FCE - Functional Capacity Evaluator Certification Workers' Compensation & Disability 1

Question 1

In workers' compensation, 'Maximum Medical Improvement' (MMI) is best defined as the point at which:

Accepted Answer

The worker's condition has stabilized and is unlikely to change significantly with further treatment

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Temporary partial disability

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Assign a whole-person impairment percentage after MMI is reached

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Document the findings objectively and note the potential impact on result validity

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

A pre-existing condition that is worsened by a work-related event

Answer

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.

(FCE) Functional Capacity Evaluator Certification Practice Test

(FCE) Functional Capacity Evaluator Certification Practice Test

FCE - Functional Capacity Evaluator Certification Workers' Compensation & Disability 1