At the end of some worker’s compensation cases, the worker’s compensation insurance company requires a functional capacity exam. Generally, the functional capacity exam is a test at a physical therapy location to determine what activities you can and cannot do. The test usually lasts half a day and is more of a physical endurance test. An FCE is not “medical treatment” and technically should not be part of your worker’s compensation medical treatment regimen. Our office sees FCE’s used by some employers as an excuse to fire the employee. For example, if the FCE results say that you cannot lift more than 20 lbs., and your job requires you to lift 20 lbs, your employer can use that result to state that you are no longer able to perform the essential duties of your job. This is another device used by employers to fire injured workers.