Fit to Work Certificate
A fit to work certificate is a doctor's letter confirming you are medically fit to return to work after illness, injury, or surgery.
Many UK employers require a fit to work certificate before allowing an employee to return, particularly after extended sick leave or a significant medical condition. Get yours online from a GMC-registered GP, same day, direct to your inbox.
✔ Accepted by UK employers across all sectors, includes QR verification.
✔ Return to work, early return, phased return & pre-employment.
✔ Full refund if the GP cannot issue.
Get my clearance 
Receive a full refund if we can’t provide a certificate
How It Works
Complete a short online questionnaire
No appointment required. Complete a short medical questionnaire and upload any supporting evidence.
Doctor reviews your evidence
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your submission individually. No automated approvals.
✔ Full refund if the GP cannot issue.
Receive your certificate
Certificates arrive most same day, all by 9AM next morning, delivered as a signed PDF direct to your inbox.
What our patients say
Verified reviews from real MedicalCert patients
Jon
March 2025
Quick turnaround, hassle free
Good experience overall. Lots of details to provide but the interface was simple and easy to use. Turnaround time was very quick and hassle free.
Verified Patient
May 2025
Request at 10pm, certificate by 9am
Excellent service. Request was made at 10pm and turned around by 9am the next day. Very well written using the information provided.
Verified Patient
June 2025
Updated certificate sent free of charge
Amazing experience — got what I asked for in a short period of time, then they sent me an updated one with dates provided free of charge.
Medical Clearance Letter for Return to Work
After a period of sick leave, many employers ask for medical clearance before you return — a signed letter from a GMC-registered doctor confirming you are now fit to resume your duties. MedicalCert issues return-to-work clearance letters same day, online. No GP appointment or waiting room required.
This is not a sick note. A sick note certifies that you are unfit to work. A return-to-work clearance letter certifies that you have recovered and are fit to resume your role — with or without adjustments. The two documents serve opposite purposes and are often needed in sequence.
When You Need a Return-to-Work Clearance Letter
An employer’s request for medical clearance before return is common after longer absences, certain types of illness, or where the role involves safety-critical responsibilities:
After extended sick leaveYour employer requires a doctor’s letter confirming recovery before reinstating you — particularly common after four weeks or more of absence.
After mental health absenceReturn from depression, anxiety, stress, or burnout often requires a clearance letter — particularly where phased return arrangements need documenting.
After injury or surgeryRecovery from a physical condition where the employer needs medical confirmation you can safely perform your duties before resuming work.
Safety-critical rolesRoles involving machinery, driving, patient care, working at height, or regulated substances often require formal medical clearance before return is permitted.
Phased return documentationReturning part-time or with temporary adjustments — a clearance letter documenting the recommended arrangement gives the employer a clinical basis for the plan.
New employment medical clearanceHealthcare, education, transport, and social care employers sometimes require a medical clearance letter as part of pre-employment or onboarding checks.
Sick Note vs Return-to-Work Clearance — What Is the Difference?
Sick note / fit note
Issued at the start of or during sick leave. Certifies you are not fit for work. Required after 7 calendar days of absence. Used to claim SSP.
Needed at the start of absence.
Return-to-work clearance letter
Issued when you have recovered. Certifies you are fit to resume your duties — fully, on a phased basis, or with specific adjustments. Satisfies the employer’s pre-return requirement.
Needed at the end of absence.
If you are currently unwell and need a sick note first, see our sick note page. Many people need both documents in sequence — a sick note to certify the absence, and a clearance letter to confirm recovery when they are ready to return.
What Your Clearance Letter Contains
Certificate contents
- ✔Your full name, date of birth, and contact details
- ✔Confirmation that you are medically fit to return to work
- ✔The date from which you are cleared to return
- ✔Whether you are fit for full duties or a phased / adjusted return
- ✔Any recommended adjustments or restrictions, where applicable
- ✔GMC registration number of the signing doctor
- ✔Unique QR code for employer verification
Information for Employers
What this certificate confirms
This letter confirms fitness to return based on the patient’s online consultation with a GMC-registered UK doctor. It is appropriate for straightforward return situations where the employee has recovered from illness or injury and needs medical documentation of that recovery for employer records.
For complex or long-term cases: Where ongoing conditions require detailed workplace assessment, employers may prefer a formal occupational health referral. A work adjustment certificate is more appropriate where the focus is on documenting specific role modifications, reasonable adjustments, or a structured phased return plan.
Verification: Every MedicalCert letter includes the issuing doctor’s GMC registration number and a unique QR code. Employer verification can be completed instantly by scanning the QR code or checking the GMC register at gmcuk.org.
How to Get Your Clearance Letter — Same Day
Complete the online consultation
Describe your condition, the period of sick leave, how you have recovered, and whether any limitations remain. If a phased return or adjustments are needed, include this. Upload supporting evidence if available.
GMC-registered doctor reviews your case
One of our experienced GPs reviews your submission the same day. If clearance cannot be clinically supported, you receive a full refund — no exceptions.
Letter delivered to your inbox
Your signed clearance letter arrives same day (submit before 9pm) or by 9am the following morning. Forward directly to your employer or HR. The QR code allows instant verification of the doctor’s credentials.
Need documentation of ongoing conditions or adjustments rather than a clean return clearance? See the related certificates below.
Return-to-Work Clearance FAQs
Back to Work Medical Certificate
A back to work medical certificate is a formal letter from a GMC-registered doctor confirming you are medically fit to resume your duties after a period of illness, injury, or surgery. Many employers require a back to work medical certificate before allowing an employee to return — particularly after extended sick leave or a significant health episode.
Unlike a standard sick note for work which covers absence, a back to work medical certificate specifically confirms fitness to return. It may also include any recommended adjustments to duties, hours, or working conditions to support a safe return to work.
Get your back to work medical certificate online today — no appointment needed, issued by a GMC-registered GP, same day direct to your inbox.
Clinically Reviewed By
Dr Maria Knobel
Medical Director, Nobel Medical LLC
GMC Registration
► 7495073 – View on GMC register