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Fitness certificate format

A fitness certificate states that, in the clinician's opinion, you are fit for a named purpose. That might be a job, a course or an activity. The key fields are the purpose named on the certificate and the scope of the opinion. A good fitness certificate says what it covers and does not stretch beyond that.

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Notes
Medical fitness certificatePatient[Patient name]Date of assessment[Date of assessment]Purpose[Purpose]Fitness statement[Fitness statement]Scope of the opinion[Scope of the opinion]Date of issue[Date of issue]Issuer detailsIssuer details appear here on a real certificateSAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE · SAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATESAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE · SAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATESAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE · SAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATESAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE · SAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATESAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE · SAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATESAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE · SAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATESAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE · SAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATESAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE · SAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATESAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE · SAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATESAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE

Sample fitness certificate format, watermarked SAMPLE. NOT A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE, with 7 numbered fields explained in the notes and in the field table.

Field notes7 fields

1 Patient identity

What it means: Usually a name and sometimes a date of birth.

Why it is there: This links the certificate to one person.

2 Date of assessment

What it means: When the clinician actually assessed you.

Why it is there: The opinion rests on that assessment. It can differ from the date the certificate was written.

3 Purpose named

What it means: The job, course or activity the opinion is about.

Why it is there: A fitness certificate states that you are fit for a named purpose, so the purpose has to be written down.

4 Fitness statement

What it means: The clinician's opinion that you are fit for the named purpose.

Why it is there: This is the core opinion the reader relies on.

5 Scope of the opinion

What it means: What the opinion covers.

Why it is there: A good fitness certificate says what it covers and does not stretch beyond that.

6 Date of issue

What it means: When the certificate was produced.

Why it is there: The assessment date, issue date and period covered should form a logical order.

7 Issuer details

What it means: On a real certificate, the name, profession and practice address of the person who issued it, plus a signature or an equivalent digital authorisation.

Why it is there: These details make a certificate genuine. Official UK guidance says a fit note without the issuer's name, profession and practice address is not valid.

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What does each field mean?

Fitness certificate format: field glossary
FieldWhat it meansWhy it is there
1 Patient identityUsually a name and sometimes a date of birth.This links the certificate to one person.
2 Date of assessmentWhen the clinician actually assessed you.The opinion rests on that assessment. It can differ from the date the certificate was written.
3 Purpose namedThe job, course or activity the opinion is about.A fitness certificate states that you are fit for a named purpose, so the purpose has to be written down.
4 Fitness statementThe clinician's opinion that you are fit for the named purpose.This is the core opinion the reader relies on.
5 Scope of the opinionWhat the opinion covers.A good fitness certificate says what it covers and does not stretch beyond that.
6 Date of issueWhen the certificate was produced.The assessment date, issue date and period covered should form a logical order.
7 Issuer detailsOn a real certificate, the name, profession and practice address of the person who issued it, plus a signature or an equivalent digital authorisation.These details make a certificate genuine. Official UK guidance says a fit note without the issuer's name, profession and practice address is not valid.

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This page is general information about certificate layouts. It is not medical or legal advice and does not replace a clinician's assessment or the official rules of your country, employer, school, airline or consulate.

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