How Much Does an NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment Cost?

The short answer

FCAs are billed by the hour at the NDIS occupational therapy price limit, which is $193.99 per hour for 2026–27. A typical FCA takes 10 to 15 hours of work across the home visits, standardised assessments, scoring and report writing. That puts most assessments at about $1,940 to $2,910, plus travel. Your occupational therapist should give you a written estimate before anything starts.

What you are paying for

• Home visits where the OT observes how you manage everyday tasks, such as self-care, meals, moving around and managing the home
• Standardised assessment tools that are scored and compared with accepted measures, such as the WHODAS 2.0, LSP-16 and COPM
• Time reviewing your medical information and speaking with family or supporters, with your consent
• Analysis and a written report that links your impairments to the support you need
• Travel to you, which is billed separately at no more than half the hourly rate

Who pays: applying for the NDIS

If you are applying for the NDIS and do not yet have a plan, there is no NDIS funding to draw from. An FCA used as evidence for an access request is paid for by you, a family member or another source. This is the one type of self-funded occupational therapy we provide at Exercare. Our guide to applying for the NDIS explains what evidence the NDIA looks for and how an FCA fits alongside letters from your treating doctors and specialists.

Who pays: existing NDIS participants

If you already have a plan, an FCA can usually be funded from Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living Skills when it is linked to your goals and your plan has funding for assessments and reports. Common reasons include:

• Preparing evidence for a plan reassessment or a change of circumstances
• Supporting a request for higher-cost supports, such as supported independent living or complex home modifications
• Establishing a baseline before therapy starts so progress can be measured

Your plan manager or support coordinator can confirm whether your budget has room. If you are plan-managed or self-managed, we invoice in line with your service agreement. Our plan review guide explains how to time the assessment.

Ways to keep the cost sensible

• Gather your existing reports before the first visit, such as specialist letters, hospital discharge summaries and previous therapy reports
• Be clear about the decision the report supports, for example an access request or a reassessment, so the OT can focus on what the NDIA needs
• Ask for the estimate in writing and ask what happens if more time is needed
• Do not buy more than you need: an FCA that is too long can cost more without adding evidence

Cheap is not the goal

An FCA that is rushed or generic can be rejected or can leave out the details that matter, which means paying again. The most useful reports are specific about what you can and cannot do, how often and with what support. Look for an OT who uses recognised tools, explains the process in plain language and offers a clear timeframe. At Exercare the report is usually ready within 2 weeks of the final session. Read more about our functional capacity assessments or what an FCA is.

Funding summary

Under the NDIS, occupational therapy is usually funded from Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living Skills (Category 15). Equipment is funded from Capital – Assistive Technology (Category 05) and home modifications from Capital – Home Modifications (Category 06). Self-funded OT is limited to functional capacity assessments for people applying for the NDIS.

Evidence referenced in this article

• National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA): information for participants and providers.
• Occupational Therapy Australia.

Written by the Exercare allied health team. This article is general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Exercare provides mobile exercise physiology and NDIS occupational therapy across south-east and eastern Melbourne.

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