Functional Capacity Evaluation: evidence, not opinion.
An objective, structured assessment of what a person can safely do — measured against the real demands of their job. Used by insurers, employers and treating doctors to make return-to-work decisions with confidence.
Measured capacity, not guesswork.
What a Functional Capacity Evaluation at National Care Providers involves.
Objective Testing
Measured lifting, carrying, reaching, standing and tolerance — not self-report.
Job-matched
Capacity tested against the actual physical demands of the role.
Clear Reporting
A report that states what the person can do, and under what conditions.
Decision-ready
Written so an insurer, employer or doctor can act on it immediately.
The question is never “are they injured?” It is “what can they safely do?”
A Functional Capacity Evaluation answers that question with evidence. Over a structured assessment, our clinician measures what a person can physically do — lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching, standing, sitting, and how long they can sustain each — and compares it against the genuine demands of their role.
That matters because so much of a claim runs on assumption. The worker is unsure what is safe. The employer is unsure what to offer. The insurer is unsure what to fund. An FCE replaces all of that with a measured, defensible picture of current capacity, and sets out the conditions under which work can safely resume.
A Functional Capacity Evaluation is not a certificate of capacity, which is a treating doctor’s medical opinion. It is structured physical testing, performed independently, and it exists to inform the people making decisions rather than to advocate for any of them.
From referral to a report you can act on.
- 01
Referral and job details
We collect the referral, the medical history, and a description of the person’s actual job tasks.
- 02
Interview
The assessment begins with the person’s own account of their injury, symptoms and daily function.
- 03
Functional testing
Structured physical testing — lifting, carrying, reaching, balance, sustained postures and tolerance.
- 04
Task simulation
Where practical, we replicate the specific tasks the role actually requires.
- 05
Report
A written report setting out measured capacity, safe duties, restrictions and recommended adjustments.
The things people actually ask us.
What is a Functional Capacity Evaluation?
It is a structured assessment that objectively measures a person’s physical ability to perform work tasks after an injury — lifting, carrying, reaching, standing and sustaining those activities — and compares that capacity against the real demands of their job.
Who refers for an FCE?
Most referrals come from insurers, employers and treating doctors, usually when there is genuine uncertainty about whether someone is ready to return to work, or about which duties would be safe.
How is an FCE different from a certificate of capacity?
A certificate of capacity is a treating doctor’s medical opinion. An FCE is hands-on, structured physical testing performed by an assessing clinician. They answer different questions, and they work best together.
How long does the assessment take?
It varies with the physical demands of the role — a desk-based job takes less testing than a manual one. We will give you an expected duration when we confirm the booking.
What should the person bring?
Comfortable clothing and enclosed shoes they can move in, any relevant medical reports or imaging, a list of current medications, and their glasses or hearing aids if they use them.
Can an FCE be used for a workers compensation or CTP claim?
Yes. FCEs are routinely used in both. Tell us which scheme the matter sits under when you refer, so the report is prepared appropriately.
Other ways we can help.
A multidisciplinary team that meets weekly — one plan, many disciplines.
Let’s start with a conversation.
Call our intake team or send a referral — we reply within one business hour, every weekday between 9 am and 5 pm Sydney time.