How Long Does a Functional Capacity Assessment Take?
The NDIS says a functional capacity assessment can take anywhere from 1 hour to 10 hours, depending on the health professional and the person's disability. That can be spread over more than one session, and the report is written afterwards. The NDIS suggests asking your treating health professional how long it will take before the assessment begins.
What Makes an FCA Take Longer?
Complexity, the purpose of the report and how much needs to be observed.
- More areas of daily life affected, or several disabilities
- A report for a bigger decision, such as SIL or SDA, that needs a detailed picture of support across the day and night
- Observing tasks in more than one place, such as at home and in the community
- Several standardised tools, or interviews with family, carers and other professionals
- Travel to and from the person
How Is the Time Usually Split?
Between time with the person, time on the report, and sometimes travel.
Under NDIS pricing rules, report writing can be claimed as non-face-to-face time, or as an NDIA requested report when the NDIA asked for it, if you've agreed to that in advance. Travel for therapists is capped at half the hourly rate. So the hours on an invoice can be more than the hours you spent in the room. Ask for an estimate of each part.
Need a Functional Capacity Assessment?
We'll connect you with an occupational therapy practice that does FCAs and may have space.
How Long Until the Report Is Ready?
It depends on the practice. Ask before you book, especially if you have a deadline.
There's no official turnaround time for FCA reports. If the report is needed for a plan reassessment or a review, tell the practice the date when you first contact them, and ask whether they can meet it. On our form you can say whether there's a deadline, and we pass that on.
Questions People Ask
How many hours is an NDIS FCA?
The NDIS says anywhere from 1 to 10 hours, depending on the health professional and the disability. Ask for an estimate before it starts.
Is an FCA done in one session?
Not always. Some are done in one visit, others are split across sessions, sometimes with part by telehealth.
Does the report time count towards the hours?
It can. Report writing can be claimed if the support item allows it and you agreed in advance, usually in the service agreement.
Keep Reading
- What an FCA costsWhat a functional capacity assessment costs: the 2026-27 NDIS hourly price limit for OTs, what adds hours, which budget pays and how to get an estimate.
- How to prepare for an FCAA checklist for a functional capacity assessment: what to gather, how to describe a typical day and a hard day, who to bring and what to ask the assessor.
- The FCA reportWhat goes in an FCA report for the NDIS: the details the NDIA looks for, how recommendations should be written, and what to check before the report is sent.
- Telehealth FCAsCan a functional capacity assessment be done by telehealth? What works online, what needs a visit, the NDIS rules for telehealth and how to prepare.
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