What Is a Certified Case Manager?
Case managers typically hold other job titles and positions, typically as registered nurses or social workers.
A certified case manager is a professional who advocates for individuals' needs within fields such as healthcare, rehabilitation, housing, and more.
Case managers work with people from all walks of life, usually those with significant physical or mental health issues.
They may work in a variety of settings, such as schools, nursing homes, insurance companies, law firms, and correctional facilities.
What Do Certified Case Managers Do?
Certified case managers meet with individuals needing healthcare or social services to determine their needs and create a plan for meeting those needs.
No two days are exactly alike for case managers, as their work depends on the needs of their clients.
Certified case managers may complete many tasks on a daily basis, including:
- Obtaining home health services for clients
- Helping clients enter long-term care or rehabilitation facilities
- Guiding clients toward therapy or job opportunities
- Providing emotional support for a traumatized child
- Regularly meeting with clients to help them attain their goals
Certified case managers commonly work during normal business hours, but may be called upon to work overtime depending on the specific needs of a client.
They must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact with various clients, as well as with professionals within healthcare and social services.
What Are Some Common Case Manager Certifications?
Certification isn't always required to work as a case manager. However, obtaining optional certifications can make you a more desirable candidate and may be required by specific employers.
Let's take a look at some common case manager certifications you can obtain.
Certified Case Manager (CCM)
This is the most common certification among case managers and is sometimes considered the gold standard in the industry.
Offered by the Commission for Case Manager Certification, the CCM credential is available to registered nurses, social workers, and pharmacists, as well as those holding a degree in a related field.
To obtain this certification, you'll have to provide proof of education, demonstrate supervised or unsupervised case management experience, and answer questions to establish your moral character.
Accredited Case Manager (ACM)
The Accredited Case Manager certification is available through the American Case Management Association.
This certification is only available to registered nurses and licensed social workers. It is primarily obtained by those working or hoping to work in a healthcare setting, such as a hospital or rehab facility.
Those hoping to achieve this certification must prove they have at least one year of supervised and paid case management work experience within a healthcare setting. They must also pass an exam.
Nursing Case Management Certification (CMGT-BC)
This certification is only available to registered nurses who have worked continuously for at least two years in the field.
The certification is offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is primarily sought by those who work in hospitals or other medical facilities.
Nurses hoping to obtain the credential must demonstrate 2,000 hours of nursing case management experience, at least 30 hours of related education, and pass an exam.
Certified Social Worker Case Manager (C-SWCM)
This certification is available through the National Association of Social Workers. As the name suggests, it is offered to social workers hoping to become certified case managers.
The certification has stringent requirements.
Candidates must hold at least a bachelor's degree in social work, demonstrate 4,500 hours of supervised and paid social work case management experience, and have a valid license or passing exam score.
What Schools Offer Case Manager Certificate Programs?
If you're wanting to learn more about becoming a case manager before pursuing professional certification, you can enter a collegiate-level certificate program.
Let's take a look at some popular options.
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland School of Social Work is partnered with United Way of Central Maryland. Together, they offer a case management certificate program.
This program runs for nine months, and most classes are available for two sessions each month, so you can attend when it's convenient for you.
Each of the 15 courses are available online, which adds further flexibility to your study schedule and allows you to participate in the certificate program from anywhere.
Rutgers University
Rutgers University's School of Social Work offers a number of continuing education courses and certificate programs. One such program is a certificate in case management.
This program is offered fully online and has no clinical components. It consists of five required webinars and two optional webinars you can take as electives.
If you already have a professional certification, each webinar provides some continuing education credit that you can apply toward renewing your certification.
University of Southern Indiana
The University of Southern Indiana provides an online program in case management and care coordination.
This short-term program is completed within eight weeks and is offered two times a year. It is 100% online.
Students who successfully complete the program with a passing grade of at least 70% will receive a certificate of completion.
Pursue Your Case Manager Certification Today
Case managers can greatly benefit from enrolling in certificate programs and by obtaining professional certifications. If you are a case manager, consider pursuing these opportunities right away.
