Dive into the critical early stages of a workers’ compensation claim. This module provides the knowledge needed to properly open, document, and manage a new claim in accordance with California’s legal and administrative requirements. You’ll explore employer obligations, notice requirements, forms, and best practices that create a compliant, well-structured claim file from day one. 6 hours, on-demand, and it counts toward the CPWC certification.
Taking several modules? The full CPWC certification covers all 24 and meets California’s 120-hour classroom requirement.
Average of verified CPWC student surveys
On-demand, built around a full-time job
Counts toward the CPWC certification
Take it on its own or as part of CPWC
The CPWC certification is made up of 24 modules totalling 120 hours, which meets California’s classroom training requirement for new claims adjusters under 10 CCR §2592. You can take any module on its own, or take the full certification.
Claim Initiation and Set Up.
Compensability, benefits, disability, liens, fraud, and more. $119 each.
MBR, Medical Only, or Indemnity. Choose by the claims you handle.
All 24 modules, 120 hours, meets the California requirement.
| Module code | CPWC03 |
|---|---|
| Format | Online and on-demand. Interactive reading, video, and assessments. |
| Length | About 6 hours |
| Continuing education | Earns CE credit |
| Reference material | Integrated with Sullivan on Comp |
| Counts toward | The CPWC certification |
| Prerequisites | None. CPWC modules can be taken in any order. |
| Price | $119 for this module, or from $1,079 for a full CPWC track |
This course is ideal for professionals who open and manage workers’ compensation claims, including claims assistants, adjusters, TPAs, and employer representatives. It’s also valuable for anyone responsible for compliance and documentation during the early stages of a claim.
Procedure you can apply to a live file, not theory.
Counts toward the training California requires for your role.
Post-designation training runs 16 to 30 hours every two years depending on role.
Three things worth being clear about before you enroll.
It earns CE credit and counts toward CPWC. The certification needs the full hours for your track.
It teaches how to apply the rules in daily claims work. It does not replace counsel on a specific dispute.
Built around California statute, regulation and practice, not a national overview.
“IEA’s CPWC certification has been a great training solution for our new hires. Meeting the required 120 hours of instruction and statutory topics in an On-demand turn-key program has made my job so much easier.”
Ebony Hodge Dan Henley
“Instructor did a great job to keep students engaged while also making sure we learned and understood relevant topics to be prepared for a real Claims Examiner position.”
Bianca O Alex Fazeli
“I liked and appreciated that it was a self-paced program, which allowed me to complete it according to my schedule. I received my CPWC through IEA in less than 6 months.”
Rita B. Rupee Atwal
No. CPWC modules can be taken in any order and this one has no prerequisites. It assumes you work with California workers’ compensation claims.
Within one working day of receiving notice or knowledge of the injury, under Labor Code §5401. The claim form is deemed filed when it is personally delivered to the employer or received by first-class or certified mail — which is the moment the decision clock starts. Sources: Labor Code §5401.
90 days from the date the claim form is filed. If the claim is not rejected within that window the injury is presumed compensable, and that presumption can only be rebutted by evidence discovered afterwards. For the safety-member presumption claims under Labor Code §§3212–3212.85 and §§3212.9–3213.2 the period is 75 days. Sources: Labor Code §5402.
No. It earns continuing education credit and counts toward the certification. CPWC requires the full set of modules for your track.
About 6 hours, on-demand and self-paced, so you can fit it around a full-time job.
Yes. CPWC03 earns continuing education credit and counts toward the CPWC certification.
Yes. The module is integrated with Sullivan on Comp for the legal reference behind each rule.
It depends on your role. Under 10 CCR §2592 a new indemnity claims adjuster needs 160 hours including 120 classroom hours; a medical-only adjuster needs 80 hours including 50 classroom; a medical bill reviewer needs 40 hours including 30 classroom. All must be completed within 12 consecutive months. The three CPWC tracks are built to those tiers. A single module does not meet the requirement on its own.
Yes. Post-designation training is 30 hours every two years for indemnity adjusters, 20 hours for medical-only adjusters and 16 hours for medical bill reviewers. Failing to complete it causes loss of designation until the training is done. Source: 10 CCR §§2592.02, 2592.03, 2592.04, 2592.14.
If you need several modules, yes. Modules are $119 each; full tracks start at $1,079 for MBR and cover the hours California requires for that role.
Regulatory figures on this page were verified against Sullivan on Comp in August 2026. Confirm current deadlines against the Department of Industrial Relations and Department of Insurance before relying on them for a live claim.
Enroll in Claim Initiation and Set Up for $119, or take a full CPWC track from $1,079.
Not sure which track fits? Read the CPWC certification overview, or browse the other 23 modules.
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