California attracts people from around the world, and health professionals are no exception. With that in mind, it’s not surprising that physicians often wonder if they can take the Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) Examination outside of California. In today’s post, we provide an answer.
What Do QMEs Do, Exactly?
Qualified Medical Evaluators are healthcare professionals certified by the Medical Unit of California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) to examine injured workers and issue medical-legal reports.
The work of QMEs is extremely important because their medical-legal reports are key to determining if an injured worker is eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
Any of the following professionals can become a QME in California, provided that they meet all the necessary requirements:
- Medical doctors
- Doctors of osteopathy
- Doctors of chiropractic
- Dentists
- Optometrists
- Podiatrists
- Psychologists
- Acupuncturists
Can I Take the QME Examination Outside of California?
Yes, you are allowed to take the QME California examination at any open Pearson VUE location in the United States or abroad.
However, you should keep in mind that if you take the QME examination outside of California, additional ID requirements may apply.
Here are the basic guidelines you need to follow if you take the QME examination outside of California:
- Regardless of where you present the QME examination, you must present two forms of original (meaning no photocopies), valid (unexpired) IDs; one form as a primary ID (government issued with name, photo, and signature) and one form as a secondary ID (with name and signature, or name and recent recognizable photo).
- All required IDs must be issued by the country in which you are testing.
- If you do not have a qualifying primary ID issued from the country you are testing in, an International Travel Passport from your country of citizenship is required, along with a secondary ID.
To learn more about the QME examination process, check out our previous posts, “How Long Does the QME Exam Take?” and “Can I Appeal My QME Score?”
Practice IQ: Medical Billing Services in California?
At Practice IQ, we understand the challenges healthcare professionals face in today’s fast-paced world.That’s why we have made it our mission to take care of the administrative side of medical-legal reports and billing so you can focus on what you do best.
We are located in Pomona, California, and serve clients all over the Golden State. Contact us today by telephone (424-433-5704) or email (piqusinfo@practiceiqusa.com), or fill out the contact form to learn more about our services.
