An independent Psycho-Vocational Evaluation is typically conducted by a Psychologist (often in collaboration with a Certified Vocational Evaluator) and considers accident-related historical details, as well as, focuses on the claimant’s educational and occupational history to determine suitable occupational options, from a psychological perspective, for that individual. Such an assessment can be useful in a variety of circumstances when examining the vocational assessment and rehabilitation of an individual, including in instances where the question of complete occupational disability arises within a given claim, and in cases that involve an individual with an identified history of pre-existing disability condition(s). In a psycho-vocational evaluation, the psychologist addresses issues that could hinder a claimant’s return to his or her occupation such as whether an extensive formal education program would be required for occupational options deemed suitable through the evaluation, whether a learning disability is suspected, or whether the claimant is restricted in his or her capacity to return to pre-accident occupation due to psychological symptomatology.
