What is it?

If you are the registered medical practitioner, you are responsible for completing the doctor's part of the certificate of fitness. It should provide a clear medical diagnosis using acceptable medical terminology and identify any reasonable and necessary treatment.

Other health professionals (eg a treating physiotherapist) may give information to you, however they are not allowed to complete the certificate of fitness themselves.

When you assess a person's injuries and choose a treatment plan, you need to estimate how long before the person can return to normal activities or when they should be assessed again.

You should not issue a certificate of fitness that exceeds a 28-day period without providing special reasons why. See section 3.15(4)(a) of the Motor Accidents Injuries Act 2017 for more information.

For injuries that resolve quickly, it may mean that only one assessment is required. However for more serious injuries you may need to complete multiple certificates over the time it takes the person to recover.

If you are the injured person

If you are the injured person, you are responsible for sending the initial certificate of fitness and your CTP claim form(s) to the insurer. You are also responsible for providing up-to-date certificates of fitness throughout your recovery.

Weekly benefits may be suspended if a valid certificate of fitness is not received by the insurer. See section 3.15(6) for more information.

Second and subsequent certificates of fitness

A treating medical practitioner must issue the initial certificate of fitness to an injured person. Thereafter, a treating physiotherapist or treating psychologist can issue second and subsequent certificates of fitness.

A physiotherapist or psychologist issuing a certificate of fitness must have general registration under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) No 86a.

A physiotherapist or psychologist should not issue a certificate of fitness if an injured person is receiving treatment for different types of injuries (i.e. physical and psychological injury). In these circumstances a second or subsequent certificate of fitness should be issued by a medical practitioner.

If a subsequent certificate covers a period that overlaps with a period covered by an earlier certificate, then the later certificate prevails for the whole of the period covered by the later certificate.

With the injured person's consent, an insurer will send a copy of the certificate to their medical practitioner to facilitate communication.

Further information

Disputes

Sometimes there can be disputes about compensation. If there's a dispute, there's help available. Our motor accidents injury disputes section has more information.

Completing the Certificate of Currency

The Information for medical practitioners completing the certificate of capacity provides advice on completing the certificate of capacity.

What is it?

The certificate of capacity is used by the insurer to make decisions about a worker's capacity for work and their entitlement to compensation.

It will help the insurer, the worker and their employer develop an injury management plan concerning the treatment, rehabilitation and retraining required (where appropriate) for a successful recovery at/return to work outcome for the worker.

The certificate of capacity tells the insurer:

• the worker's name and details
• the type of injury/illness and date it occurred
• what management is planned
• how the injuries impact the worker's ability to do their usual activities including work
• the details of the medical practitioner who completed the certificate including their provider number.

It also helps the employer find suitable work for the worker so they can recover at/return to work with appropriate support.

Who completes the first certificate of capacity?

If you are the doctor

If you are the worker's nominated treating doctor or treating specialist medical practitioner, you are responsible for completing the doctor's part of the certificate of capacity. It should identify a clear medical diagnosis using acceptable medical terminology and identify any reasonably necessary treatment.

When completing the 'capacity' section, you are certifying whether the worker has:

• capacity for pre-injury duties
• capacity for some type of work, or
• no current work capacity.

If the worker has capacity for some type of work, you must identify the hours and days the worker has capacity to perform suitable work.

If you certify that the worker has no current work capacity, you should estimate the time needed for them to regain some capacity.

You may also recommend referral to a workplace rehabilitation provider.

You should not issue a certificate of capacity that exceeds a 28-day period without stating special reasons why the certificate covers the longer period. See section 44B(4)(a) of the Workers Compensation Act 1987 for more information.

If you are the worker

If you are the worker, there are two sections you need to review and complete. These are the 'worker consent' (section 1) and 'employment declaration' (section 3).

By signing the consent section of the certificate, you approve of the following people collecting information from each other about your injury/illness (including personal information and health information about you):

• the insurer
• your employer
• health practitioners (whether treating, consulting or examining)
• other relevant parties (such as a workplace rehabilitation provider) and
• SIRA.

As the worker, you are required to complete the declaration to report if you have been engaged in any form of employment, self-employment or voluntary work for which you received or are entitled to receive payment in money or otherwise since the last certificate of capacity was completed.

You must complete this declaration before the certificate of capacity is provided to your employer or the insurer (after your consultation with the medical practitioner).

Note: The worker declaration does not need to be completed by exempt workers.

Second and subsequent certificates of capacity

Further information

Disputes

Sometimes there can be disputes about compensation. If there’s a dispute, there’s help available. Our workers compensation disputes section has more information.

The following publications may assist you in completing the certificate of capacity:

• Information for medical practitioners completing the certificate of capacity
• Workers compensation guide for medical practitioners
• Workers compensation guidelines