Can You Defer an Exam in Alberta?
To defer an exam in Alberta, submit medical documentation to your university's registrar within 2 business days. Alberta universities (U of A, U of C, MRU, MacEwan) accept sick notes from any CPSA-registered physician. MedLetter delivers same-day for $49 — no campus health wait required.
Looking for a sick note online Canada service? MedLetter provides sick note Alberta — get your online doctor sick note delivered same-day for $49. No clinic visit needed.
Yes. Every accredited Alberta post-secondary institution has a formal process for deferring exams when students experience illness, injury, or other qualifying circumstances. The key is acting quickly, most schools have strict deadlines (often 2-3 business days after the missed exam) and require medical documentation from a New sick-note requests are temporarily paused while we review our service. We are not accepting new orders at this time..
This guide covers the exact process at every major Alberta university and college, including deadlines, required forms, and what your sick note must include.
Who This Service Is For
MedLetter provides sick notes for students experiencing genuine short-term illness that prevents them from writing an exam or completing an assignment. Common qualifying conditions include:
- Cold or flu with fever, body aches, or severe congestion
- Food poisoning or stomach bug (vomiting, diarrhea)
- Migraine or severe headache that makes concentration impossible
- Sinus infection or ear infection
- Strep throat or tonsillitis
Important: We do NOT provide notes for chronic conditions, mental health diagnoses, disability accommodations, or ongoing treatment. If your situation requires more than a 1-5 day absence, please see your campus health centre or family doctor.
No Family Doctor? No Problem.
Over 6.5 million Canadians don't have a family doctor — and that number is growing. If you need a sick note but have no GP, your options are limited: wait 3-5 hours at a walk-in clinic, or use MedLetter. Our licensed physician reviews your request online and delivers your official sick note the same day for $49. No referral needed, no appointment required. New sick-note requests are temporarily paused while we review our service. We are not accepting new orders at this time..
Employers That Require Sick Notes
Many Canadian employers require a doctor's note after just one day absent. Common employers with strict sick note policies include: Amazon (warehouse and delivery), Walmart, Costco, Tim Hortons, Loblaws/No Frills, Canada Post, Purolator, FedEx, Shoppers Drug Mart, and the Government of Canada (federal employees). If your employer requires documentation, MedLetter provides it for $49 same-day — accepted by all employers across Canada.
How It Works — 3 Simple Steps
Step 1: Fill out our secure 2-minute intake form with your basic information and reason for needing a sick note.
Step 2: A licensed physician reviews your submission and assesses your situation (no video call required).
Why Choose MedLetter Over a Walk-In Clinic?
Walk-in clinic: 2-4 hour wait, $20-50 fee, only open weekdays 9-5, may not have availability, requires driving and parking.
MedLetter: 2-minute form, $49 flat fee, available 24/7 including weekends and holidays, same-day delivery, no appointment or video call needed. Same legal validity — signed by a licensed physician registered with the provincial College.
Step 3: Your signed sick note is delivered to your email — same-day for most requests submitted before 3 PM.
The entire process takes less time than driving to a walk-in clinic parking lot. New sick-note requests are temporarily paused while we review our service. We are not accepting new orders at this time..
Shift Workers, Retail Staff, and Warehouse Employees
If you work shifts, nights, or weekends, getting a sick note during clinic hours is nearly impossible. Night shift workers can't visit a walk-in clinic at 3 AM. Retail employees at Walmart, Costco, or Tim Hortons often can't take time off during clinic hours. Warehouse workers at Amazon, Purolator, or FedEx face strict attendance policies. MedLetter is available 24/7 — submit your request at any hour, from your phone, and receive your official physician-signed sick note the same day. No appointment, no wait, no missing another shift to get documentation for the shift you already missed.
Weekend and Holiday Sick Notes
Got sick on a Saturday or Sunday? Every walk-in clinic is either closed or has a 4+ hour wait on weekends. MedLetter is available 7 days a week, including all statutory holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Family Day, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day). Submit your request any time — even at 2 AM on a Sunday — and receive your physician-signed sick note before Monday morning. Perfect for workers who need documentation for their Monday shift.
On Probation at a New Job?
If you're in your first 90 days at a new job, calling in sick without documentation can be career-ending. Probationary employees are often terminated for a single unexcused absence. Don't risk your new position — get official physician documentation from MedLetter for $49 same-day. Protect your job while you recover from your illness. New sick-note requests are temporarily paused while we review our service. We are not accepting new orders at this time..
Also known as: doctor's note, medical certificate, absence note, fitness-to-work letter, or medical documentation for employer. MedLetter provides all of these — same document, same $49 flat fee, same-day delivery.
Need a Sick Note After Hours?
It's 10 PM and you just realized you need a doctor's note for tomorrow morning. Walk-in clinics are closed. Your family doctor's office doesn't open until 9 AM — by then you're already late for work. MedLetter accepts requests 24/7, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Submit at midnight, receive your note before your shift starts. New sick-note requests are temporarily paused while we review our service. We are not accepting new orders at this time..
Need Your Sick Note Right Now?
If you're reading this at 11 PM because your boss just texted asking for a doctor's note by tomorrow morning — we can help. MedLetter accepts requests 24/7. Most notes submitted before 3 PM are delivered same-day. Evening and weekend submissions are typically reviewed within hours. No appointment, no waiting room, no video call. Just fill out the 2-minute form and a licensed physician reviews your case.
New sick-note requests are temporarily paused while we review our service. We are not accepting new orders at this time.
Labour Day Weekend 2026
Getting sick over the Labour Day long weekend (August 30 - September 1, 2026) means every clinic is closed for 3 days. If you need a sick note for Tuesday September 2nd, MedLetter is your only option for same-day documentation. We're available all weekend — submit your request Saturday, Sunday, or Monday and receive your note before you're due back at work.
September 2026 Back-to-School Alert
Fall semester starts in September and campus health centres will be overwhelmed with 3-5 week wait times. If you get sick during the first weeks of class and need to defer a quiz, midterm, or assignment, you will need medical documentation within 48-72 hours of your missed assessment.
Weekend Sick Note — Available Saturday and Sunday
Got sick on the weekend and need a sick note for Monday? Walk-in clinics are closed or have limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. MedLetter is available 7 days a week — submit your request any time, even at 11 PM on a Sunday night, and receive your official physician-signed sick note by email. No waiting until Monday morning to visit a clinic. $49 flat fee, same-day delivery, even on weekends and holidays.
Plan ahead: MedLetter delivers same-day sick notes for $49. No appointment needed. Available 7 days a week, including evenings when campus clinics are closed. New sick-note requests are temporarily paused while we review our service. We are not accepting new orders at this time.
Most Common Courses Needing Deferrals in Alberta
Alberta's largest university courses are where most deferral requests come from — crowded lecture halls mean illness spreads fast:
- PSYCO 104/105 (U of A Intro Psychology) — 1,500+ students, midterm in October
- ECON 101/102 (U of A/U of C Intro Economics) — 1,200+ students per campus
- MATH 114/115 (U of A Calculus) — 1,000+ students, high-stakes midterms
- PSYC 200/201 (U of C Intro Psychology) — 900+ students
- BIOL 107/108 (U of A Intro Biology) — 900+ students, lab exams
- CHEM 101/102 (U of A/U of C Chemistry) — 800+ students
- MGMT 211/217 (MRU Business courses) — 500+ students
If you're genuinely sick and about to miss a midterm, final exam, assignment deadline, or lab — MedLetter can provide same-day documentation for $49. Works for both exam deferrals and assignment extensions. Your professor and registrar will accept it.
University of Alberta (U of A) Exam Deferral Process
The University of Alberta calls it a "Deferred Exam" and handles it through your faculty office.
Steps to Defer at U of A:
1. Report your absence through Bear Tracks within 2 business days of the missed exam
2. Submit supporting documentation (medical note) to your faculty office
3. Complete the Deferred Exam Request Form available on your faculty's website
4. Wait for approval, your faculty will schedule a deferred exam date (usually during the deferred exam period)
What U of A Requires in Your Sick Note:
- Date of consultation (must be on or before the exam date)
- Confirmation that you were medically unfit to write the exam
- Duration of incapacity
- Physician's name, signature, and CPSA registration number
- The note does NOT need to include your diagnosis
U of A Deadlines:
| Situation | Deadline |
|-----------|----------|
| Missed final exam | 2 business days after exam date |
| Missed midterm | Contact instructor within 2 days |
| Multiple missed exams | Submit separate requests for each |
Important: U of A does NOT accept notes from walk-in clinics that are dated after the exam. Your consultation must occur on or before the exam date.
University of Calgary (UCalgary) Exam Deferral
UCalgary uses the term "Deferred Final Examination" and processes requests through the Registrar's Office.
Steps to Defer at UCalgary:
1. Apply online through your Student Centre within 48 hours of the missed exam
2. Upload your medical documentation directly through the online portal
3. Pay the deferral fee ($25 per exam)
4. Check your Student Centre for the scheduled deferred exam date
What UCalgary Requires:
- Medical certificate confirming illness on the exam date
- Must be from a licensed physician (CPSA-registered)
- Must confirm you were unable to attend the exam
- Physician's contact information for verification
UCalgary Key Facts:
- $25 fee per deferred exam (refunded if approved for compassionate reasons)
- Deferred exams are typically scheduled 2-3 weeks into the next term
- You cannot defer a deferred exam, if you miss the deferred date, you receive a grade of F
Mount Royal University (MRU) Exam Deferral
MRU handles deferrals through the Office of the Registrar and calls them "Deferred Final Examinations."
Steps to Defer at MRU:
1. Notify your instructor as soon as possible (ideally before the exam)
2. Submit the Deferred Exam Application within 3 business days of the missed exam
3. Attach your medical documentation to the application
4. Receive confirmation via your MRU email
MRU Requirements:
- Medical note from a licensed physician
- Note must be dated on or before the exam date
- Must state you were medically unable to attend
- Must include the physician's CPSA registration number
MacEwan University Exam Deferral
MacEwan processes deferrals through individual faculty offices.
Steps to Defer at MacEwan:
1. Email your instructor within 24 hours of the missed exam
2. Submit the Deferred Exam Request to your faculty office within 3 business days
3. Provide medical documentation (original or scanned copy)
4. Attend the rescheduled exam (usually within 2 weeks)
MacEwan Requirements:
- Physician's note confirming illness
- Must be dated on or within 24 hours of the exam date
- Must confirm inability to write the exam
- CPSA registration number required
SAIT Exam Deferral
SAIT has a streamlined process through Student Development and Counselling.
Steps to Defer at SAIT:
1. Contact your program coordinator before the exam if possible
2. Submit a Deferred Assessment Request within 2 business days
3. Provide medical documentation from a licensed physician
4. Complete the deferred exam at the scheduled time
SAIT Key Facts:
- No deferral fee
- Deferred exams must be completed within 10 business days
- Medical note must be from a CPSA-registered physician
- SAIT may contact your physician to verify
NAIT Exam Deferral
NAIT processes deferrals through your program office.
Steps to Defer at NAIT:
1. Notify your instructor as soon as possible
2. Submit documentation to your program office within 3 business days
3. Complete the Deferred Exam Agreement form
4. Write the deferred exam at the scheduled time
NAIT Requirements:
- Medical note from a licensed physician (CPSA-registered)
- Note must confirm you were too ill to attend
- Must be dated on or before the exam date
- Include physician's name and contact information
University of Lethbridge (ULeth) Exam Deferral
ULeth handles deferrals through the Registrar's Office.
Steps to Defer at ULeth:
1. Submit the Deferred Exam Application within 48 hours