How To Become A QME

A California qualified medical evaluator (QME), evaluates workers comp injuries to assess for maximum medical improvement, impairment ratings, causation, apportionment, ability to work and future medical.

This is done independently; you do not work for the insurance carrier, the treating doctor, or the applicant. 

STEP 1: If you are not already licensed to practice in the state of California, you must first obtain your license. 

STEP 2: Complete and submit Registration For QME Competancy Exam (QME Form 102)  

and the Application for Appointment as Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME Form 100) with your $125 application fee. This must be mailed and postmarked by a specific cut-off date that can be found in the Exam Packet on DWC website. 

You must also submit a copy of your current California Professional License

For M.D.’s, D.O.’s: A copy of your board certificate(s) and certificate(s) completion of residency & fellowship training program(s) by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association. Provide a copy for each specialty in which you are requesting appointment to perform QME Exam

For ALL OTHERS: A copy of your professional diploma.

STEP 3: You will receive a notification, usually via email, that your registration packet has been processed. At this point, you will be prompted to select a test date within the 7-day testing window; you will take the examination at a Pearson-VUE testing center. Once you choose a date and time, make sure it's confirmed. 

STEP 4: Pass the QME Competency Exam offered by the Division of  Workers’ Compensation (DWC). The exam is given twice per year (April and  October). 

Examination results will be emailed  approximately 4-6 weeks after the last examination date of the exam window. 

The short answer is no. However, the QME Competency Exam is widely regarded as one of the most challenging tests that California offers. Because it is known to have a high failure rate (approximately 50% of test takers fail on their first attempt), it is highly recommended to take a test prep class and purchase study materials. 

The California Labor Code states that Doctors of Chiropractic must complete a 25-hour training course like our IDE class, before they can be appointed as a QME. While it's not required to be completed before the exam, your chances of passing the exam on the first try are greatly improved by taking this intensive course beforehand.

Other physicians are not required to complete any course before the exam, only afterwards (a 16-hour Report Writing Course) but considering the 50% fail rate, they are also encouraged to take a QME exam prep course like our White Coat QME Exam Prep.

For each case, the state will randomly generate a list of three doctors in the local area. If there is no attorney for the applicant, the applicant receives the list and chooses a doctor. If the applicant has an attorney, the list goes to the insurance adjuster, or their representative, and they select a doctor to eliminate; the list then goes to the applicant’s attorney to eliminate a doctor. Through this process of elimination, the last remaining doctor is assigned the exam. QMEs who build a good reputation by being consistently unbiased toward the insurance carrier as well as the applicant will ultimately get selected for more exams..

When a worker claims an injury– which might be from a one-time instance like a fall or a continuous injury like carpal tunnel– they are typically sent for physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care and/ or medication. As the appointed QME, you evaluate the injured worker, assess their alleged injury and treatment(s) and report your findings as an impairment rating. Your report is used to determine the applicant’s eligibility for California Workers’ Compensation benefits.

A QME must prepare and submit the initial or follow-up comprehensive medical-legal evaluation within 30 days from the date the QME has seen the employee.

A management company handles all of your administrative tasks. They handle your scheduling, obtain the necessary medical records you'll need, conduct a complete patient history, assign a medical assistant for your exam, acquire an interpreter when appropriate, QA and submit your report, and submit billing. 

A few easy ways: 

1. Subscribe 

2. Find us on Facebook 

3. Join the dedicated "QME Resources" Facebook group–  it's a place for QMEs and prospective QMEs to ask questions, share  advice,  learn about what's going on in the industry and more. See you  there! 

The full fee schedule for a workers’ compensation evaluation are set by California law and can be found here. See below for a snapshot.