Medical treatment is the most regulated and most disputed part of a California workers’ compensation claim. This module covers how treatment decisions get made, approved, and challenged: the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS), utilization review, and independent medical review. 6 hours, self-paced, 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.
Medical treatment, utilization review, and independent medical review.
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 | CPWC09 |
|---|---|
| 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 (24 modules, 120 hours) |
| Prerequisites | None. Modules can be taken in any order. |
| Price | $119 for this module, or from $1,079 for a full CPWC track |
Claims professionals, utilization review coordinators, medical management staff, and employer representatives who authorise or challenge treatment. Especially useful if you are the person who has to defend a treatment decision.
You decide on requests every week. This module gives you the framework behind those decisions.
MTUS, UR, and IMR handled as one connected process rather than three separate rules.
Understand where treatment disputes come from and how to keep them out of litigation.
Three things worth being clear about before you enroll.
Finishing it earns CE credit and counts toward CPWC. The certification needs the full 120 hours.
It teaches how to apply the rules in daily claims work. It does not replace counsel on a specific dispute.
Built around California’s MTUS, UR, and IMR framework, 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 does assume you work with California workers’ compensation claims day to day.
A prospective or concurrent UR decision is generally due within 5 business days of receipt of a completed Request for Authorization, and in no event more than 14 days from the date of the physician’s treatment recommendation. Expedited review is 72 hours. Sources: Labor Code §4610; 8 CCR §§9792.9.3, 9792.9.6.
When the employee faces an imminent and serious threat to health, including potential loss of life, limb or other major bodily function, or when the normal timeframe would be detrimental to the employee’s life or health or jeopardise their ability to regain maximum function. The requesting physician must certify and document the need in writing. Sources: Labor Code §4610; 8 CCR §9792.9.3.
30 days after service of the utilization review decision for most treatment disputes, and 10 days for disputes over medication under the drug formulary. The period is extended or tolled where liability is disputed on other grounds or the UR notice was defective. Sources: Labor Code §4610.5; 8 CCR §9792.10.1.
The independent medical review organisation has 30 days from receipt of the request and supporting documentation to issue a determination, or 5 working days for formulary medication disputes. The clock does not start until the supporting documentation arrives. California’s Administrative Director has designated Maximus as the IMR organisation. Sources: Labor Code §§4610.6, 139.5; 8 CCR §9792.10.6.
The Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule is California’s presumptively correct standard for what treatment is reasonable for a given injury. The module covers how it is applied and what happens when treatment falls outside it.
No. It earns CE credit and counts toward the certification. CPWC requires all 24 modules, totalling 120 hours.
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 of training 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.
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 Medical Treatment Issues & Utilization Review for $119, or take a full CPWC track from $1,079 and cover all 24 modules.
Not sure which track fits? Read the CPWC certification overview, or browse the other 23 modules.
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