California · Workers' Compensation
What Is a PQME in California Workers' Comp?
Hurt at work? Workers' comp pays for medical care and part of your lost pay while you heal. A free call tells you where you stand.
Eman Yazdchi, Esq., Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law, California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California.
California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California
California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California
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Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict future cases. Each case is different and results depend on specific facts and circumstances.
Prepared by Yazdchi Law
Content updated:
A PQME, or panel Qualified Medical Evaluator, is a doctor chosen from a list of three issued by the state to settle medical disputes in a workers' comp case. When you and the insurer disagree about your injury, your treatment, your ability to work, or your permanent disability, the PQME's report often decides the outcome.
PQME, QME, AME and IME: the terms
- QME: a doctor certified by the state's Division of Workers' Compensation to write medical-legal reports.
- PQME: a QME picked from a panel (a list of three) issued by the state.
- AME (Agreed Medical Evaluator): a doctor that both sides agree on, used only when the worker has a lawyer.
- IME or IQME: terms used in other states and in older California cases. In California workers' comp today, the evaluator who settles disputes is a QME or an AME.
How the panel works
| No lawyer | With a lawyer | |
|---|---|---|
| Law | Labor Code 4062.1 | Labor Code 4062.2 |
| How the panel is requested | Form 105, sent to the state's Medical Unit | Form 106, requested online |
| How the doctor is chosen | You pick one of the three doctors | Each side strikes one name within 10 days; the remaining doctor is the QME |
| Alternative | None | Both sides can agree on an AME instead |
If a panel doctor is unavailable or a panel is defective, the state rules allow a replacement panel (8 CCR 31.5).
Before and after the exam
- Records. Medical records and other materials must be served at least 20 days before they go to the evaluator (Labor Code 4062.3).
- Travel costs. The employer pays your mileage and travel costs to the exam (Labor Code 4621).
- The report. The QME generally has 30 days after the exam to issue the report (8 CCR 38). If the report is late, either side can ask for a new evaluator (Labor Code 4062.5).
Why the PQME report matters so much
The report usually decides:
- whether the injury happened at work,
- what treatment you need now and in the future,
- when your condition stopped improving,
- your work restrictions,
- your permanent disability rating, which sets how much permanent disability you receive.
A report can be challenged. Either side can ask the QME for a supplemental report or question the doctor in a deposition. A report with a mistake in it can cost you thousands of dollars, so have it reviewed before you settle.
Results in cases like this
Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict a similar outcome.
$5,000,000
Catastrophic spinal cord injury
$1,500,000
Cervical spine injury
$425,000
Slip and fall accident
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Frequently asked questions
Can I choose my own PQME?
What if I disagree with the PQME's report?
Is a PQME the same as my treating doctor?
Who pays for the PQME?
Reviewed by Eman Yazdchi, Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Updated October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice about your case.
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