Medical Certificates

Physicians and other providers are often asked to provide a certificate of medical fitness for a patient’s employer or, when the patient is a student, for the patient’s professor or faculty.  The role of a care provider at the University of Ottawa Health Services (UOHS) is to assess and document the patient’s fitness to attend work or school.  In the case of a medical certificate for exam deferral, the role of UOHS is to assess the student’s medical fitness on the day of their exam. 

There is a fee for the provision of a medical certificate for a patient who is not a student or when the medical certificate is required for the student’s work.  There is no fee for the provision of a medical certificate for a student related to exams, assignments or classes because this service is included in student fees.  This applies only to students from the University of Ottawa or from St-Paul’s University.

Medical certificates will be given directly to a student – it is the student’s responsibility to hand it in to the faculty.  Medical certificates may also be given directly to patients who are not students or to a student if it is not for school.

Exam Deferrals

Students - Too sick to write your exam? If you believe you are too sick to write an exam, you should consult a healthcare provider BEFORE the exam. You can see your own family physician or a physician or nurse practitioner at the University of Ottawa Health Services. It is preferable to schedule an appointment however there is always a physician available to see patients without an appointment at our walk-in clinic. We will do our best to ensure that students are seen promptly when they have an exam on the day they visit the clinic - let the receptionist know.

Our physicians and nurse practitioners will be pleased to speak with you, examine you, and provide treatment and advice to help you with your medical problem. The physician or nurse may provide you with a medical certificate but it is up to your faculty to determine if you qualify for an exam deferral. 

The University of Ottawa establishes the criteria to defer an exam. As a general note only a SERIOUS illness qualifies for a medical deferral. Examples of illnesses acceptable for exam deferral include high-grade fever or admission in a hospital at the time of the exam. Colds, diarrhea, headaches, menstrual cramps, insomnia and caffeine overdose may benefit from medical advice to ease symptoms, but they are NOT acceptable reasons to defer an exam. Feeling unwell the day or two prior to an exam, leaving you inadequate “cramming time”, is also NOT an acceptable reason to defer an exam.

For further information please consult your faculty or the University’s Academic Regulation 9.5:  Justification of absence from an examination or of late submission of assignments at http://web5.uottawa.ca/admingov/regulations.html#r36

Let us help you to stay healthy throughout the semester, including exam time. Do not hesitate to consult us at any time about any of your health concerns.