FCE - Functional Capacity Evaluator Certification Workers' Compensation & Disability 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In workers' compensation, 'Maximum Medical Improvement' (MMI) is best defined as the point at which:
- The worker has fully recovered with no residual functional deficits
- The worker's condition has stabilized and is unlikely to change significantly with further treatment (Correct answer)
- The worker is no longer eligible for medical treatment benefits
- The FCE has confirmed the worker can return to full pre-injury duties
Correct answer: The worker's condition has stabilized and is unlikely to change significantly with further treatment
MMI indicates a medical plateau — further meaningful improvement is not reasonably expected — but does not necessarily imply full recovery. It is the standard threshold before permanent impairment ratings are assigned.
Question 2: A workers' compensation claimant can perform some, but not all, of their pre-injury job duties on a temporary basis. This is classified as:
- Permanent total disability
- Temporary total disability
- Temporary partial disability (Correct answer)
- Permanent partial disability
Correct answer: Temporary partial disability
Temporary partial disability applies when a worker retains some work capacity but with restrictions, and those restrictions are expected to resolve over time. Both the duration (temporary) and the degree (partial) must be considered together.
Question 3: The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment are most commonly used in workers' compensation cases to:
- Determine causation of a workplace injury
- Assign a whole-person impairment percentage after MMI is reached (Correct answer)
- Classify physical demand levels for job placement purposes
- Establish temporary work restrictions during active treatment
Correct answer: Assign a whole-person impairment percentage after MMI is reached
The AMA Guides provide a standardized framework for rating permanent impairment as a percentage of whole person impairment, applied after the claimant has reached MMI. They do not address causation or job demand classification.
Question 4: During an FCE for a workers' compensation claimant, validity testing reveals sub-maximal effort. The evaluator's most appropriate response is to:
- Immediately terminate the evaluation and notify the insurer of suspected fraud
- Document the findings objectively and note the potential impact on result validity (Correct answer)
- Repeat all subtests until consistent results are achieved
- Accept the results as fully valid and proceed without notation
Correct answer: Document the findings objectively and note the potential impact on result validity
The FCE evaluator's role is objective, impartial documentation. Sub-maximal effort should be reported with its implications for reliability, allowing the referral source to draw conclusions — the evaluator does not make legal judgments about intent or fraud.
Question 5: In workers' compensation law, the term 'aggravation' refers to:
- A new traumatic injury sustained at the worksite
- A pre-existing condition that is worsened by a work-related event (Correct answer)
- Repeated fraudulent claims submitted by an employee
- Cumulative minor traumas that combine to cause disability
Correct answer: A pre-existing condition that is worsened by a work-related event
Aggravation describes a work-related incident that exacerbates a pre-existing condition. The employer or insurer may bear liability for the degree of worsening caused by work, even if the underlying condition predated employment.
Question 6: Which federal program provides workers' compensation coverage specifically for civilian employees of the U.S. federal government?
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) (Correct answer)
- Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA)
- Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Correct answer: Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA)
FECA, administered by the Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, covers federal civilian workers who sustain job-related injuries or occupational diseases. It is distinct from state workers' compensation systems and from SSDI.
FCE - Functional Capacity Evaluator Certification Workers' Compensation & Disability 1
In workers' compensation, 'Maximum Medical Improvement' (MMI) is best defined as the point at which: