | Preferred | Visual inspection adds diagnostic value |
| Post-surgical review | Preferred | Wound appearance and mobility were observed |
| Tonsillitis, throat inspection | Preferred | GP can visually assess the throat and tonsils |
| Conjunctivitis | Preferred | Eye appearance was assessed visually |
| Carer's leave | Strongly Preferred | Doctor need to assess who you are going to care for and the condition. |
What If You Don't Have a Camera?
For most certificate types, this is not a problem; phone consultation is the default. If your specific situation requires video (mental health, significant injury) and you genuinely have no camera access, contact OMC Health when booking. The GP may be able to conduct an enhanced phone assessment or may recommend an in-person review instead.
Is a Phone Consultation Certificate Less Valid Than a Video One?
No. A certificate from an AHPRA-registered GP following a genuine phone consultation carries exactly the same legal validity as one from a phone consultation. The mode of communication does not affect the certificate's standing under the Fair Work Act 2009 or AHPRA's guidelines. The clinical quality of the assessment is what matters.
Book a Consultation
If you need a certificate, OMC Health provides real-time AHPRA-registered GP consultations 7 days a week. From 9.99. Full refund if the GP determines a certificate is not clinically appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
For most certificate types, no, phone consultation is the standard. Video is required for mental health assessments and preferred for physical injuries where visual observation adds clinical value. Most sick leave, carer's and student consultations use phone only.
Yes. AHPRA's October 2025 guidelines require a genuine real-time consultation, which includes phone calls. A real-time phone conversation where the GP conducts a genuine clinical assessment meets the standard.
Video is required for mental health assessments, including anxiety, depression, burnout and PTSD, because seeing the patient provides important clinical information. Video is also preferred for physical injuries and skin conditions where visual observation adds value.
Yes. Certificate validity depends on the GP's AHPRA registration and genuine clinical assessment, not whether camera was used. A phone consultation certificate carries the same legal weight under the Fair Work Act 2009.
Contact OMC Health when booking to explain your situation. For most standard certificate types, phone is sufficient. For those requiring video, the GP may conduct an enhanced phone assessment or recommend an in-person review.
