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What Is the Difference Between an IQME (AME) and a PQME (Panel QME) in California?
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By Eman Yazdchi, Esq. · Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization · Cal Bar #285231
What is the difference between a PQME and an IQME in California?
A PQME is California's panel Qualified Medical Evaluator. IQME is not an official term here. Your exam is a QME or an AME.
If you got hurt at work, these letters can feel like a foreign language. PQME. IQME. AME. You just want to know who decides your case. Take a breath. The answer is simpler than it looks.
Almost every California workers' comp case turns on one medical exam. That doctor is called a QME or an AME. Their report can shape your benefits. So it helps to know who they are.
We will explain each term in plain words. You do not need to memorize anything. By the end, you will know who examines you. You will know who picks them. You will know what their report means for your money.
What is a PQME, or panel QME?
A PQME is a state-certified doctor chosen from a three-name panel. Each side strikes one name. The last doctor examines you.
PQME and panel QME mean the exact same thing. QME stands for Qualified Medical Evaluator. The letter P just means the doctor came from a panel. So do not let the two labels confuse you.
Here is how the panel works. The state sends a list of three doctors. Each side crosses off one name. The doctor left standing becomes your evaluator. California sets this process out in Labor Code 4062.2.
You can ask for a QME in the right field. A back injury may need an orthopedic doctor. A stress claim may need a psychiatrist. The right specialty can shape your rating. So choose with care, or let a lawyer help.
This doctor does not treat you. Your own treating doctor handles your care. The QME only examines you, often just once. Then they write a report. That report drives the value of your claim.
It helps to see all the doctor types in one place.
| Doctor type | What they do |
|---|---|
| Treating doctor (PTP) | Treats your injury and manages your care |
| QME | State-certified doctor who evaluates your case |
| Panel QME (PQME) | A QME picked from a state panel of three |
| AME | One evaluator both sides agree on (needs a lawyer) |
| IME | A general term used outside California comp |
What is an IQME or an IME?
IQME is not a real California workers' comp term. Some people mean an IME, an insurer exam used in other systems.
You may see the letters IQME online or on a form. California does not use that term. Do not worry that you missed a step. Your case is still on track.
People sometimes mean an IME. That stands for Independent Medical Examination. Insurers use IMEs in other states and in some injury cases. In California workers' comp, your medical-legal exam is a QME or an AME instead.
Why does the wrong word float around? Workers share advice. Forms differ by company. Old paperwork uses old terms. None of that changes your rights. The California system stays the same.
It is fine to call your claims adjuster and ask. You can also ask your lawyer. There is no shame in asking what a form means. The wording can confuse anyone.
Say a letter tells you to see a doctor for an evaluation. It may not say QME. So ask one simple question. Ask who picked the doctor. That answer tells you the kind of exam it really is.
QME vs AME: which one is right for me?
An AME is one doctor both sides agree on. Only workers with a lawyer can use an AME instead of a panel.
AME stands for Agreed Medical Evaluator. You and the insurer both agree on this one doctor. There is no panel. There is no strike step. You skip the luck of the draw.
You can only use an AME if you have a lawyer. That is one quiet reason injured workers hire one. A trusted AME can settle a fight over your injury faster. It can also save months of delay.
A panel QME works for everyone, with or without a lawyer. It is the standard path. An AME is the upgrade you unlock with a lawyer at your side.
Picture two workers with the same back injury. One has no lawyer and uses a panel QME. One has a lawyer and uses a trusted AME. The second worker often gets a smoother result. The choice of evaluator can shape the whole case.
No worker gets to hand-pick a private doctor for this exam. Both the QME and the AME are meant to be neutral. Be careful with anyone who promises you a doctor in your pocket. That is not how California works.
Here is how the two compare side by side.
| Feature | Panel QME (PQME) | AME |
|---|---|---|
| Who can use it | Any injured worker | Only workers with a lawyer |
| How the doctor is chosen | State sends 3 names, each side strikes one | Both sides agree on one doctor |
| Number of doctors | Three names, one remains | One agreed doctor |
| Who pays | The insurer | The insurer |
| Best when | You have no lawyer, or sides disagree | Both sides want a faster opinion |
How does the report set my benefits?
The report sets your permanent disability rating. It also decides apportionment, the share of your injury that work actually caused.
The exam ends with a written report. The report tells your story. It lists your injury and your past health. It says when your injury is stable. It sets your work limits. It rates how much your body is hurt.
That rating runs from 0 to 100 percent. A higher rating means more money for you. Post-2013, Labor Code 4660.1 turns the doctor's findings into that number. It adjusts for your age and your job. The rating can move up or down.
The report also looks at apportionment. Labor Code 4663 splits your disability by its cause. Say an old car crash once hurt the same knee. The doctor may assign part of the blame to that. Labor Code 4664 then holds the insurer to only the work-caused share.
What if you disagree with the report? You are not stuck. Your lawyer can send the doctor written questions. Your lawyer can question the doctor under oath. If the fight goes on, a workers' comp judge decides.
What happens after the rating? Your case can settle. The state can turn your rating into a dollar amount. You may take a lump sum, or weekly checks. Most cases end in a settlement, not a trial. The report is the key that unlocks all of it.
This table shows how a rating turns into real dollars.
| PD rating | Benefit weeks | Award at the 2026 max ($290/wk) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 percent | 30 weeks | $8,700 |
| 20 percent | 75 weeks | $21,750 |
| 30 percent | 130 weeks | $37,700 |
| 40 percent | 200 weeks | $58,000 |
| 50 percent | 270 weeks | $78,300 |
| 60 percent | 350 weeks | $101,500 |
| 70 percent | 430 weeks | $124,700 plus a life pension |
Injured at work? Call (661) 273-1780
Tap to call →If you were hurt on the job, you should not face this alone. Our office sits in Palmdale, in the heart of the Antelope Valley. We represent injured workers across the Antelope Valley, the San Fernando Valley, and Greater Los Angeles. We appear at the WCAB boards in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pomona, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Oxnard.
We know the local QME doctors. We know how to read their reports. We know when an AME is the smarter path. Insurance doctors can lowball your injury. We push back hard. We make sure your report reflects what really happened to your body. We have seen these reports decide a worker's whole future.
Eman Yazdchi is a Certified Specialist in workers' compensation law, certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California.
Your first call is free. There is no fee unless we win. We have guided many local workers through this exact step. We answer the phone with real help. Call (661) 273-1780 today. Let us walk you through your QME or AME exam, one step at a time. You deserve a clear answer and a fair report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a PQME the same as a panel QME?
Yes. A PQME and a panel QME are the exact same thing. QME stands for Qualified Medical Evaluator. The letter P just means the doctor came from a state panel of three names. Some people write PQME. Others write panel QME. Both point to the same neutral exam. If a doctor holds the QME title, they passed a state test to earn it. That exam helps set the value of your claim, so it matters a lot.
Does California workers' comp use IQME exams?
No. California does not use the term IQME. If you see it, do not panic. You likely saw a garbled version of QME or IME. Your real medical-legal exam will be a panel QME, or an AME both sides agree on. When a notice confuses you, ask one thing. Ask who chose the doctor. A simple question clears up most of the worry. That answer tells you the kind of exam it is.
Can I pick my own QME doctor?
Not directly. The state sends a panel of three QME doctors. Each side then strikes one name. You do get a say, since you help remove a name. But no worker hand-picks a private doctor for this exam. The goal is a neutral opinion both sides must respect. If you have a lawyer, you can instead agree on an AME together. That is the closest thing to real choice in this process.
Should I choose a QME or an AME?
It depends on your case. You can only use an AME if you have a lawyer. An AME can be faster, since both sides already trust the doctor. A panel QME works for anyone, lawyer or not. A good attorney can tell you the path that protects your rating best. Never sign away your choice without advice. Talk it through before you agree to any doctor. We review this with every client before anything is locked in.
What does the QME report decide?
The QME or AME report carries a lot of weight. It sets your permanent disability rating, from 0 to 100 percent. That rating drives how much money you receive. The report also decides apportionment. That means it splits your injury by its cause. The insurer pays only for the work-caused share. So bring your records and be honest at the exam. A few lines in that report can change your payout.
Do I have to pay for the QME exam?
No. You do not pay for the QME or AME exam out of pocket. The insurance company covers the cost. You also keep your right to free medical care under Labor Code 4600, with no copay. If money or travel worries you, tell your attorney right away. You should not lose money just to get checked. We help arrange the exam so it does not cost you a thing.
Last reviewed by Eman Yazdchi, Esq., June 2026.
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