CCM Exam Eligibility
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.
Educational Requirements
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.
Experience Requirement
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:
- Care Delivery and Reimbursement Methods
- Psychosocial Concepts and Support Systems
- Quality and Outcomes Evaluation and Measurements
- Rehabilitation Concepts and Strategies
- 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.
Debby Formica has been with the Commission since 2010. She served previously as director of administration and operations, assistant vice president, and director of business development. In her new role as COO, Formica is responsible for oversight of certification services, management of volunteers, and implementation of the strategic direction provided by the Board of Commissioners. Formica has extensive experience in financial analysis, project management, and certification services. She began her career by spending eight years in healthcare financial consulting with CBIZ KA Consulting Services before moving to Johnson & Johnson as a manager in contract management and analysis. She holds a bachelor of science in accounting from Lehigh University and is a member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, the American Society of Association Executives and the Mid-Atlantic Society of Association Executives. Formica is also president and founder of Helpful Gifts from the Heart, a non-profit that benefits families dealing with pediatric cancer.
Hi, I am an LSW Social Worker for 25 years in NJ. I happen to be down on my luck financially. How do I apply to take the CCM test at no cost. I paid to take it last year but had an emergency and could not take it.
Hi Debra,
As we are not the ones that approve eligibility for the Exam you need to contact the Exam administrators at the CCMC Organization for further clarification on eligibility. Please contact them at CCMCertification.org This article only lists a couple of certifications primarily for RNs. If you go to this page https://nursesadvocates.com/resources/ there is a PDF you can download on Stepping Up to Certification, The Case Manager’s Guide to Certification which covers a whole lot more. Thank you for your question.
Is the book available on line
Marlene
Hi Marlene,
Thank you so much for your comment. I am sorry but at the present time, we do not offer an online or audio version of the book.
A lot of our students say that reading the book into their own recording device and listening to that way has helped them immensely.
Thank you again.
Hello,
I have worked in the past as a case manager technician but that was back in 1994-1997. I then worked as a case manager in 2012 for about 6 months. Would any of this experience count towards the eligibility requirements?
Hi Desiree,
As far as eligibility goes you will need to contact the governing body ‘CCMC’ for eligibility and approval. Their information can be found here https://ccmcertification.org/get-certified/certification/ccmr-eligibility-glance If you are eligible then we offer a review course that can be found here. https://casemanagerscommunity.com/
Have been leaving my name and number on the phone provided for questions on you website with not reply. How long does a normal reply take? Have questions on the criteria about taking the CCM exam Thank You
Hi David, For eligibility and approval information you need to contact CCMC. Their information can be found here https://ccmcertification.org/get-certified/certification/ccmr-eligibility-glance or you can call the phone number listed in the article above. Thanks.
Hi! Abi carman
I am currently working as a Caseworker officer and in a Christian community service focusing on male youths rehabilitating them and orienting them back into the society, I have worked with social case in different organization for 20 years now, and am interested to work a DIPLOMA or DEGREE with a exposure in the international standard. How possibility is there to achieve my merit to compliment my career.
Hi Preston,
As far as eligibility goes you will need to contact the governing body ‘CCMC’ for eligibility and approval. Their information can be found here https://ccmcertification.org/get-certified/certification/ccmr-eligibility-glance If you are eligible then we offer a review course that can be found here. https://casemanagerscommunity.com/
I work full time as Case Manager in LTAC. For about 6 years. I have a Registered Respiratory Therapist over 25 years. Would I be eligible to take test to get CCM?
Hi John,
As far as eligibility goes you will need to contact CCMC for eligibility and approval. Their information can be found here https://ccmcertification.org/get-certified/certification/ccmr-eligibility-glance If you are eligible then we offer a review course that can be found here. https://casemanagerscommunity.com/
Hello, I worked in Medical Management for insurance company for 2 years and now as UR nurse for hospital for a year and a half. Would I be eligible for CCM. My current supervisor is not CCM certified, not sure about my previous supervisor.
Hi Kathy,
As far as eligibility goes you will need to contact CCMC for eligibility and approval. Their information can be found here https://ccmcertification.org/get-certified/certification/ccmr-eligibility-glance Thank you.
I am currently licensed in multiple states as a RN. If I understand correctly, to sit for the exam I would require experience as a case manager? However, most case management jobs require a RN to have completed CCMC or a similar certification. Is case management experience an absolute requirement? The process doesn’t seem very linear.
Hi Josue,
You are partially confused but partially correct. You do need to work under a Certified Case Manager for a year or under a Case Manager for 2 years. As far as CCMC certified before getting the job would be extremely difficult as you need the experience 1st. Please read the article once more for clarification and if still confused there is a number to CCMC at the end and they are very helpful.
The link to check the Certification Guide did not load for me. Can you please check to see if the link is working?
Hi Sheryl, Thank you for your question but the link is working fine. If you are on a work computer you may not be able to open PDF files for security reasons, just try it at home.
Hi,
I’m an RN holding bachelor in nursing and master degree in quality and I’ve been working as case manager for the last 7 years in a healthcare organization in UAE -AbuDhabi .. would this make me eligible to sit for the CCMC exam ?
Hi Najla,
As far as eligibility goes you will need to contact CCMC for eligibility and approval. Their information can be found here https://ccmcertification.org/get-certified/certification/ccmr-eligibility-glance If you are eligible then we offer a review course that can be found here. https://casemanagerscommunity.com/
I worked for an insurance company for a year as a Case Manager. I’m not sure that my immediate supervisor is still there or if she was a CCM. Would my experience count if divisional supervisors were certified case managers? Would my time in training count toward my ‘one year?’
Hi Natasha, For your specific information, please call the number at the end of the article. Thank you so much. https://casemanagementstudyguide.com/are-you-eligible-to-take-the-ccm-exam-know-before-you-apply/
Been a RN Case Manager in an Army Hospital since 2012. 8 have an Associates Degree in nursing. Will I be able to sit for CCMC?
Hi Allena, For your specific information, please call the number at the end of the article. Thank you so much. https://casemanagementstudyguide.com/are-you-eligible-to-take-the-ccm-exam-know-before-you-apply/
Hi. I worked as a Home Health Nurse for 15 month and a case manager for 7 months. Does working as a Home Health Nurse qualify as case management?
Hi Margaret – You will need your supervisor’s name and e-mail address to complete the application. As Abi mentioned, CCMC will verify. Thanks!
When do we have to sign up for the December exam and when is the December exam
Hi Earlene,
All the information you requested can be found at; https://ccmcertification.org/get-certified/certification/exam-application-and-window-timeline
To take the December 2018 Exam you need to apply by September 30th. The December Exam is given throughout the month of December. Once you receive your authorization to test you will make an appointment with the testing center with an open date in December.
Excellent article ! Taking my CCM exam 8/3/18! Hope to pass. Studied a lot .
Thank you,
Thank you, Kathy. I notice that you respond every day to the questions on the Facebook Group. I know you will pass, Good Luck.
Hey Abi! What is the name of the Facebook page you are referencing? Thanks!
Hi Chris, I am assuming you mean our Case Managers Community Group. Here is the link but you must answer the 3 questions before being approved. Case Managers Community
Thank you. Kathy! Good luck to you this week!
Thank you so much for this information. It is very clear and specific. I do have 9 years doing nurse case manager. When do I need to appt for the test and where? I am planning to take at the beginning of 2019.
Thank you so very much. Blessings!
Mariacarmen Del Valle
Hi Maricarmen, As stated in the article, all of your questions are on the CCMC website and if you are still confused “remember, we want to help, so don’t hesitate to call us at 856-380-6836.”
I worked for 5 years as an RN Case Manger in hospice, and was supervised by a SW, who has since retired. When I write to her asking for her to verify my case management experience, what specific items should I ask her for? Is there a form in print that I can include in my letter to her?
Hi Margaret, You do not do the verifying, that would be CCMC’s job after you apply. If you are still confused “remember, we want to help, so don’t hesitate to call us at 856-380-6836.”
CCMC: I took the test today and it said I failed. However, when I kept saying I was finished the computer kept saying I had not completed the exam. I hit finished again and it kept saying the same thing. I rechecked the flagged questioned twice and everything had been answered. It also said 180/180. So after the second time saying I’m finished it went to the evaluation. I would like to make sure from you all, if all 180 questions were answered as I saw on my screen. Is there any way I can find out what I missed on the exam, instead of waiting six weeks after 8/31?
I studied for this exam from Deanna’s book.
Hi Mary Ann, We are not affiliated with the testing organization (CCMC) or the testing center (Prometrix) and therefore have no ability to check on this. I would advise you to check with them.