Glossary · PA Workers' Comp

PCRB (Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau)

The licensed rating organization that files workers' compensation loss costs and calculates experience modifiers for Pennsylvania employers.

Definition

The Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau (PCRB) is the licensed rating organization for workers' compensation insurance in Pennsylvania. It operates under Pennsylvania insurance law and files loss costs — the actuarial baseline for workers' comp premiums — for all class codes used in the state.

How the PCRB Sets Rates and Experience Modifiers in Pennsylvania

The PCRB collects claims data from all workers' comp insurers writing business in Pennsylvania and uses that data to calculate loss costs for each of the 632 class codes. Loss costs reflect the expected cost of injuries per $100 of payroll for each type of work.

The PCRB also calculates Experience Modification Rates (EMRs) for eligible PA employers. An EMR above 1.00 means your actual claims have exceeded the expected level for your industry; below 1.00 means you've performed better than the statewide average.

Pennsylvania insurers do not file their own rates — they file a Loss Cost Multiplier (LCM) that is applied to the PCRB's loss costs. This structure means all PA insurers start from the same actuarial baseline but compete on their expense and profit margins.