Know before you apply: Are you eligible to take the CCM exam?

Posted on 07/30/2018 - 10:49 AM by Debby Formica

Knowledge of case management terminology and current practice are among the essential elements you’ll need to pass the Certified Case Manager® (CCM®) exam. But earning the CCM is about more than book knowledge—after all, it’s an exam based on what case managers do in daily practice.

Becoming a board-certified case manager requires you to have both the core education (which may be represented by licensure) and experience to practice case management before you even apply to take the test.

Why require education and experience to apply? Because the CCM is a professional certification, validating you have what it takes to grasp the big picture as well as the boots-on-the-ground know-how needed to practice case management.

The Commission expanded CCM exam eligibility requirements in March 2013. With a growing demand for case managers, we recognized the need to increase the ranks. We also acknowledged that case managers with education from across the allied health spectrum can demonstrate they have what it takes to become board certified.

The Commission’s Certification Guide goes into detail about eligibility, but we’ll cover the basics here. Let’s tackle the education requirement first. Applicants must have one (not both, just one) of the following two options to apply:

  • License/certification option: A current, active and unrestricted licensure or certification in a health and human services discipline that allows you to conduct a client assessment independently. Some examples of licenses and certifications that meet this eligibility requirement are: RN, LCSW, LMSW, LPC, CRC and CDMS.
    • The LPN and LVN licenses do not meet the independent assessment criteria, so those licenses don’t qualify candidates to apply for the CCM.
    • If you aren’t sure that your license or certification allows you to practice independently, contact your state governing board to find out.
    • If your license doesn’t qualify you to take the CCM, think about using your degree to apply instead.
    • Just remember, your license needs to be active and current at the time you would take the exam.
  • Higher education option: A bachelor’s or graduate degree in social work, nursing, or another health or human services field that promotes the physical, psychosocial, and/or vocational well-being of those being served.
    • Your degree must be from an accredited institution.
    • The degree, as part of the curriculum, must include supervised field experience in case management, health, or behavioral health. A great example of this is a bachelor’s degree in social work.
    • Do you have a bachelor’s degree, but you’re unsure whether it’s among the many we accept for eligibility? Just call us at 856-380-6836 to find out.

If you have a qualified license AND a qualified degree, choose the option that will support your renewal in the future.

Second comes the experience requirement. For all the options below, the Commission holds that only experience within the past five years should be considered, because health care changes so rapidly (and so does case management practice). Internships, preceptorships, practicum and volunteer experience are not accepted as employment experience.

Experience must be complete at the time you apply (not when you sit for the exam). The criteria are specific about the experience itself to ensure you’re doing comprehensive case management.

For all three options, your experience must include work in at least four of the five core components of case management. These align with the Knowledge Domains on the CCM exam:

  1. Care Delivery and Reimbursement Methods
  2. Psychosocial Concepts and Support Systems
  3. Quality and Outcomes Evaluation and Measurements
  4. Rehabilitation Concepts and Strategies
  5. Ethical, Legal, and Practice Standards.

Within each component, case managers must perform all eight essential activities with direct client contact (assess, plan, implement, coordinate, monitor, evaluate, outcomes, general tasks). Your experience must include providing services across the care continuum and interacting with others in the care system.

The Commission will ask you to provide the name and contact information for a supervisor in order to confirm your work experience. A current email—personal or professional—is required. This is simply the person that you report to (or have reported to) as a case manager, in contrast to the “supervision” required for some licenses, such as social work or licensed professional counselor.

How much qualified experience do you need? The Commission offers three ways for you to meet the requirement:

  • 12 months of acceptable full-time case management employment, supervised by a board-certified case manager (CCM). Your Supervisor must be certified for at least one year at the time of your application.
  • 24 months of acceptable full-time case management employment experience (no supervision by a CCM required under this option).
  • 12 months of acceptable full-time case management employment experience as a supervisor of individuals who provide case management services. This must also fall in the last five years.

What if you work a part-time schedule? The Commission has a formula for that: We’ll pro-rate your experience based on a 37-hour work week (this is automatically calculated when you apply). Check the Certification Guide for details.

If it seems that eligibility criteria are a bit complicated, it’s because we try to ensure there are as many avenues open to qualified case managers as possible to apply for certification, while still ensuring the certification represents case manager excellence. Our goal is to certify and professionally support a qualified, ready workforce. And remember, we want to help, so don’t hesitate to call us at 856-380-6836. 

Tags
CCM
Eligibility
Exam

Comments

Submitted by Andree A. Moise on Mon, 08/06/2018 - 09:40

good morning,
Hope all is well. My comment and question is that I cannot understand why I cannot pass the test. I have been a case manager for 10 years. I went back to school and got my masters degree in case management. I am currently working as an assistant director of case managers. I am confident I know what it takes to be a good case manager. I give my staff the answers and assist them as needed. I encourage to take the test and they pass. Why can't I?
I bought the book written by Deanna Cooper Gillingham and read it.
I truly am not sure what I am doing wrong.
Sorry for the long comment
Andree Moise

Submitted by kkrewer on Thu, 08/09/2018 - 08:55

Thanks for contacting CCMC. Unfortunately, the commission does not recommend or endorse study material. However, we can provide you with information about the exam and where to get started. Please read the Certification Guide (https://ccmcertification.org/sites/default/files/docs/2017/cert_guide_-…), beginning on section 9, page 11, for a break down of each exam domain. We suggest looking over this information and focus on the areas you are not familiar with and study the terms; there are 5 exam domains. We also suggest reviewing your previous exam results, these results are available on your CCM account. Use the Certification Guide as a reference to help you review the areas you are lacking in. Also, please don't forget to utilize our exam study materials webpage (https://ccmcertification.org/get-certified/exam-study-materials).

Submitted by Angela Holbrook on Mon, 01/27/2020 - 06:43

angie

hAndrea, Thank you for your question. I am in the same situation. I had to move jobs and this has put a toll on my psych. I am tired of studying for hours with a no pass. What gives what has to happen. I always pass everything the first try. I don't know what to do. I loved my job now I am doing case management that is not in the dept. I want.

Help me to pass.

 

 

 

Submitted by Kathy "Kate" S… on Mon, 08/06/2018 - 18:04

I have been an RN since 1975, working full time 95% of this time. I earned by BSN from University of MI in 1985. My prior position was as a Case Manager for 8 years for a National Home Health Care Agency. My responsibilities were to manage 15-25 complex skilled patients in the home setting (ventilators, PEGs, many functional limitations, neurological, cardiac, neuromuscular conditions, etc). I also had some unskilled cases, managing home health aides. My current position has been help for & yrs (Sept 2018) as a Care Manager for a Nation wide insurance company. My role is a health educator for Member's re: their chronic conditions so they will understand and manage their health, co-ordinate resources for our Members, advocate for the well-being empower them to become knowledgeable health care consumers. This, in turn, will improve their health outcomes, decrease EMR and/or hospital admits and move this population to more self-managing status.
I am thinking of going through this process to become a Certified Case Manager and need more information please. I will do more research on this certification.
Thank you so much! Kate Schnur RN

Hi Kate,
Thank you for reaching out, we are excited to hear that you are interested in the CCM certification. We recommend starting your research with the Certification and Exam Guides, which can be found here: https://ccmcertification.org/get-certified/certification/guides. If you have any questions feel free to call our Certification Navigators at 856-380-6836.

Submitted by Mary Ann on Mon, 08/06/2018 - 22:10

There is a Controversy in my workplace regarding what constitutes a nurse case manager. I work for an insurance company performing utilization review for workers comp claimants. Does a utilization review nurse qualify as a nurse case manager? I perform prior surgical authorization, determine causal relationship and perform retro reviews. Thank you in advance.

Thank you for contacting CCMC. Case management is a collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the options and services required to meet the client's health and human service needs. It is characterized by advocacy, communication, and resource management and promotes quality and cost-effective interventions and outcomes. We recommend reaching out to your employer. Have them clarify the job descriptions and essential responsibilities of nurse case managers in comparison to utilization review nurses. For more clarification about case management, please review the "Definition and Philosophy of Case Management", found here: https://ccmcertification.org/about-ccmc/about-case-management/definitio….

Submitted by Cindy on Wed, 08/15/2018 - 21:36

I just completed my BSN and have worked 4 years in Care management not case management. But I have almost completed a case management program through university of California that consists of 8 various case management classes. Will I qualify to take the CCM test? Thank you

Hi Cindy,
Thank you for contacting CCMC. In order to qualify, you must have a license/certification or a degree, in health or human services, in addition to case management employment experience. Review the Certification Guide (found here: https://ccmcertification.org/sites/default/files/docs/2018/ccmc-17-guid…), starting on page 6, you will see what acceptable employment experience must include. Please remember your position must perform all "The Eight Essential Activities with Direct Client Contact", and at least four of the "Five Core Components of Case Management", in order to qualify.

Submitted by Samira on Wed, 09/19/2018 - 21:15

Hi . I currently work as nurse care navigator. I’m responsible for daily care coordination round with our medical team social worker and the patients. I round on 43 patients discuss their plans , barrier for discharge, discharge needs . I also focus on patients satisfaction. I’ve been doing it for the past 2 years . Will I qualify for CCM certification . Thanks

Thanks for contacting CCMC. Please review the Certification Guide (https://ccmcertification.org/sites/default/files/docs/2018/ccmc-17-guid…) for more information in regards to eligibility. In order to qualify, you must have a license/certification or a degree (bachelors or higher), in health or human services, in addition to case management employment experience. An RN license will satisfy the licensure requirement. In regards to employment, Please remember your position must perform all "The Eight Essential Activities with Direct Client Contact" and you must perform at least four of the "Five Core Components of Case Management.

Submitted by Sabrina Kelsey on Tue, 11/06/2018 - 18:12

Hello, I am an RN Care Coordinator with BSN and 3 years of experience. My job incorporates all 8 essentials activities and 5/5 of the components. Will I qualify to for the CCM certification, although my title is a Care Coordinator? Thank you in advance.

Thanks for contacting CCMC. In order to qualify, we ask that you meet all eligibility requirements. If you meet all the requirements, you would qualify based on that information, not by your job title. You do not have to hold the title of "case manager" in order to qualify. Please review our certification guide to determine if you are eligible: https://ccmcertification.org/get-certified/certification/guides

Submitted by Crystal Werling on Sun, 01/13/2019 - 08:38

I am a newer nurse with an ASN and 1 year hospital nursing experience. I would like to get my case management licence before I look for work as a case manager. I feel like it would make finding employment easier and give me a better start by understanding the details before I start. Can I study and take the test, or do I have to get case management experience first?

Associates degree do not qualify you to sit for the exam. However, you can use your RN licnese to apply. In regards to employment, please make sure that in your position, you must perform the "Eight Essential Essential Activities with Direct Client Contact" and you must perform four out of the "Five Core Components of Case Management". You can find this information listed in our Certification Guide (https://ccmcertification.org/sites/default/files/docs/2018/ccmc-17-guid…). Please, review pages 5 and 6 for more information about employment qualifications.

Submitted by Karen Richter on Wed, 02/20/2019 - 13:41

Hi:
I guess, I probably don’t qualify to take this test either. I have been a nurse for 28 years, most of my experience is critical care. I am retired now and would like to work as a case manager part-time but they won’t hire me because I don’t have case management experience. A lot of the time when I was working the case managers wouldn’t show up for days because of being too busy and we would have to take care of business and make sure everything was being done for the patient. Also, there are people who are doing case management at hospitals and nursing homes who don’t have a degree just high school with the only experience of being n nurse assistant/tech. I know one in particular at a high magnet hospital. So go figure!!! How do they justify that!!

Submitted by kkrewer on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 15:52

Hi Karen,
Thank you for reaching out. In order to qualify for the CCM exam, you must have current case management related employment experience. Your employment experience must be from the past 5 years, even if you are currently retired or unemployed. Please remember, you will also need an active and unrestricted license/certification or a degree (bachelors or higher), in health or human services, to sit for the CCM exam. Please review the Certification Guide (https://ccmcertification.org/sites/default/files/docs/2018/ccmc-17-guid…) for detailed information.

Submitted by Karen Buck on Thu, 05/02/2019 - 10:35

I have Masters degree in Educational Asministration and a certificate in Long Term Health Care Administration. I have been a licensed Nursing Home Administrator for 6 years. Will this meet the qualifications?

Submitted by Patricia Sanders on Sat, 05/25/2019 - 23:29

Hi,
I have a MS of Gerontology obtained from Univ of MA-Boston (2014), a BS in Human Services from Black Hills State University (2000), several years of case management experience off and on (last 2016-2017) and graduate with a Masters of Social Work from Univ of Nevada-Reno in December 2019 but will not be testing for the social work licensure until next year. Can I sit for the CCM exam now (August 2019)?

Submitted by lillian goulart on Fri, 07/12/2019 - 00:03

Hello
I have been an LVN for 20 years, I have a bachelors of science in health administration with a concentration in health management. Can I take the exam?

Submitted by Yanique Chambers on Fri, 08/02/2019 - 23:14

I have been a RN for the past 3.5 years working in Behavioral Health. I am interested in becoming a CCM, however it is hard to get that experience when most places are asking for a certificate in CM and when trying to apply for a certificate I’m seeing that I need to have experience in CM first. I am really confused here and at this time feeling quite stuck. Is there any advice at this point? The requirement information on the site or the brochure is not very clear on what RNs do in this case.

Submitted by Debbie Broadway on Sun, 08/18/2019 - 21:26

Hi, I have been a RN for 25 years with an Associate's Degree. I have been a MDS Coordinator, in a Case Mix state for the last 10 years. Does this qualify me to sit for the CCM Exam?

Submitted by Misty Smith on Sun, 08/18/2019 - 22:11

My case management experience is in section 8 does that work?

Submitted by Donna Clancy RN, BSN on Thu, 01/16/2020 - 08:18

Hello.  Do  the employment requirements for CCM eligibility indicate working as a "Case Manager" in your title, or doing CM  tasks in your nursing job?  I've been an RN for 26 years.  I've done Acute care, LTC, Homecare, Hospice and Nurse consulting for Medicaid.  In all of those there are some elements like assessing situation (physical, emotional, etc), trying to suggest or set up patient or member with alternative resources to help.  Thanks.

Submitted by sam38358 on Sun, 01/26/2020 - 08:04

I am applying to take CCM but have had some water damage to current license. Can I apply with License verification page from TN.gov because I do not have physical license at this moment.

Submitted by Sally Haner on Tue, 02/04/2020 - 10:09

I am an RN with my BSN from an accredited school of nursing and have worked as a case manager for almost 2 years, will be in May. Do I qualify for certication?

Submitted by Sarah Mccain on Sun, 02/09/2020 - 23:56

I have been a home health RN case manager for 12 years. To me it sounds like home health case manager meets the requirements. Is that correct?

Submitted by Trang on Sat, 03/21/2020 - 19:50

Hi I am currently working as an RN case manager for a hospice company with over 8 years of experience. I also hold a BSN. Would I quialify for the CCM exam? 

Submitted by Tatyana Gautier on Fri, 04/17/2020 - 15:25

Hello, I am an LPN currently in a CCM; chronic care management, position. I wanted to get a certification in care management. I see under the guidelines I will not be eligible with my LIC type for the CCM certificate. I wanted to know if obtaining a LIC as a Certified Managed Care Nurse (CMCN) from AAMCN would be a great way to start also to advance my career at at possiable UM/UR nurse for companies that hire LPNs. I will be going back to school for my RN but always looking for ways to improve my skills and knowledge so that I can offer my patients the best that I can.  

But till I do  would you recommend a Certified Managed Care Nurse (CMCN)?

 

 

 

Submitted by Cheryl Perez on Tue, 04/21/2020 - 13:44

I am a RN BSN trying to get into a case management job. What online courses do you recommend?