---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 6383"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "6383"
heading: "Certification"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/6383"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart E — Attendance and Leave"
  - "Chapter 63 — Leave"
  - "Subchapter V — Family and Medical Leave"
---

# §6383. Certification

- (a) An employing [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) may require that a request for leave under subparagraph [(C)](/usc/5/6382.md?p=a-1-C) or [(D)](/usc/5/6382.md?p=a-1-D) of section 6382(a)(1) be supported by certification issued by the [health care provider](/usc/5/6381.md?p=2) of the [employee](/usc/5/6381.md?p=1) or of the son, daughter, spouse, or [parent](/usc/5/6381.md?p=3) of the [employee](/usc/5/6381.md?p=1), as appropriate. The [employee](/usc/5/6381.md?p=1) shall provide, in a timely manner, a copy of such certification to the employing [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1).
- (b) A certification provided under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be sufficient if it [states](/usc/5/8521.md?p=a-3)—
  - (1) the date on which the [serious health condition](/usc/5/6381.md?p=5) commenced;
  - (2) the probable duration of the condition;
  - (3) the appropriate medical facts within the knowledge of the [health care provider](/usc/5/6381.md?p=2) regarding the condition;
  - (4)
    - (A) for purposes of leave under [section 6382(a)(1)(C)](/usc/5/6382.md?p=a-1-C), a statement that the [employee](/usc/5/6381.md?p=1) is needed to care for the son, daughter, spouse, or [parent](/usc/5/6381.md?p=3), and an estimate of the amount of time that such [employee](/usc/5/6381.md?p=1) is needed to care for such son, daughter, spouse, or [parent](/usc/5/6381.md?p=3); and
    - (B) for purposes of leave under [section 6382(a)(1)(D)](/usc/5/6382.md?p=a-1-D), a statement that the [employee](/usc/5/6381.md?p=1) is unable to perform the functions of the [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) of the [employee](/usc/5/6381.md?p=1); and
  - (5) in the case of certification for intermittent leave, or leave on a [reduced leave schedule](/usc/5/6381.md?p=4), for planned medical treatment, the dates on which such treatment is expected to be given and the duration of such treatment.
- (c)
  - (1) In any case in which the employing [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) has reason to doubt the validity of the certification provided under [subsection (a)](#a) for leave under subparagraph [(C)](/usc/5/6382.md?p=a-1-C) or [(D)](/usc/5/6382.md?p=a-1-D) of section 6382(a)(1), the employing [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) may require, at the expense of the [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1), that the [employee](/usc/5/6381.md?p=1) obtain the opinion of a second [health care provider](/usc/5/6381.md?p=2) designated or approved by the employing [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) concerning any information certified under [subsection (b)](#b) for such leave.
  - (2) Any [health care provider](/usc/5/6381.md?p=2) designated or approved under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) shall not be employed on a regular basis by the employing [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1).
- (d)
  - (1) In any case in which the second opinion described in [subsection (c)](#c) differs from the original certification provided under [subsection (a)](#a), the employing [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) may require, at the expense of the [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1), that the [employee](/usc/5/6381.md?p=1) obtain the opinion of a third [health care provider](/usc/5/6381.md?p=2) designated or approved jointly by the employing [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) and the [employee](/usc/5/6381.md?p=1) concerning the information certified under [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (2) The opinion of the third [health care provider](/usc/5/6381.md?p=2) concerning the information certified under [subsection (b)](#b) shall be considered to be final and shall be binding on the employing [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) and the [employee](/usc/5/6381.md?p=1).
- (e) The employing [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) may require, at the expense of the [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1), that the [employee](/usc/5/6381.md?p=1) obtain subsequent recertifications on a reasonable basis.
- (f) An employing [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) may require that a request for leave under paragraph [(1)(E)](/usc/5/6382.md?p=a-1-E) or [(3)](/usc/5/6382.md?p=a-3) of section 6382(a) be supported by a certification issued at such time and in such manner as the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management may by regulation prescribe.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 103–3, title II, § 201(a)(1), Feb. 5, 1993, 107 Stat. 21; amended Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title V, § 585(b)(3)(D), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 132; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title V, § 565(b)(1)(C), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2311.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2009—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 111–84 substituted “paragraph (1)(E) or (3) of section 6382(a)” for “section 6382(a)(3)”.

2008—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–181 added subsec. (f).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 6 months after Feb. 5, 1993, see section 405(b)(1) of Pub. L. 103–3, set out as a note under section 2601 of Title 29, Labor.