Why We Wrote This Guide

We wrote this guide to make your life easier and painless when you need a doctor’s note

If you’re reading this, you’ve likely encountered frustrations when trying to get a doctor’s note for work or school. We wrote this guide because we know getting a doctors note can feel painful and expensive.

What getting a doctor’s note has traditionally meant for patients:

• Expensive - $150+ doctor’s visits or $500+ ER visits
• Time consuming - Long wait times at the clinic or waiting to see a doctor
• Inconvenient - Subject to doctors availability, sometimes days or weeks of waiting‍
• Stressful - Time and money start to weigh on you. You need a doctor’s note for work, but also don’t want to break the bank.

Getting a doctor’s note used to be a stressful, time-consuming process. Thankfully there are options that are easy and low cost.

Here is the TL; DR on the best way to get a doctor’s note online (60 s read)

1️⃣ Choose a HIPAA‑secure async doctor’s note provider like TrustMedical
2️⃣ Complete the 3‑minute intake form.
3️⃣ A doctor licensed in your state evaluates your intake & if approved, e‑signs.
4️⃣ Download the tamper‑proof Doctor’s Note in ≤10 min.
5️⃣ Give HR the built‑in verification phone #.

If you’re still a bit unsure, read on and we’ll give you the full scoop on the process. Here’s what you’ll learn in this guide

• ✅Why People Need Doctor’s Notes
• ✅How To Get A Doctor’s Note Online
  • TLDR for Online Doctor’s Notes
  • Available Options For How To Get A Doctor’s Note
  • Step by Step Process For Getting A Doctor’s Note Online
  • HR Regulations For Online Doctor’s Notes
  • Benefits Of An Online Doctor’s Note
  • Why Choose TrustMedical
• ✅FAQs

Whether you’re a worker, a student, or an HR professional managing the process, this guide has all the details you need.

Money‑back if your note is rejected.

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Why Do People Need Doctor’s Notes?

Doctor’s notes are typically required by HR departments or schools and play a role in verifying medical conditions and excusing time off for work or school.

Here’s why they’re commonly required:

• Workplace Needs: Employers often require a note to confirm an employee’s illness or injury, ensuring proper documentation for HR purposes.
• School Policies: Schools typically request doctor’s notes for absences that extend beyond a set number of days.  ‍
• Insurance Compliance: Notes may be necessary to initiate short-term disability or worker’s compensation claims. Please note that some services will not provide doctors notes for these kinds of requests due to the added liability. Please check whether your provider can accommodate these requests before paying for service.

With today’s fast-paced schedules and tight budgets, many people are looking for quicker, more affordable solutions to get these notes without visiting a clinic in person.

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How Do I Get A Doctor’s Note Online?

When asking a doctor for a sick note, it’s important to provide clear and accurate information about your situation. Be upfront about your symptoms, how long you’ve been unwell, and why you need the note. Most doctors are familiar with this process and can provide the documentation during your consultation, whether it’s in-person or through an online visit.

Why getting a doctor’s note online beats the waiting room

This is the single best option when you have a simple absence. Check out these statistics that prove our pint:

• Average urgent‑care bill for a simple doctor’s-note visit: $186
• Average time from check‑in to discharge: 1 h 47 m‍
• Average cost & time with async tele‑health at Trust Medical: $29.99 • 10 m

It’s obvious that getting a doctor’s note online (especially with TrustMedical) is a no brainer option. That said, we want to be thorough so let’s compare all the ways to get a note so you can pick confidently

Options for Obtaining a Doctor’s Note At A Glance

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⚠️ ER visits should be reserved for emergencies - If you’re dealing with chest pain, breathing issues, or severe injury, stop reading and call 911.*

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Cost Breakdown by Provider Type 

Here’s a bit more detail on why you might choose one of these options:

1. Traditional Clinic Visit: Visiting your primary care physician or a walk-in clinic is the most conventional way to obtain a doctor’s note. This method involves scheduling an appointment (or waiting for availability at a clinic), discussing your condition, and getting the note in-hand. While reliable, it can be time-consuming and may incur additional costs if the visit isn’t covered by health insurance. This is typically a good option if you require an in-person evalu
2. Telehealth Services: Telehealth platforms are a convenient alternative to in-person where you can get a doctor’s note online. Many services provide digital or printable doctor’s notes following your virtual visit. The speed and price of these services will vary by provider and whether or not the service is delivered live via video or asynchronously (no video and an online intake). This is ideal for basic absences and for someone who either can’t easily access a clinic or prefers not to as a function of time or price or other barriers. Ensure that the service you choose is legitimate and staffed with licensed medical professionals
3. Urgent Care Centers or Hospitals: If your situation requires immediate attention but isn’t an emergency, an urgent care center can also issue a doctor’s note after evaluating your condition. These centers provide walk-in services and may offer shorter wait times compared to going to your PCP. So if you require an in-person eval and you’re in a hurry this might be your best route.

 How To Get A Doctor’s Note Online

TrustMedical makes it extremely easy to get a doctor’s note online. TrustMedical is all about helping you get what you need so you can prioritize rest and recovery. 
If you are still curious read on for additional details on what to look for when getting a doctor’s note online!

Step 1 – Pick the right provider

It’s key to pick the right provider when getting a doctor’s note online. There are many scams and fake services out there and you want to make sure whatever you turn in is compliant and legitimate

Use this 8‑point checklist to vet and choose the right provider:

1. 🩺 Licensed healthcare providers in your state.
2. 🔒 Website states HIPAA‑compliant services or posts a BAA.
3. 💲 Price shown before you enter a credit card (≤ $29.99 for a simple note).
4. 📞 Live phone / email for HR verification (7 days a week).
5. 💬 Third‑party reviews (Google, Trustpilot) average ≥ 4 ☆.
6. ↩️ Refund promise if employer or school rejects.
7. 🕑 Turnaround time published (≤ 30 min).‍
8. 👨⚕️ Notes signed only by state‑licensed MD/DO/NP.

Pro tip: If your employer doesn’t require a live video, which most employers don’t and are usually only necessary for more complex situations, choose an asynchronous service—these services are lower cost, faster, and accepted by employers.

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Step 2 – Complete the 3‑minute intake or answer a doctor’s questions live

Once you’ve chosen a service, whether it requires a video consultation or its asynchronous your next step will be to complete a medical intake or answer a few questions for your doctor (if its a live call).

Typical questions you’ll answer:

• Symptoms & onset date
• Requested absence dates
• Employer or school name (optional)
• Existing conditions / medications
• Best phone / email

Fill out your intakes or answer these questions honestly; you are usually subject to the terms of service of the company, meaning your note will be invalid if you misrepresent the facts.

Step 3 – Doctor review & e‑signature

This process is different if you are using an asynchronous provider or doing a live video call.

How online asynchronous doctors note services work

• Your form routes to the first available doctor licensed in your state.
• They confirm your case qualifies for a simple absence note.
• If approved, they e‑sign with a timestamped digital certificate & embed their NPI + licence.
• If more detail is needed, you’ll get a secure message or a quick voice call—no extra fee.
• These approved notes are in your inbox in typically 10-15 minutes.

How a live call will work

• The doctor will ask any follow up questions based on your answers
• Determine if you qualify for a doctor’s note
• If approved, they will usually follow up with a doctor’s note when they are able. Times will vary by provider.

Step 4 – Receive, download, hand to HR

Once the doctor has approved your note, it’ll be issued to you. 

Asynchronous telehealth (no video)

• Doctor’s note arrives via encrypted link or secure email.
• Note includes all necessary information.
• Print or forward to HR. Let them know how they can verify the details of the note.

Telehealth (live video)

• Doctor will let you know when they are able to issue the note
• Time will vary by provider
• Employer verification process will vary by provider

Keep in mind that the availability and acceptance of doctor’s notes from different providers may vary depending on your workplace’s policies and your specific situation. Always double check before proceeding!

Will HR Accept A Doctor’s Note I Received From An Online Service?

Employers just want to know you’re not making up your reason for an absence. They typically are checking a few things if they want to verify the authenticity of your note.

The short answer is Yes—if it passes their 3‑point check:

1. Licence verification: They can verify the doctor’s credentials including their NPI + that they have an active state licence. Sometimes confirming their practice details is enough.
2. Exact dates and patient information: absence & return clearly stated and patient information matches.
3. Live verification: Someone answers the phone when they call to confirm the authenticity of the note. 

🔗 Need the full HR deep‑dive? Read How Employers Verify Doctor’s Notes

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Will HR Accept A Doctor’s Note If I Don’t Have A Live Consultation?

Yes—they are looking for the same three point check as with a regular telehealth service. The reason asynchronous services exist is to document simple absences (i.e. basic illness, medical appointments, caring for loved ones) and to do it in a way that’s convenient, hassle-free, and affordable.‍The reason this is acceptable is most of the information a doctor requires can be obtained via an intake form. As a result, doctors are able to process notes by simply reviewing your intake forms and determining whether or not you qualify for a note.

Why are online doctor’s note services that don’t have video compliant with legal regulations and HR policies? 

• Same medical and ethical standards - as in-person or live video visits. Licensed healthcare providers assess your condition and issue notes via email within minutes for qualifying situations
• Services will require you to attest that you are telling the truth -  Every medical intake form will require you to ascertain that the information you are providing is truthful. The same way its your responsibility to honestly represent the facts to your doctor on a live telehealth call, the same standard applies to filling out a medical intake form. That's why doctors are able to issue doctor's notes without a live call because they are simply collecting patient information and assuming that what you're saying is factual. As a result, it saves you time, money, and makes the process easier to do asynchronous visits.
• Do doctor's prefer to have live consultations or asynchronous visits when filling out doctor's notes? Emergency rooms, urgent care units, and doctor's offices are slammed with consultations that are serious and require their undivided medical attention. As a result, its beneficial for both the patient and the doctor to submit notes asynchronously because it allows them to focus their in person time on patients that really need the help.

🔗 Want to see what a doctor’s note should look like? Read “What A Doctor’s Note Looks Like? A Comprehensive Guide.

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When Should I Do A Live Consultation vs. When Can I Do Asynchronous?

Most needs qualify for asynchronous consultations. To be sure though, check out our checklist below

What qualifies

• Simple illnesses 
• Medical appointments
• Caring for a loved one
• Any basic absence that doesn’t require an in person evaluation

What does not qualify

• Severe medical emergencies
• FMLA or workers accommodation requests

If you're ready to get a doctor's note. Trust Medical can help you get a doctor's note in minutes and for less than $29.99. Just take complete our medical intake (less than 3 minutes) and get started today.

 What Are The Benefits Of Getting A Doctor’s Note Online?

For most simple absences getting a doctor’s note online is the best option. Below we break down the advantages of getting a doctor’s note online.

What Makes Trust Medical The Best Service For Getting A Doctor’s Note Online?

We've intentionally built Trust Medical around our clients' needs. After talking to 100s of customers we know exactly what the common pain points, needs, and challenges are so we built it for them. Here's how Trust Medical Stacks up

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Getting A Doctor's Note Online

Avoid these pitfalls when getting a doctor’s note to ensure the process goes smoothly.

Don’t let these simple missteps slow you down:

🚩 Requesting Too Late
Submit your intake before you miss work or school. While TrustMedical can issue retroactive notes (up to 10 days), most services won’t—so plan ahead.

🚩 Incomplete Intake Form
Fill out every field—absence dates, reason, and contact details—this avoids customer service needing to reach out to you and unnecessary delays.

🚩 Using Unverified Templates
Free “download-and-fill” PDFs or scam services lack NPI/license numbers, live verification lines, and can get your note rejected (or land you in hot water for forgery with local law enforcement or in trouble with your employer for lying and forging documents).

🚩 Ignoring HR Policies
Check your company’s documentation rules—format, timing, costs, and what they require per your request (i.e. FMLA, worker’s accommodation, etc)—so you know exactly what they expect.

🚩 Skipping Verification Prep
Know the phone or email your HR team will use and call the service to check how it works. Brief HR on the process if they plan to verify your note. A quick heads-up builds trust and avoids “call us back” hiccups.

🚩 Over-disclosing PHI
Employers only need dates and a verification line. Sharing diagnoses or sensitive details violates HIPAA—know your rights and feel confident explaining this to your employer if you don’t feel comfortable sharing.

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‍🔗Still want to know more? We built the Ultimate Guide To Doctor’s Note 2025. Check it out here.

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