QME EXAM Actual Questions and Answers|
Latest Update
QME (Qualified Medical Evaluator) Exam – California DWC
Practice Questions & Verified Answers with Detailed Rationales (2026/2027
Update)
SECTION 1: QME ELIGIBILITY, APPOINTMENT & TERMINATION
1. Under Labor Code § 139.2, QME appointments are for what duration?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 4 years
Correct Answer: B. 2 years. Rationale: Under Labor Code § 139.2, QME
appointments are for a duration of 2 years. The appointment term ensures
periodic review of QME competency and compliance with continuing education
requirements .
2. Who holds the authority to appoint physicians as QME evaluators?
A) The California Medical Board
B) The Administrative Director of the DWC
C) The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB)
D) The treating physician
Correct Answer: B. The Administrative Director of the DWC. Rationale: The
Administrative Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation holds the
authority to appoint physicians as QME evaluators. This authority is delegated
through the DWC Medical Unit .
,3. What are the three requirements for seeking appointment as a QME?
A) Board certification, 5 years experience, malpractice insurance
B) Pass the QME competency exam, complete a 12-hour disability evaluation
report-writing course, and devote at least 1/3 of total practice time to direct
medical treatment
C) Medical license, DEA registration, and hospital privileges
D) Residency completion, fellowship training, and research publications
Correct Answer: B. Pass the QME competency exam, complete a 12-hour
disability evaluation report-writing course, and devote at least 1/3 of total
practice time to direct medical treatment. Rationale: To be appointed as a QME,
a physician must pass the QME evaluation and examination, complete a 12-hour
disability evaluation report-writing course approved by the DWC Administrative
Director, and devote at least 1/3 of their practice to direct medical treatment (or
have served as an AME on 8+ occasions in the past 12 months) .
4. Which California agency is responsible for administering the QME program?
A) California Medical Board
B) Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) Medical Unit
C) Department of Industrial Relations
D) Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB)
Correct Answer: B. Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) Medical Unit.
Rationale: The Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) Medical Unit is
responsible for administering the QME program. QMEs are certified by the DWC
Medical Unit to examine injured workers and write medical-legal reports .
5. What is the primary purpose of the QME competency examination?
,A) To test medical knowledge only
B) To demonstrate competence in evaluating medical issues in the workers'
compensation system
C) To evaluate clinical skills in a hospital setting
D) To assess surgical proficiency
Correct Answer: B. To demonstrate competence in evaluating medical issues in
the workers' compensation system. Rationale: The primary purpose of the QME
competency examination is to demonstrate the competence of a physician in
evaluating medical issues in the workers' compensation system and to evaluate
competency with respect to current California Workers' Compensation System
terminology, laws, and procedures .
6. A physician may be eligible to sit for the QME competency examination while
on probationary license status if:
A) The probation is for a minor administrative violation
B) The probation is for a felony conviction
C) The probation is for substance abuse
D) The physician has completed all probation requirements
Correct Answer: A. The probation is for a minor administrative violation.
Rationale: A physician on probationary license status may be eligible if the
probation is for a minor administrative violation. Felony convictions and substance
abuse generally disqualify a physician from QME certification .
7. What is the passing score required to pass the DWC QME Competency Exam?
A) 60%
B) 65%
C) 70%
D) 75%
, Correct Answer: C. 70%. Rationale: Candidates must pass the DWC QME
Competency Exam with a score of 70% or higher. The exam is offered twice per
year, in April and October .
8. Which of the following is NOT a core competency area tested on the QME
exam?
A) Clinical Assessment/Evaluation and Medical Treatment
B) Disability and Impairment Issues / MMI & P&S
C) Surgical Techniques and Operative Planning
D) Causation and Apportionment
Correct Answer: C. Surgical Techniques and Operative Planning. Rationale: The
QME exam tests clinical assessment, disability and impairment, causation and
apportionment, basic laws and report writing, ethics, and practice procedures.
Surgical techniques are not a core competency area .
9. A QME must complete how many hours of continuing education within the
previous 24 months for applications on or after April 1, 2026?
A) 8 hours
B) 12 hours
C) 16 hours
D) 24 hours
Correct Answer: C. 16 hours. Rationale: For applications on or after April 1, 2026,
QMEs must complete 16 hours of continuing education within the previous 24
months. This requirement is part of the updated regulations .
10. Which of the following individuals is eligible to become a QME?
A) Licensed physicians (MD or DO) only
B) Medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, doctors of chiropractic, dentists,
Latest Update
QME (Qualified Medical Evaluator) Exam – California DWC
Practice Questions & Verified Answers with Detailed Rationales (2026/2027
Update)
SECTION 1: QME ELIGIBILITY, APPOINTMENT & TERMINATION
1. Under Labor Code § 139.2, QME appointments are for what duration?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 4 years
Correct Answer: B. 2 years. Rationale: Under Labor Code § 139.2, QME
appointments are for a duration of 2 years. The appointment term ensures
periodic review of QME competency and compliance with continuing education
requirements .
2. Who holds the authority to appoint physicians as QME evaluators?
A) The California Medical Board
B) The Administrative Director of the DWC
C) The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB)
D) The treating physician
Correct Answer: B. The Administrative Director of the DWC. Rationale: The
Administrative Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation holds the
authority to appoint physicians as QME evaluators. This authority is delegated
through the DWC Medical Unit .
,3. What are the three requirements for seeking appointment as a QME?
A) Board certification, 5 years experience, malpractice insurance
B) Pass the QME competency exam, complete a 12-hour disability evaluation
report-writing course, and devote at least 1/3 of total practice time to direct
medical treatment
C) Medical license, DEA registration, and hospital privileges
D) Residency completion, fellowship training, and research publications
Correct Answer: B. Pass the QME competency exam, complete a 12-hour
disability evaluation report-writing course, and devote at least 1/3 of total
practice time to direct medical treatment. Rationale: To be appointed as a QME,
a physician must pass the QME evaluation and examination, complete a 12-hour
disability evaluation report-writing course approved by the DWC Administrative
Director, and devote at least 1/3 of their practice to direct medical treatment (or
have served as an AME on 8+ occasions in the past 12 months) .
4. Which California agency is responsible for administering the QME program?
A) California Medical Board
B) Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) Medical Unit
C) Department of Industrial Relations
D) Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB)
Correct Answer: B. Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) Medical Unit.
Rationale: The Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) Medical Unit is
responsible for administering the QME program. QMEs are certified by the DWC
Medical Unit to examine injured workers and write medical-legal reports .
5. What is the primary purpose of the QME competency examination?
,A) To test medical knowledge only
B) To demonstrate competence in evaluating medical issues in the workers'
compensation system
C) To evaluate clinical skills in a hospital setting
D) To assess surgical proficiency
Correct Answer: B. To demonstrate competence in evaluating medical issues in
the workers' compensation system. Rationale: The primary purpose of the QME
competency examination is to demonstrate the competence of a physician in
evaluating medical issues in the workers' compensation system and to evaluate
competency with respect to current California Workers' Compensation System
terminology, laws, and procedures .
6. A physician may be eligible to sit for the QME competency examination while
on probationary license status if:
A) The probation is for a minor administrative violation
B) The probation is for a felony conviction
C) The probation is for substance abuse
D) The physician has completed all probation requirements
Correct Answer: A. The probation is for a minor administrative violation.
Rationale: A physician on probationary license status may be eligible if the
probation is for a minor administrative violation. Felony convictions and substance
abuse generally disqualify a physician from QME certification .
7. What is the passing score required to pass the DWC QME Competency Exam?
A) 60%
B) 65%
C) 70%
D) 75%
, Correct Answer: C. 70%. Rationale: Candidates must pass the DWC QME
Competency Exam with a score of 70% or higher. The exam is offered twice per
year, in April and October .
8. Which of the following is NOT a core competency area tested on the QME
exam?
A) Clinical Assessment/Evaluation and Medical Treatment
B) Disability and Impairment Issues / MMI & P&S
C) Surgical Techniques and Operative Planning
D) Causation and Apportionment
Correct Answer: C. Surgical Techniques and Operative Planning. Rationale: The
QME exam tests clinical assessment, disability and impairment, causation and
apportionment, basic laws and report writing, ethics, and practice procedures.
Surgical techniques are not a core competency area .
9. A QME must complete how many hours of continuing education within the
previous 24 months for applications on or after April 1, 2026?
A) 8 hours
B) 12 hours
C) 16 hours
D) 24 hours
Correct Answer: C. 16 hours. Rationale: For applications on or after April 1, 2026,
QMEs must complete 16 hours of continuing education within the previous 24
months. This requirement is part of the updated regulations .
10. Which of the following individuals is eligible to become a QME?
A) Licensed physicians (MD or DO) only
B) Medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, doctors of chiropractic, dentists,
