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Can I get a doctor’s note without seeing a doctor?

Can I get a doctor’s note without seeing a doctor?

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Updated:
July 4, 2025
3m read

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Part 1

Can I get a doctor’s note without seeing a doctor?

Yes, you can obtain a doctor’s note without an in-person visit or video. Generally, it’s legal to see a doctor asynchronously when the asynchronous method of healthcare delivery meets the same standards of care as in-person visits and complies with relevant laws and regulations. Healthcare services that lend themselves especially well to an asynchronous (store-and-forward) telehealth model

  1. Low-acuity acute e-visits – doctors notes, uncomplicated UTI, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, etc.
  2. Dermatology – image-based diagnosis and treatment plans.
  3. Mental-health care – message-based psychotherapy and asynchronous telepsychiatry consults.
  4. Chronic-disease management – diabetes, hypertension, asthma, migraine, etc. via remote monitoring/e-visits.
  5. Cardiac remote monitoring – heart-failure and resistant-hypertension programs reviewing daily vitals.
  6. Tele-contraception & women’s sexual- and reproductive-health prescribing.
  7. PrEP initiation & STI prevention / follow-up.
  8. Tele-ophthalmology – diabetic-retinopathy photo screening in primary care and retail settings
  9. Sleep medicine – home sleep-apnea testing and ongoing CPAP data review
  10. Teledentistry & remote orthodontics – intra-oral photo exams and aligner tracking
  11. Chronic and post-operative wound care – photo-based progress checks by wound specialists
  12. Telelactation & postpartum support – secure text/photo consults with IBCLCs
  13. Genetic counseling – asynchronous video/text consults on test results and carrier screening

Doctors' notes fall under low-acuity e-visits and these can be accommodated by  filling out a secure asynchronous telehealth form wherein a state-licensed doctor reviews your info and sends a signed PDF note, usually within a few minutes that you can present to your work or school.

Can I get a doctor’s note without seeing a doctor?

Yes, you can obtain a doctor’s note without an in-person visit or video. Generally, it’s legal to see a doctor asynchronously when the asynchronous method of healthcare delivery meets the same standards of care as in-person visits and complies with relevant laws and regulations. Healthcare services that lend themselves especially well to an asynchronous (store-and-forward) telehealth model

  1. Low-acuity acute e-visits – doctors notes, uncomplicated UTI, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, etc.
  2. Dermatology – image-based diagnosis and treatment plans.
  3. Mental-health care – message-based psychotherapy and asynchronous telepsychiatry consults.
  4. Chronic-disease management – diabetes, hypertension, asthma, migraine, etc. via remote monitoring/e-visits.
  5. Cardiac remote monitoring – heart-failure and resistant-hypertension programs reviewing daily vitals.
  6. Tele-contraception & women’s sexual- and reproductive-health prescribing.
  7. PrEP initiation & STI prevention / follow-up.
  8. Tele-ophthalmology – diabetic-retinopathy photo screening in primary care and retail settings
  9. Sleep medicine – home sleep-apnea testing and ongoing CPAP data review
  10. Teledentistry & remote orthodontics – intra-oral photo exams and aligner tracking
  11. Chronic and post-operative wound care – photo-based progress checks by wound specialists
  12. Telelactation & postpartum support – secure text/photo consults with IBCLCs
  13. Genetic counseling – asynchronous video/text consults on test results and carrier screening

Doctors' notes fall under low-acuity e-visits and these can be accommodated by  filling out a secure asynchronous telehealth form wherein a state-licensed doctor reviews your info and sends a signed PDF note, usually within a few minutes that you can present to your work or school.

Part 2

Why do people want a note without an in-person visit?

When you're sick, the last thing you want to do is leave your bed, sit in traffic, and wait in a clinic just to get a piece of paper confirming you’re not well. Getting a doctor’s note should be easy, but in reality, it is more complicated. Here’s are some of the shortcoming of traditional options:

  • Lost wages: Taking unpaid time off to get a note to confirm your off is doubly taxing in that you lose income opportunities and you have to pay to get the note.
  • No primary care or difficulty scheduling: Not everyone has a regular doctor, and those who do may have to wait for days to get an appointment.
  • Contagious illness and counter productive to recovery: Visiting a clinic while sick risks infecting others or, worse, picking up something new. Additionally, when you’re sick you should be at home focusing on your recovery.
  • Childcare challenges: Parents can’t always leave home, and dragging kids to urgent care isn’t ideal.
  • You just don’t feel well enough to go anywhere:  Whether it's fatigue, fever, or nausea, sometimes staying home is the only option.

It’s expensive - Getting a note from an urgent care clinic can be expensive and getting one from your PCP could get pricey depending on the quality of your coverage and your cop-pay.

Why do people want a note without an in-person visit?

When you're sick, the last thing you want to do is leave your bed, sit in traffic, and wait in a clinic just to get a piece of paper confirming you’re not well. Getting a doctor’s note should be easy, but in reality, it is more complicated. Here’s are some of the shortcoming of traditional options:

  • Lost wages: Taking unpaid time off to get a note to confirm your off is doubly taxing in that you lose income opportunities and you have to pay to get the note.
  • No primary care or difficulty scheduling: Not everyone has a regular doctor, and those who do may have to wait for days to get an appointment.
  • Contagious illness and counter productive to recovery: Visiting a clinic while sick risks infecting others or, worse, picking up something new. Additionally, when you’re sick you should be at home focusing on your recovery.
  • Childcare challenges: Parents can’t always leave home, and dragging kids to urgent care isn’t ideal.
  • You just don’t feel well enough to go anywhere:  Whether it's fatigue, fever, or nausea, sometimes staying home is the only option.

It’s expensive - Getting a note from an urgent care clinic can be expensive and getting one from your PCP could get pricey depending on the quality of your coverage and your cop-pay.

Part 3

3 totally legit ways to get a doctor’s note

If you need a legitimate medical excuse,  you’ve got a few options. Here's how they compare:

Asynchronous telehealth (aka online form-based visits)

This is the fastest, simplest option. You fill out a secure form describing your symptoms, and a licensed doctor reviews it. And often in under 10 minutes, your doctor's note will be sent to you. No phone calls. No waiting rooms. Great for colds, flus, migraines, or just feeling run down. This is why TrustMedical exists, to help you focus on your health and recovery.  If you're still unsure how online notes stack up across use cases and providers, check out The Ultimate Guide To Doctor’s Notes - 2025 for a full overview.

Live video visits

If your employer insists on seeing your face or you need a more complex note, this is the next step up. It’s more involved, but still way more convenient than going to a clinic.

Urgent care clinics

Sometimes, in-person visits are necessary (e.g., injuries, infections, work-related incidents). But for a standard sick note? It’s the slowest and most expensive way to get it done.

Step-by-step: Getting a note asynchronously (i.e. without seeing a doctor live) takes less than 15 min

  1. Pick a HIPAA-compliant provider
    Choose a trusted telehealth platform that works with licensed doctors and has clear terms and no hidden fees.
  2. Fill out the intake form.
    Provide basic information like symptoms, what state you are in, and why you’re requesting the note.
  3. The doctor reviews your request.
    A licensed doctor evaluates your answers and confirms whether a medical note is appropriate without video or chat needed.
  4. Receive your doctor’s note.
    If approved, you’ll get a clean, professional-looking doctor’s note via email. It includes the provider’s name, practice clinic, and digital signature.
  5. Download and email to HR.
    Save the file and email it directly to your supervisor, HR rep, or professor.

3 totally legit ways to get a doctor’s note

If you need a legitimate medical excuse,  you’ve got a few options. Here's how they compare:

Asynchronous telehealth (aka online form-based visits)

This is the fastest, simplest option. You fill out a secure form describing your symptoms, and a licensed doctor reviews it. And often in under 10 minutes, your doctor's note will be sent to you. No phone calls. No waiting rooms. Great for colds, flus, migraines, or just feeling run down. This is why TrustMedical exists, to help you focus on your health and recovery.  If you're still unsure how online notes stack up across use cases and providers, check out The Ultimate Guide To Doctor’s Notes - 2025 for a full overview.

Live video visits

If your employer insists on seeing your face or you need a more complex note, this is the next step up. It’s more involved, but still way more convenient than going to a clinic.

Urgent care clinics

Sometimes, in-person visits are necessary (e.g., injuries, infections, work-related incidents). But for a standard sick note? It’s the slowest and most expensive way to get it done.

Step-by-step: Getting a note asynchronously (i.e. without seeing a doctor live) takes less than 15 min

  1. Pick a HIPAA-compliant provider
    Choose a trusted telehealth platform that works with licensed doctors and has clear terms and no hidden fees.
  2. Fill out the intake form.
    Provide basic information like symptoms, what state you are in, and why you’re requesting the note.
  3. The doctor reviews your request.
    A licensed doctor evaluates your answers and confirms whether a medical note is appropriate without video or chat needed.
  4. Receive your doctor’s note.
    If approved, you’ll get a clean, professional-looking doctor’s note via email. It includes the provider’s name, practice clinic, and digital signature.
  5. Download and email to HR.
    Save the file and email it directly to your supervisor, HR rep, or professor.

Part 4

Is getting a note asynchronously really legal? State-by-state licensure rules

Yes. Asynchronous telehealth visits are completely legal as long as:

  • The doctor is licensed in the state you’re physically in at the time of the request.
  • The platform you use follows HIPAA compliance and valid record-keeping.

Most legit providers match you with an in-state doctor automatically. And thanks to expanded telehealth laws in many states, asynchronous visits are recognized by most employers.

If you want the deeper legal dive, I found a helpful breakdown here: Are online doctor’s notes valid?

Cost comparison for asynchronous visits vs. other options (real ranges, 2025)

If you’re only looking for a quick, reliable doctor’s note, the pricing differences between services are kind of wild. I compared several legit options, and here’s what I found:

TrustMedical is the most affordable asynchronous option. I found no video call, no membership fees, and no “surprise billing.” Just a quick intake form, a licensed doctor review, and a signed note in your inbox in minutes.

Common employer objections (and how to address them)

Some workplaces are still catching up to modern telehealth norms. Here’s how to respond to the most common pushbacks:

  • "It must be signed by a doctor."
    It is. Notes include a digital signature with the doctor's name and practice clinic.

  • "We require a live visit."
    That’s not a legal requirement. Asynchronous visits are valid across U.S. states.

  • "Doctor must be local."
    All notes are reviewed and signed by in-state licensed physicians.

You can check our full breakdown here.If you want to learn more about employer verification.

Is getting a note asynchronously really legal? State-by-state licensure rules

Yes. Asynchronous telehealth visits are completely legal as long as:

  • The doctor is licensed in the state you’re physically in at the time of the request.
  • The platform you use follows HIPAA compliance and valid record-keeping.

Most legit providers match you with an in-state doctor automatically. And thanks to expanded telehealth laws in many states, asynchronous visits are recognized by most employers.

If you want the deeper legal dive, I found a helpful breakdown here: Are online doctor’s notes valid?

Cost comparison for asynchronous visits vs. other options (real ranges, 2025)

If you’re only looking for a quick, reliable doctor’s note, the pricing differences between services are kind of wild. I compared several legit options, and here’s what I found:

TrustMedical is the most affordable asynchronous option. I found no video call, no membership fees, and no “surprise billing.” Just a quick intake form, a licensed doctor review, and a signed note in your inbox in minutes.

Common employer objections (and how to address them)

Some workplaces are still catching up to modern telehealth norms. Here’s how to respond to the most common pushbacks:

  • "It must be signed by a doctor."
    It is. Notes include a digital signature with the doctor's name and practice clinic.

  • "We require a live visit."
    That’s not a legal requirement. Asynchronous visits are valid across U.S. states.

  • "Doctor must be local."
    All notes are reviewed and signed by in-state licensed physicians.

You can check our full breakdown here.If you want to learn more about employer verification.

Part 5

Get Your Board Certified Doctor’s Note In 10 Minutes

Complete our 3 minute intake, a doctor licensed in your state reviews your case, and if approved your doctors note is delivered straight to your email.
Get your doctor’s note now
Board Certified
Emergency Med
Emergency Medicine Physician Turned Entrepreneur: Innovator in Healthcare Solutions.
How many patients already got their doctor’s note?
4.9/5 on Trust Pilot
Get your Doctor’s Note
100% Risk Free

Money Back Guarantee!
Emergency Medicine Physician Turned Entrepreneur: Innovator in Healthcare Solutions.
Board Certified
Emergency Med
Emergency Medicine Physician Turned Entrepreneur: Innovator in Healthcare Solutions.

Still have questions? Find answers here:

Do I need a live video visit?

Not for common colds, minor injuries, or caregiving absences. Intake + async doctor review is medically sufficient and employer‑compliant.

Does the note need a wet signature?

No. A digital signature is acceptable if it includes the provider’s name, credentials, and date of service. Federal and most state guidelines recognize e-signatures as legally binding.

Is my medical info safe?

Legit services use AES‑256 encryption, store minimal data, and will never share diagnosis specifics with your employer. AES-256 is HIPAA compliant. Not only is this secure encryption, but also complies with all healthcare standards.

Is this service compliant with privacy laws?

Yes, all our notes are fully HIPAA compliant. They include only essential work-related information without disclosing private medical details unless specifically requested. Our board-certified physicians ensure complete privacy compliance.

Is this service legally compliant?

Yes! We only work with board certified doctors and we match you to a provider who is licensed in your state. Every provider thoroughly reviews your intake and then makes a decision on whether to approve a doctors note. Employers love us because of our strict adherence to all laws as well as the fact that our service is powered by real people who you can get on the phone with quickly to verify the authentcity of our notes.

How many patients already got their doctor’s note?
4.9/5 on Trust Pilot
Get your Doctor’s Note
100% Risk Free

Money Back Guarantee!

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