There is considerable debate concerning the diagnosis of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in compensation claims. This study reviewed the quality of the assessment reports prepared by clinicians who evaluated 31 emergency service workers making PTSD‐related compensation claims. Assessments were conducted by 4‐year trained psychologists (39%), psychologists holding a masters degree (36%), and psychiatrists (19%). The assessment reports were evaluated relative to the diagnostic criteria for PTSD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition (2000). In the majority of cases (81%), the assessor determined that the emergency service worker had PTSD, but only one report met the minimum standard for that diagnosis. In the majority (65%) of cases the clinician failed to address the possibility of malingering. These data suggest that clinical assessment reports for PTSD frequently fail to meet minimum assessment standards.