What does a PD rating string mean?

It records every step of the rating in one line: apportionment% (impairment number − WPI − [modifier]standard − group+variant − occupation-adjusted − age-adjusted) = final PD%. Reading it left to right retraces exactly how the number was built.

What does [1.4] mean in a rating string?

The bracketed value is the FEC/impairment modifier. [1.4] is the SB 863 flat multiplier for injuries on or after 2013; for 2005–2012 injuries you’ll instead see the FEC rank, e.g. [7].

What does 380H or 351G mean?

The number is the occupational group and the letter is the occupational variant assigned to that impairment for that group — for example group 380, variant H. The variant drives whether the rating goes up or down.

How to Read a PD Rating String

Decode a California PD rating string field by field — the impairment number, WPI, the [1.4] or FEC modifier, the occupational group and variant, the age-adjusted rating, apportionment, and the final PD%.

Every California PD rating can be written as a single string that records each step of the computation. Once you can read it, you can check any rating at a glance. (Prefer to skip the reading? Paste any string into the free rating-string decoder and it does this whole walkthrough for you — with the math verified against the schedule.)

80% (16.02.02.00 - 13 - [1.4]18 - 230G - 20 - 23) = 18% PD

Read left to right, each field is one step from the calculation:

Field	Example	Meaning
Apportionment	80%	Industrial share, applied at the end: 80% of the pre-apportionment 23 = 18 (§4663). 100% means no reduction.
Impairment #	16.02.02.00	The PDRS impairment code — here, shoulder range of motion.
WPI	13	The physician’s whole-person impairment percentage.
[modifier] standard	[1.4]18	The SB 863 ×1.4 (or an FEC rank for 2005–2012) applied to WPI: 13 × 1.4 = 18.
Group + variant	230G	Occupational group 230, variant G for this impairment.
Occupation-adjusted	20	Standard rating after the occupational variant (18 → 20).
Age-adjusted	23	After the age adjustment — an older worker nudges it up (20 → 23).
= final	18% PD	The age-adjusted 23 reduced by 80% apportionment = 18% PD (before combining).

Era tells you the modifier

The bracketed field is the fastest way to date a rating. [1.4] is the SB 863 flat multiplier for injuries on or after January 1, 2013. A number like [7] is an FEC rank, used for injuries from 2005 through 2012. Same string shape, different modifier — see rates & eras by year.

When there are several body parts

Each impairment gets its own string; the final PD is the combination of their finals (largest-first, via the Combined Values Chart), not the sum. An 18% shoulder combined with an 11% back and a 7% neck is 32% PD, not 36%.

Try it

Paste or rebuild any rating in the calculator and it shows the full string plus the weeks and dollars behind it. The sample exhibit shows several strings on one case.

How to Read a PD Rating String

Era tells you the modifier

When there are several body parts

FAQ