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The California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) reminds all applicants for reappointment as a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) to fully satisfy the continuing education requirements of Labor Code section 55.1. by April 1, 2026.

On February 28, 2024, the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved DWC’s regulatory action which adopted new regulation § 55.1. That regulation enacted new educational requirements for Qualified Medical Evaluators seeking reappointment after April 1, 2026. The new criteria include:

• The ability to hold on site educational programs virtually;
• The requirement of 16 hours of continuing education for reappointment as a QME;
• Minimum hour requirements for continuing education in specific areas as follows:

o A minimum of 4 hours of instruction in disability impairment rating;
o A minimum of 3 hours of instruction in medical-legal report writing;
o A minimum of 2 hour of instruction in anti-bias training which meets the qualifications outlined in Section 11(h);
o A minimum of 2 hours of instruction consisting of a review of workers' compensation case law;
o A minimum of 1 hour of instruction in proper application of the medical-legal fee schedule or in QME adherence to regulatory clerical requirements.

• The ability of a physician to earn a maximum of 2 hours continuing education credit by having their reports reviewed by an approved educational provider.

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As of April 1, 2026 regulation § 55.1 will be fully effective. All applications for reappointment as a Qualified Medical Evaluator must fully satisfy the continuing education requirements of section 55.1. The full text of the regulation can be accessed using the Title 8 search.

A list of continuing education providers, some of whom are offering classes that have been accredited to meet the requirements of regulation 55.1, are listed on the DWC website.

 

QMEs seeking recertification are advised to make sure that the continuing education provider that they choose is in compliance with the requirements of regulation § 55.1.

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from the DWC Newsline issued and then edited for publication on adjustercom by editor Lonce Lamonte, lonce@adjustercom.com