What Is a Functional Capacity Assessment?

What Does an FCA Look At?

Six areas of everyday life. The NDIS lists them as communication, learning, mobility, self-care, self-management and social interactions.

The assessor looks at real tasks, not just a diagnosis. Examples the NDIS gives include dressing, bathing and grooming, moving around with or without mobility aids, communicating by speech or writing, work tasks like lifting or typing, hobbies and social activities, and thinking, memory and decision-making. What's included depends on the person and their disability.

Our page on what an FCA assesses goes through each area and the standardised tools the NDIA names for different disabilities.

What Is an FCA Used For?

Mainly as evidence for the NDIA. It shows how a permanent impairment reduces someone's functional capacity, and what support would help.

• Applying to the NDIS: an FCA isn't required, but the NDIS says it can help show how the impairment affects daily life
• Deciding what goes in a plan: the NDIA uses the information to work out supports such as assistive technology, therapies or home and workplace modifications
• Plan reassessments: showing a significant change in support needs
• Home and living supports such as supported independent living (SIL) and specialist disability accommodation (SDA), where the NDIA asks for reports on daily support and housing needs
• Asking for a review of an NDIA decision, where new evidence about daily impact can help

Who Does a Functional Capacity Assessment?

The NDIS names occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and medical specialists. They must be qualified to make the assessment.

Occupational therapists do many of them, because looking at how people manage daily activities is the core of their work. For some disabilities another professional is the better fit, for example a psychologist or psychiatrist for psychosocial disability. Our page on who can do an FCA explains how to choose.

What Happens During an FCA?

It looks different for everyone. Usually there's an interview, observation of everyday tasks and often one or more standardised questionnaires, then a written report.

The NDIS says an assessment can take anywhere from 1 hour to 10 hours, depending on the health professional and the disability, and suggests asking how long it will take before it begins. Some of it can happen at home or out in the community, and parts can sometimes be done by telehealth.

Is an NDIS FCA the Same as a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)?

No. In workers' compensation and insurance, a functional capacity evaluation (FCE) is about work. An NDIS FCA is about everyday life with disability.

An FCE measures an injured person's physical abilities against the demands of a job, to guide a return-to-work program, and usually needs clearance from their treating doctor first. Some people call that a functional capacity assessment too, which is why search results mix the two. This site is only about assessments for the NDIS and disability support. If you need an FCE for an insurer, employer or workers' compensation claim, ask the insurer or your rehabilitation provider.

Does the NDIS Pay for an FCA?

Often, yes, if the person is already a participant. Assessments are usually paid from the capacity building budget, under improved daily living.

The practice can charge up to the NDIA's hourly price limit for the professional doing it. If the person is applying to the NDIS for the first time, there's no plan yet, so the assessment is usually paid privately. Our page on what an FCA costs explains the price limits and which budget pays.