✅ Reviewed for accuracy and relevance by Deanna Cooper Gillingham, RN, CCM, FCM on July 24, 2025.
Board-certified case managers (CCMs) are held to the CCMC’s Code of Professional Conduct for Case Managers, which is frequently reviewed and revised. At the time of publication, the most recent revision was published in 2023. The current document is available on CCM’s website at https://ccmcertification.org/about-ccmc/code-professional-conduct.
Education, licensure/certification, and supervised experience
Professional case managers should possess education, licensure, or certification that reflects their competence.
Licensure or certification: A professional case manager should have a current, active, and unrestricted license or certification in a health or human services discipline that allows them to conduct assessments independently, as permitted within the discipline’s scope of practice.
Education: In states where licensure or certification is not mandated, a professional case manager must have a baccalaureate or graduate degree in social work or another health or human services field from a nationally accredited institution that promotes the physical, psychosocial, or vocational well-being of the persons being served.
Supervised experience: As part of their degree requirements, individuals must complete a supervised field experience in case management, health, or behavioral health (CMSA, 2024).
Scope of practice
Case management is an advanced practice of an established professional identity. Therefore, a CM’s scope of practice aligns with her underlying professional discipline, such as nursing or social work.
The CCMC Code of Professional Conduct for Case Managers states: “Board certification indicates that the professional case manager possesses the education, skills, moral character, and experience required to provide appropriate services based on sound principles of practice. CCMs will practice only within the boundaries of their role or competence, based on their education, skills, and professional experience [and other professional credentials]. They will not misrepresent their role or competence to clients or clients’ support systems” (CCMC, 2023).
Cultural and linguistic sensitivity in case management
Professional case managers practice cultural and linguistic sensitivity and maintain current knowledge of the diverse populations served so that the services they provide are client-centered and culturally and linguistically appropriate. A case manager should be sensitive to cross-cultural differences between her and her clients and consider the specific cultural and linguistic needs of clients and caregivers. The CMSA Standards of Practice outline ways case managers demonstrate cultural and linguistic sensitivity.
Case managers should engage clients without regard to familial preference, disability, gender identity, migration background, national origin, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, geographic location, or other cultural considerations (CMSA, 2024).
This article shares a portion of the information covered on case managers’ professional conduct in CCM Certification Made Easy, 4th Edition by Deanna Cooper Gillingham, RN, CCM, FCM (2025). For more details on this topic and related concepts, purchase your copy at CCMCertificationMadeEasy.com
References
CCMC. (2023). Code of professional conduct for case managers. In Commission for Case Manager Certification (p. 3). Commission for Case Manager Certification. https://ccmcertification.org/
CMSA. (2024). Standards of practice for case management (pp. 14, 21, 23-24, 27).
Case Management Society of America.
This article shares a portion of the information covered on this topic in CCM Certification Made Easy, 4th Edition by Deanna Cooper Gillingham, RN, CCM, FCM (2025). For more details on this topic and related concepts, purchase your copy at CCMCertificationMadeEasy.com.
