Discover your options for online case management certification programs.
The medical system can be difficult to navigate. That's where case managers come in. They help patients by advocating on their behalf and making sure they're getting the care they need.
Many employers require certification to become a case manager. Read on to learn how you can obtain this certification.
What is a Case Manager?
Case managers are medical professionals who work with patients to ensure they are getting the care they need.
Case managers are advocates. They guide patients and their families through the healthcare system and help them fight for the rights and treatments they deserve.
The core duties of a case manager usually include:
- creating personalized care plans for patients
- coordinating patient care
- filling out and submitting necessary paperwork
- managing health insurance plans and communicating with insurance
- scheduling appointments or health care visits
There are many different types of healthcare case managers. These include:
- health insurance case managers
- home health case managers
- hospital case managers
- registered nurse case managers
- rehabilitation case managers
To become a case manager, you'll likely first need to earn a degree and gain experience as a nurse or social worker, then earn a case manager certificate.
<h2 id="section---OnlineCaseManagementCertificatePrograms">Online Case Management Certificate Programs</h2><p>Not very many colleges and universities have case management programs, but you may be able to find a few.
</p><p>For example, the for-profit <a href="https://learn.org/browseby/company/Capella_University.html">Capella University</a> offers a Master of Science in Nursing in care coordination. However, you'll still need to earn a certification through another institution.
</p><p>There are a few primary certifications that case managers can earn.
</p><h3 id="section---CommissionForCaseManagerCertification">Commission for Case Manager Certification</h3><p>The Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC) is essentially the industry-standard certification for case managers. You must pass an exam to earn the certification.
</p><p>To qualify for the exam, you must meet one education requirement and one employment requirement.
</p><p><b>The education requirement options are:</b>
</p><ul><li>license, such as a <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Nursing_%28RN%29_FAQs.html">registered nurse (RN) license</a> or a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) license
</li><li>bachelor's or master's degree in a health or human services field from an accredited institution
</li><li>certification, such as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) certification or certified disability management specialist (SDMS) certification
</li></ul><p><b>The employment requirement options are:</b>
</p><ul><li>12 months of full-time case management experience supervised by a certified case manager (CCM)
</li><li>24 months of full-time case management experience
</li><li>12 months of full-time supervisory experience as a supervisor of individuals who provide case management
</li></ul><p>While the exam must be taken in person at a testing center, the CCMC offers several prep materials online. <b>These include:</b>
</p><ul><li>eight-week test prep guide
</li><li>glossary of terms
</li><li>practice exams
</li><li>suggested references
</li><li>quiz app
</li><li>Case Management Body of Knowledge online education tool
</li><li>virtual workshops
</li></ul><p>The CCM exam can also be used by licensed social workers to earn their Certified Social Work Case Manager (C-SWCM) certification through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
</p><h3 id="section---AmericanCaseManagementAssociation">American Case Management Association</h3><p>The American Case Management Association (ACMA) is another body offering case manager certification. They have a few different certification options.
</p><p>The primary certification you can earn through the ACMA is the Accredited Case Manager (ACM) certification. It's offered to licensed registered nurses and <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Human_and_Social_Services_FAQs.html">licensed social workers</a>.
</p><p>All applicants must have at least one year of supervised, paid work experience as a case manager and their license must be in good standing.
</p><p>To earn certification, you must pass an exam. The exam tests your ability to recall, apply, and analyze knowledge and information. <b>It covers four domain areas:</b>
</p><ul><li>screening and assessment
</li><li>planning
</li><li>care coordination, intervention, and transition management
</li><li>evaluation
</li></ul><p>The exam must be taken in person at a PSI Services testing center. However, to help students prepare, ACMA offers a web-based study guide.
</p><p><b>The study guide includes:</b>
</p><ul><li>interactive material that covers the exam structure and all four testing domains
</li><li>ability to bookmark, highlight, and take notes
</li><li>practice tests with results reports and recommendations for further study
</li><li>resources and references for further study
</li></ul><p>You can also choose to add on full-length practice tests that mimic the exam. These tests include results reports and an answer key with explanations.
</p><p>ACMA also offers a Case Management Administrator Certification (CMAC) and a Care Management Physician Certification (CMPC).
</p><h3 id="section---AmericanNursesCredentialingCenter">American Nurses Credentialing Center</h3><p>The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is an organization that offers certifications to registered nurses. This includes the Nursing Case Management Certification (CMGT-BC).
</p><p><b>To be eligible for this certification, you must:</b>
</p><ul><li>hold a current, active RN license in a state or territory of the United States or hold the professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country
</li><li>have at least two years of full-time experience as a registered nurse
</li><li>have a minimum of 2,000 hours or clinical practice in nursing case management within the last three years
</li><li>have completed 30 hours of continuing education in nursing case management within the last three years
</li></ul><p>You must pass the CMGT exam to earn the certification. The exam is made up of 125 scored questions within four domain areas. <b>These areas are:</b>
</p><ul><li>professional foundation (knowledge)
</li><li>care coordination (skill)
</li><li>quality management (knowledge and skill)
</li><li>health promotion (knowledge and skill)
</li></ul><p>The exam must be taken in person at a Prometric testing center. To help you prepare for the exam, ANCC offers test prep materials online.
</p><p><b>These materials include:</b>
</p><ul><li>test content outline
</li><li>reference list
</li><li>sample test questions and answers
</li><li>role delineation study
</li><li>handbook
</li><li>tips
</li></ul><h2 id="section---EarnYourCaseManagementCertification">Earn Your Case Management Certification</h2><p>If you're a licensed registered nurse or social worker, you may be eligible to take a case management certification exam. These exams offer online study tools to help you succeed.</p>
