Chesapeake Health Education Program

Certification – Worker's Compensation

The Chesapeake Health Education Program offers a Federal Workers™ Compensation Certification Program (FWCCP). The certification is a national program that covers all important elements within the workers' compensation arena and includes a rigorous evaluation to certify successful achievement of the certification. The certification process offers federal workers who work and manage compensation programs, an opportunity to validate achievement of a standard knowledge and skill level. Certification focuses specifically on the individual and is an indication of current competence in a specialized area of practice.

Need for Certification of Federal Employees:

The Federal Employees' Compensation Act provides workers' compensation coverage to three million Federal and Postal workers around the world for employment-related injuries and occupational diseases. Benefits include wage replacement, payment for medical care, and where necessary, medical and vocational rehabilitation assistance in returning to work. The program has 12 district offices nationwide. During FY 2003, more than 168,000 new cases were created, and the program provided nearly 284,000 workers more than $2.3 billion in benefits for work-related injuries and illnesses. Of these benefit payments, nearly $1.687 billion was for wage loss compensation, $658 million was for medical and rehabilitation services, and $130 million was for death benefit payments to surviving dependents. The federal government is responsible for management of the program. Individual personnel who administer, service, and consult federal workers who are file a workers compensation case must have a solid knowledge and skill base to effectively manage the program.

Primary disciplines who should consider certification:

Individuals who manage workers’ compensation programs, case managers, physicians, lawyers, labor union personnel, insurance personnel, administrators, and rehabilitation personnel in all areas of the Federal Government. Such individuals are required to demonstrate proficiency in specific knowledge and shills within the workers compensation field. Successful achievement of certification affirms a working knowledge and baseline skills to effectively manage and contribute to the federal workers compensation arena.

Benefits of Certification:

Certification encourages continued personal and professional growth in the practice of workers compensation thereby:

  1. Establishing and measuring the level of knowledge required for certification.
  2. Providing a national standard of requisite knowledge for certification; thereby assisting the employer, public, and members of the health professions in the assessment of worker compensation programs.
  3. Recognizing formally through certification those individuals who meet the eligibility requirements and standards set by the Workers Compensation Society Certification Board.

Certification Process:

Under Construction - More information after January 2008 - please check back.