Educational Resources

Preparing for the QME exam takes focused study and reliable resources. Our team has curated proprietary exam preparation materials to help Spectrum physicians prepare for the exam and review key concepts. Reach out to our team today to get access to these valuable additional resources to ensure you have every possible advantage when you take the exam.

To become a QME, you must pass the QME competency exam with a score of 70% or greater. This exam is offered only twice each year; one week each in April and October. Registration for these exam periods opens up a few months in advance and closes long before the scheduled exam dates, so it's critical to get signed up as soon as the registration period opens.

Working with Spectrum, you can rely on our team to cover the costs associated with taking the exam, be confident with our study materials, and depend on our team to handle all the administrative work involved in ensuring you get registered successfully.

Medical-legal report writing is an essential part of QME practice. Before being appointed as a QME, applicants must complete a required Report Writing Course (RWC) comprising 16 total hours of disability evaluation report-writing training. This course can be completed entirely online and includes a 10-hour portion you can complete at your own pace and a 6-hour "live" portion which is typically done via Zoom. For Spectrum physicians, we handle all the administrative work, navigate enrollment, offer you all available course options and get everything set up and the cost covered so you can focus exclusively on studying and completing the course.

Spectrum covers the cost of the requisite report-writing training for physicians who have committed to working with our company. Reach out to our team today to learn more and arrange enrollment.

The course is delivered by certified educational providers, like TeachCE, in a 16-hour format: 10 self-paced hours plus 6 live Zoom hours. Full course details, including cost and topics covered, are available on their site.

New chiropractic QME applicants follow a distinct training pathway. They must complete a qualifying Industrial Disability Evaluation (IDE) course which consists of a minimum of 25 hours before they can be appointed as a QME. The course must be taught by an educational provider approved by the DWC, and it is highly recommended to complete the course prior to sitting for the exam, as the course covers much of the same material as the QME exam itself.

It is important to note that Chiropractors must complete this 25-hour IDE version of the course; the 16-hour report-writing course (RWC) required for non-chiropractic applicants will not satisfy the requirement for applicants who are chiropractors.

There are a number of providers who have been approved by the State of California to offer the IDE course. The fees for these courses vary by provider and often also change depending on the time of year, increasing in cost as the test date approaches. At Spectrum, chiropractors who are working toward becoming certified as QMEs have our team to assist them with finding all available options and registering for the course.

Once QME certification is obtained, maintaining active status requires timely completion of annual paperwork and fee payments, along with fulfillment of continuing education requirements every two years. Spectrum physicians benefit from a dedicated team that monitors important notices and deadlines, coordinates required training, and helps ensure compliance with all DWC-mandated educational topics. We also maintain copies of certifications and training records within our system, ensuring documentation is readily available should additional copies or verification of completion ever be needed.

Active QME physicians are required to complete 16 hours of continuing education every two years, covering specific topics designated by the Department of Workers' Compensation (DWC). For the first reappointment cycle, however, only 10 hours of additional coursework are required, as successful completion of the initial QME competency examination counts toward six of the required 16 hours.

Physicians interested in Independent Medical Examinations can explore training opportunities through SEAK. Contact Spectrum to discuss available course information and administrative assistance with enrollment.