Over 84,000 Nova Scotians are on the Need a Family Practice Registry waiting for a family doctor. Walk-in clinics in Halifax, Dartmouth, and across the province have 3-5 hour waits — when they are accepting patients at all. MedLetter connects you with a CPSNS-registered physician who reviews your situation and delivers a signed sick note to your email the same day — when medically appropriate.
Nova Scotia's Labour Standards Code (amended January 2025) entitles employees to 5 unpaid sick days per year plus 3 days for medical appointments, after 90 days of employment. Most Nova Scotia employers still request documentation for any absence — and not having one when asked puts your job at risk. Notes are also needed for insurance claims, WCB, and return-to-work clearance. MedLetter provides same-day physician-reviewed documentation for all valid situations.
A welder at Irving Shipbuilding's Halifax Shipyard working on the $60-billion National Shipbuilding Strategy. Irving's attendance policy requires documentation for any unscheduled absence. The nearest walk-in is 30 minutes away in traffic and has a 4-hour wait.
A civil servant at the Province of Nova Scotia's downtown Halifax offices who develops symptoms mid-week. The collective agreement requires documentation for absences over 3 consecutive days, but their family doctor left the province 6 months ago.
A registered nurse at the QEII Health Sciences Centre who develops respiratory symptoms after a night shift. Infection control requires clearance documentation before returning to patient care, but staff health services are booked for weeks.
A professor at Dalhousie University who needs to cancel lectures due to illness. The Faculty Collective Agreement requires medical documentation for absences affecting scheduled teaching, but campus health is only for students.
A civilian employee at CFB Halifax / HMC Dockyard who cannot make their shift. DND civilian attendance policy requires documentation for any absence over 1 day. Military base clinics do not serve civilian employees.
A server at a Halifax waterfront restaurant who wakes up with food poisoning before a Saturday brunch shift. No walk-in clinic is open before 9 AM, and the shift starts at 7 AM. The manager requires a note for any missed weekend shift.
Our reviewing physicians maintain active registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS) and hold valid licences to practise medicine in Nova Scotia. Their registration can be verified through the CPSNS public register. All clinical decisions are made independently by the reviewing physician in accordance with CPSNS standards of practice for telehealth and virtual care.
MedLetter processes all personal health information in compliance with Nova Scotia's Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) and federal PIPEDA. Your intake form is transmitted via 256-bit TLS encryption. Health information is stored in Canadian data centres and is never shared with employers, schools, or third parties without your explicit written consent.
Sick notes issued by CPSNS-registered physicians through MedLetter are accepted by Nova Scotia employers, schools, and institutions. There is no legal distinction between a note issued via telehealth and one from an in-person visit under Nova Scotia law.
MedLetter provides medical documentation services only. Sick notes are issued only when medically appropriate based on the reviewing physician's independent clinical judgment. This service does not constitute ongoing medical treatment. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or visit your nearest emergency department.
Yes. Nova Scotia law does not specify how a sick note must be obtained. CPSNS-registered physicians can issue medical documentation via telehealth under Nova Scotia's virtual care regulations. A sick note from a licensed physician is legally valid regardless of whether the consultation was in-person or virtual.
Under the Labour Standards Code (amended January 2025), employees are entitled to 5 unpaid sick days per year plus 3 days for medical appointments, after 90 days of employment. Some employers provide additional paid sick days through collective agreements or company policy.
Under Doctors Nova Scotia guidelines, employers should not require a sick note for absences of 5 days or fewer unless the employee has already had two non-consecutive absences of 5+ days in the same year. However, many employers still request documentation, and you may need one for insurance, WCB, or return-to-work purposes.
Yes. Our notes are signed by a CPSNS-registered physician and carry the same legal weight as notes from in-person visits. All Nova Scotia employers, including Irving Shipbuilding, Nova Scotia Health, Dalhousie University, and government departments, accept physician-signed sick notes.
Same-day delivery for most requests submitted before 2 PM local time. MedLetter typically delivers within 2-4 hours of submission. Rush delivery is available for urgent situations. Weekend and evening submissions are processed first thing the next business day by a CPSNS-registered physician.
No. MedLetter does not bill MSI (Medical Services Insurance). Our flat $49 fee covers the physician review and documentation. You do not need a valid NS Health card or any provincial health coverage.
This is extremely rare. If your employer questions the validity of a physician-signed sick note, they may be in violation of Nova Scotia's Labour Standards Code. We provide a full refund if your note is not accepted for any reason.
Yes. Dalhousie University, Saint Mary's University, NSCC (all 14 campuses), Mount Saint Vincent, Acadia, and all other Nova Scotia post-secondary institutions accept physician-signed sick notes for missed exams, assignments, and classes.
Yes. MedLetter serves all Nova Scotia residents regardless of location — Halifax, Cape Breton, the South Shore, Annapolis Valley, and everywhere in between. All you need is internet access to complete the form.
MedLetter can provide initial documentation for workplace injuries. However, ongoing WCB claims typically require in-person assessment. We recommend contacting WCB Nova Scotia directly for complex workplace injury claims.
Under the amended Labour Standards Code (effective January 2025), Nova Scotia employees are entitled to 5 unpaid sick days per year plus 3 days for medical appointments after 90 days of employment. Most employers still request documentation regardless — and not having one when asked puts your job at risk. A note from any CPSNS-registered physician is sufficient.
Walk-in clinics in Halifax, Dartmouth, and Sydney charge $30-$75 for sick notes (not covered by MSI). With over 100,000 Nova Scotians on the Need a Family Practice registry, many cannot easily access a physician. MedLetter charges a flat $49 with same-day delivery — no MSI billing, no wait times, and no need for a family doctor or prior patient relationship.
Yes. Dalhousie University, Saint Mary's University, NSCC, Mount Saint Vincent University, Acadia University, Cape Breton University, and StFX all accept physician-signed documentation for exam deferrals and academic accommodation. Our notes include the physician's CPSNS registration number, date of assessment, and recommended period of absence — meeting all institutional requirements.
No. Nova Scotia's Labour Standards Code protects employees from termination for legitimate illness absences. Employers cannot discipline employees for using their statutory sick days. If you are terminated after a legitimate sick absence with proper documentation, you may have grounds for a wrongful dismissal claim. MedLetter provides legally valid documentation from CPSNS-registered physicians.
Yes. MedLetter is used by employees at major Nova Scotia employers including Irving Shipbuilding, Michelin, Emera, Nova Scotia Health Authority, and the Department of National Defence. Our same-day delivery is especially valuable for shift workers who cannot visit a clinic during standard business hours, and for workers in rural NS communities with limited clinic access.