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You have spent years in clinical medicine. You have taken call, run busy practices, dealt with complex cases and now, you are ready for something different. Not less valuable, just less consuming.

QME work offers a different way to use your medical expertise, one with fewer hours, no overhead, and zero clinical liability. As a Qualified Medical Evaluator, you will conduct medical-legal evaluations and write objective reports used in California's workers' compensation system. It is high-impact work without the burnout, and it is an ideal fit for physicians looking to scale back without stepping away completely.

But QME work is not a one-size-fits-all role. Some specialties thrive in this space. Some personalities do not. And while the schedule is flexible, the work itself requires precision and professionalism.

Our quick self-assessment will help you evaluate your fit for the role, based on your background, availability, and professional goals. You will get a result instantly, and you will know exactly what next step makes sense.

Who This Self-Assessment is for:

• Physicians nearing retirement who want to maintain licensure and stay active
• Mid-career doctors seeking a side income or reduced-hours role
• Specialists in high-demand areas like ortho, neuro, psych, and pain management
• Anyone curious about transition out of full-time clinical work

How the Assessment Works:

• Answer 8 quick questions about your background, availability, and preferences
• Track your score as you go (it is self-graded)
• Get your results instantly, no email required
• See what the next step would be based on your score

Let's Begin: The QME Self-Assessment

1. What stage of your medical career are you in?

• 0 points – Early career (1–5 years post-residency)
• 1 point – Mid-career (6–20 years)
• 2 points – Late-career (20+ years)
• 2 points – Semi-retired or recently retired
• 1 point – Currently not practicing

2. Are you currently board-certified and licensed in California?

• 2 points – Yes
• 1 point – Licensed in another state
• 0 points – No

3. What is your medical specialty?

• 2 points – Orthopedic Surgery, Neurology, Psychiatry, Pain Management
• 1 point – Internal or Family Medicine, PM&R, or other clinical specialties
• 0 points – Non-clinical or unrelated field

4. How many hours per week are you ideally looking to work?

• 2 points – 5–10 hours
• 2 points – 11–20 hours
• 1 point – 20–30 hours
• 0 points – Full-time
• 1 point – Just a few cases per month

5. Do you currently operate or plan to maintain a private practice?

• 2 points – No
• 1 point – Transitioning out
• 1 point – Yes

6. Which of the following statements describe your priorities?
(Select all that apply. 1 point each, max 6 points)

• I want to eliminate on-call or emergency duties
• I would like to work without managing staff or overhead
• I want to stay engaged in medicine without direct patient care
• I want to leverage my expertise without the stress of clinical decision-making
• I want to generate income without expanding my clinical load
• I want more flexibility and personal time

7. Are you comfortable writing detailed, objective medical reports?

• 2 points – Yes or already passed
• 1 point – Somewhat
• 0 points – No

8. Would you be open to preparing for and passing the California QME certification exam? (requiring about 16 hours of study)

• 2 points – Yes
• 1 point – Maybe
• 0 points – No

Add Your Points
(Maximum Possible: 20)

Your Results: Is QME Work Right for You?

15–20 points: Strong Fit
You are a textbook candidate for QME work. Your career stage, interest in flexible work, and specialty background are all aligned. You likely have the professional experience and mindset to thrive in a non-clinical, evaluative role. You will appreciate the structure and autonomy that comes with working as a QME through AES.

10–14 points: Good Fit (With Some Support)
You are close and possibly just a few adjustments away from making QME work a smart addition to your career. Whether it is licensing updates, additional support with medical-legal report writing, or simply more education on the QME process, AES can help bridge the gap.

6–9 points: Maybe Not the Right Time
Based on your responses, QME work may not be an immediate fit but that does not mean never. If you are still early in your career, unsure about the non-clinical nature of the work, or currently unlicensed in California, consider this a future option and revisit when your situation changes.

0–5 points: Not a Fit Right Now
QME work is not a universal path and that is fine. Your current goals, specialty, or licensure status suggest that now may not be the right time. Still, we recommend bookmarking this or exploring other roles within the medical-legal field that better align with your background.

What Your Score Tells You and What Comes Next

If your self-assessment landed in the "Strong Fit" or "Good Fit" range, it is worth taking a closer look. QME work is not just a way to wind down clinical hours, it is a strategic career move that lets experienced physicians continue to use their medical expertise with far less friction.

The day-to-day work looks different from traditional practice: more structured, more flexible, and far less reactive. No overnight calls. No billing hassles. No treatment plans. Just focused evaluations, objective reporting, and control over your time.

Need more support? At AES, our role is simple: we handle the logistics so you can focus on the work, our support model removes the overhead and operational burden that usually comes with independent consulting.

If QME work is on your radar, or even if you are just curious, now is the right time to find out how it could fit into your next professional chapter.