An approved permanent impairment assessor (APIA) plays an important role in the Western Australian workers compensation scheme. An APIA assesses an injured worker’s degree of permanent whole of person impairment (PWPI) caused by workplace injuries. These assessments determine access to certain workers compensation entitlements by injured workers.
WorkCover WA may approve a person as an APIA if the person is a registered medical practitioner who WorkCover WA considers to be sufficiently trained in the use of WorkCover WA Guidelines and satisfies WorkCover WA’s eligibility criteria.
See below to find out how to become designated as an approved permanent impairment assessor (APIA) operating within the Western Australian workers compensation and injury management scheme or to see if there are any upcoming dates scheduled for training in the use of the WorkCover WA Guidelines.
If you are a medical practitioner interested in partaking in a future WorkCover WA Guidelines training session, please contact us via regulation@workcover.wa.gov.au.
Go to How to become an approved permanent impairment assessor.
Register of approved permanent impairment assessors (WorkCover WA Online)
An up-to-date register of WorkCover WA approved permanent impairment assessors (APIA).
The WorkCover WA Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment are issued for the purpose of evaluating the degree of permanent impairment that arises from an injury. The Act requires Approved Permanent Impairment Assessors make assessments of permanent impairment in accordance with the Guidelines.
WorkCover WA Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment – 2nd Edition – 1 July 2026
NOTE: The Second Edition of the Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment will apply for all assessments conducted on or after 1 July 2026.
Changes from the 1st edition to the 2nd edition can be found in this summary document.
WorkCover WA Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment – 1st Edition – 1 July 2024
The Approved Permanent Impairment Assessor Standards of Practice provide a cohesive set of service expectations to ensure APIAs deliver high quality services when assessing a worker’s degree of permanent impairment.
WorkCover WA Approved Permanent Impairment Assessor Standards of Practice
NOTE: The Approved Permanent Impairment Assessor Standards of Practice do not come into effect until 1 July 2026.