1. DWC

Qualified medical evaluator process

Qualified medical evaluators (QMEs) are qualified physicians who are certified by the Division of Workers' Compensation - Medical Unit to examine injured workers to evaluate disability and write medical-legal reports. The reports are used to determine an injured worker's eligibility for workers' compensation benefits. QMEs include medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, doctors of chiropractic, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, psychologists and acupuncturists.

Becoming a qualified medical examiner:

Online physician education courses now available

DWC offers free online education courses providing continuing education credits for physicians, QMEs, chiropractors, and nurses. Current offerings include the use of the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS) and tips for Qualified Medical Evaluators (QME).

Study Guides:

  • Competency examination booklet
  • Competency examination for acupuncturists
  • Physician guide - The Physician’s Guide is intended as an educational and reference tool to supplement the reader’s professional experience. While intended primarily for treating providers, others in the workers’ compensation community may also find the information helpful, particularly Qualified Medical Evaluators (QMEs) and those preparing for the QME certification exam.

QME competency examination results:

New QME:

  • Medical Legal Quality Assurance Checklist and Important Terms and Concepts
    This is a template for medical-legal reports. It is a tool to help physicians in developing their report, and is not a required format or template.
  • Report writing course providers
  • Report writing course providers for chiropractors. This course must be completed prior to being appointed as a QME.
    Caution: Be advised that amendments to Title 8, California Code of Regulations § 11, that took effect on February 26, 2024, require that chiropractic applicants must have completed the required course within three years of their application date, and all applicants must complete new course material that may not be contained in the 44-hour course.
    • The International Chiropractor Association of California (ICAC). You may contact James E. Musick, DC at 916-362-8816 or icachome@msn.com to enroll. (Offers courses that include 2 hours of case law, 2 hours of anti-bias training, 25 hours of IDE courses, and 44 hours of IDE courses)
    • California Chiropractic Association (CalChiro). You may contact Shasta Carey at 916-648-2727 or scarey@calchiro.org to enroll. (Offers 25-hour course)
    • Life Chiropractic College West (Life West). You may contact Mark Zuber, DC at 469-223-7339 or mzuberdc@fightdoc.com to enroll. (Offers 44-hour course)

QME reappointment:

  • Continuing education
  • Online Portal for Submission of QME Medical-Legal Reports - QMEs are required to submit their two most recent medical-legal reports in which there was a face-to-face evaluation and the injured worker was determined to have reached the status of maximum medical improvement. If the QME did not generate two such reports in the two years prior to their reappointment date, they may submit a statement of explanation in lieu of the reports.

Resources:

  • Online physician education courses now available
    DWC offers free online education courses providing continuing education credits for physicians, QMEs, chiropractors, and nurses. Current offerings include the use of the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS) and tips for Qualified Medical Evaluators (QME).

QME Discipline

Database:

Frequently asked questions:

September 2024