A Queensland woman has been charged after allegedly pretending to be a medical practitioner and issuing about 600 fake medical exemption certificates to get around coronavirus rules.

The counterfeit certificates said the holder was exempt from undergoing COVID-19 testing, getting a vaccine and wearing a mask.

The woman, 45, from Labrador on the Gold Coast, was charged on Wednesday with five counts of masquerading as a health practitioner.

She’s the first person in Queensland to be charged with this offence.