Qualified Medical Evaluator

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Any licensed physician, as defined in Labor Code Section 3209.3, who acts as a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) and who writes medical/legal reports to evaluate the extent of disability and need for medical treatment of injured workers in the California workers compensation system. Physician includes medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, chiropractor, psychologist, optometrist, dentist, podiatrist and acupuncturist. All physicians are required to pay a non-refundable/non-rollover $125.00 fee to sit for any upcoming QME examination (Title 8, California Code of Regulations § 11(f)(2)). Before appointment as a QME, the physician shall complete a 12 hour course in disability evaluation report writing approved by the Administrative Director (Labor Code § 139.2). QMEs who were approved on or after July 17, 1993, were approved for a two-year term. Once a QMEs initial term expires, he/she will be reappointed every two years. A QME must pay an annual fee in order to maintain his/her status and show proof of having attended 12 hours of combined education in 24 months. The annual fee is $250 if you performed 25 or more comprehensive medical-legal evaluations in the year prior to assessment of the fee. If you performed 11-24 examinations, the annual fee is $125. If you performed 0-10, the fee is $110. This fee is for one office location. If you wish to have additional locations, the fee is $100 for each additional location. (Labor Code § 139.2 (n), 8 CCR § 17). Please call 1-800-794-6900 or (510) 286-3700 or email QMETest@dir.ca.gov for further assistance. For additional information regarding the qualifications to become a QME, please visit www.dir.ca.gov/dwc. You may also obtain additional application forms on the website.