You answered 17 questions about how you've been feeling over the past month and got a score between 17 and 85. The PCL-C (PTSD Checklist - Civilian Version) measures symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in people who have experienced civilian trauma—accidents, assaults, disasters, or other frightening events. Here's what your score means.
The quick answer
| Score | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| 17-29 | Minimal symptoms; PTSD unlikely |
| 30-43 | Some symptoms; monitoring recommended |
| 44-49 | Moderate symptoms; evaluation recommended |
| 50-85 | Probable PTSD; clinical assessment strongly recommended |
A score of 50 or higher is the standard threshold for probable PTSD. At this cutoff, the PCL-C correctly identifies about 80% of people who actually have PTSD.
What the PCL-C measures
The 17 questions cover three symptom clusters that define PTSD under DSM-IV criteria:
Re-experiencing (Questions 1-5)
- Intrusive memories of the trauma
- Disturbing dreams about what happened
- Flashbacks—feeling like it's happening again
- Intense distress when reminded of the event
- Physical reactions (racing heart, sweating) to reminders
Avoidance and numbing (Questions 6-12)
- Avoiding thoughts or feelings about the trauma
- Avoiding activities, places, or people that remind you
- Difficulty remembering important parts of what happened
- Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- Feeling distant or cut off from others
- Emotional numbness
- Sense that your future will be cut short
Hyperarousal (Questions 13-17)
- Sleep problems
- Irritability or anger outbursts
- Difficulty concentrating
- Being constantly on guard (hypervigilance)
- Exaggerated startle response
For each symptom, you rate how much it's bothered you from 1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely).
What to do based on your score
Score 17-29 (minimal symptoms)
Your answers suggest you're not experiencing significant PTSD symptoms right now. This doesn't mean nothing happened to you—it means your current symptoms don't reach the threshold for concern.
Score 30-43 (some symptoms)
You're experiencing some trauma-related symptoms, but below the clinical threshold. Consider:
- Monitoring how you're doing over the next few weeks
- Practicing self-care: sleep, exercise, social connection
- Talking to a provider if symptoms worsen or persist
Some distress after a traumatic event is normal. It often improves on its own within a few weeks to months.
Score 44-49 (moderate symptoms)
Your symptoms are significant. At this level, many people have PTSD that would benefit from treatment. Consider:
- Scheduling an evaluation with a mental health provider
- Asking about trauma-focused therapy (like CPT or prolonged exposure)
- Not waiting to see if it resolves on its own—PTSD often doesn't
Score 50-85 (probable PTSD)
This score strongly suggests PTSD. Professional evaluation and treatment are recommended:
- Seek assessment from a trauma-specialized provider
- Evidence-based treatments (CPT, PE, EMDR) are highly effective
- Many people with PTSD at this level see significant improvement with treatment
Important: The PCL-C is an older version
The PCL-C is based on DSM-IV criteria from 1994. The current diagnostic standard is DSM-5 (2013), which defines PTSD somewhat differently.
The newer PCL-5 is now the preferred assessment:
| PCL-C (older) | PCL-5 (current) | |
|---|---|---|
| **DSM version** | DSM-IV | DSM-5 |
| **Questions** | 17 | 20 |
| **Score range** | 17-85 | 0-80 |
| **Clinical cutoff** | 50 | 31-33 |
| **Symptom clusters** | 3 | 4 |
If you took the PCL-C, your results are still meaningful for understanding your symptoms. But if you're seeking current assessment or comparing to recent research, the PCL-5 is the standard.
Why does this matter?
DSM-5 added symptoms DSM-IV didn't include:
- Persistent negative beliefs ("I'm a terrible person")
- Blame of self or others for the trauma
- Persistent negative emotions (shame, guilt, horror)
- Reckless or self-destructive behavior
If you have these symptoms but scored lower on the PCL-C, you might score higher on the PCL-5. The newer test captures a fuller picture of PTSD as currently understood.
What the PCL-C doesn't tell you
It doesn't diagnose PTSD. A score above 50 suggests probable PTSD, but diagnosis requires clinical evaluation. Some people with high scores don't have PTSD; some with lower scores do.
It doesn't measure everything. The PCL-C focuses on core PTSD symptoms. It doesn't assess related problems like depression, substance use, or functional impairment—all important for treatment planning.
It doesn't distinguish trauma types. The PCL-C asks about "a stressful experience from the past" generically. It doesn't identify which trauma or how many traumas you've experienced.
The three symptom clusters explained
Re-experiencing: The trauma keeps coming back
This is the defining feature of PTSD. The traumatic memory intrudes when you don't want it to—as flashbacks, nightmares, or intense reactions to reminders. Your brain hasn't fully processed what happened, so it keeps replaying.
Avoidance and numbing: Trying to escape
Avoidance makes sense—you're trying to protect yourself from distressing memories. But it often backfires. Avoiding thoughts, feelings, and reminders can prevent processing the trauma. Emotional numbing can damage relationships and steal enjoyment from life.
Hyperarousal: Stuck on high alert
Your nervous system stays activated as if danger is still present. This causes sleep problems, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and constant vigilance. It's exhausting to always be on guard.
Common questions
I experienced trauma but scored below 50. Does that mean I'm fine?
Not necessarily. The PCL-C measures current symptoms over the past month. You might have:
- Symptoms that fluctuate and weren't high this particular month
- Trauma-related problems that don't fit the PTSD pattern
- Subclinical symptoms that still affect your life
If you're struggling, trust your experience over a single score.
My score is high, but the trauma was a long time ago. Is it still PTSD?
Yes. PTSD can persist for years or even decades without treatment. Some people develop delayed-onset PTSD, where symptoms emerge long after the trauma. How long ago it happened doesn't determine whether treatment can help—it can.
Should I take the PCL-5 instead?
If you're seeking current assessment, yes. The PCL-5 aligns with current diagnostic criteria and is the standard in clinical practice. If you're tracking symptoms over time and have been using the PCL-C, continuing with it maintains consistency.
What's the difference between the PCL-C and other versions?
The PCL family includes:
- PCL-C (Civilian): General trauma, asks about "a stressful experience"
- PCL-S (Specific): Links symptoms to a specific identified trauma
- PCL-M (Military): Asks about "a stressful military experience"
- PCL-5: Current version based on DSM-5 (replaces all three)
Tracking over time
If you're in treatment, tracking your PCL-C score can show progress:
- Change of 10+ points: Represents reliable change (not just measurement fluctuation)
- Change of 10-20 points: Clinically meaningful improvement
- Dropping below 50: Suggests symptoms may no longer meet PTSD threshold
Take the assessment every 2-4 weeks during active treatment to see how you're responding.
When to seek help regardless of score
Contact a mental health provider if:
- Trauma symptoms are interfering with work, relationships, or daily life
- You're using alcohol or drugs to cope with trauma memories
- You're avoiding more and more of your life to stay away from reminders
- You're having thoughts of hurting yourself
You don't need a specific score to deserve help.
The bottom line
Your PCL-C score reflects the severity of PTSD symptoms across three clusters: re-experiencing, avoidance/numbing, and hyperarousal. Scores below 44 suggest PTSD is unlikely; scores of 50 or higher suggest probable PTSD warranting professional evaluation. The PCL-C is an older assessment based on DSM-IV criteria—the current standard is the PCL-5. If you scored high on the PCL-C, effective treatments exist. Most people with PTSD improve significantly with trauma-focused therapy.
Related assessments
- PCL-5 — The current DSM-5 version (recommended for new assessments)
- PC-PTSD-5 — 5-question PTSD screening tool
- PHQ-9 — Depression screening (commonly co-occurs with PTSD)
- GAD-7 — Anxiety screening