Excuse Notes

Students frequently have medical conditions, psychological conditions, illnesses or injuries that require them to be away from the classroom or workplace, or that affect their ability to perform optimally in class or on exams. The Student Health Care Center is happy to help our patients with excuse notes in these circumstances.

The SHCC allows excuse notes to be written by physicians (MDs), physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (ARNPs) and registered nurses (RNs). When applicable, a standardized letter is completed and scanned into the patient’s electronic health record.

  • NOTE: If a patient receives care for their illness or injury from a private, non-SHCC physician, they must obtain an excuse note from that medical provider.

In accordance with university policy, our medical providers use the following guidelines when writing excuse notes:

  • The Student Health Care Center can provide a medical excuse note only if our providers are involved in the medical care of a student they feel will need to be absent from class for 3 or more days for medical reasons. A student who has a medical illness which results in less than 3 days of absence from class should talk with his/her professor rather than asking for an excuse note from the SHCC. If a professor subsequently requires a note for a medical absence of fewer than 3 days, then the professor must provide the SHCC with a written request on UF/department letterhead.
  • If a patient significantly improves prior to the estimated return date, or the illness continues longer than estimated, they may need to obtain an additional excuse note. If a patient needs additional time for recovery prior to returning to classes or work, they must return to see the SHCC provider prior to the original estimated return date.
  • Unless specifically requested to do so by the patient, the clinical staff does not place a diagnosis on an excuse note.  The clinical staff does not release information about a patient’s medical and/or psychiatric condition to UF administrators, instructors, parents (unless the patient is a minor) or employers without the patient’s specific permission and a signed release.