Which Case Management Certification Should I Get? (Updated September 2026)
UPDATED September 2026
Summary
This article compares the most popular certifications available to case managers. It also covers each certification’s eligibility requirements and cost.
A popular question in our Case Managers Community Facebook Group is “Which Case Management Certification should I get?” While we can’t answer that question for you, we can give you the information you need to decide for yourself.
Things to consider are where you are now and where you want to be in the future. You will also want to take into consideration your professional background and where you work.
This article compares 3 of the most popular certifications available for case managers to help you decide which one is best for you.
Important Changes to Know Before You Decide
There have been some important changes since we last updated this article. Here is what you need to know:
- ANCC is retiring the Nursing Case Management (CMGT-BC) exam. Applications will be accepted through December 31, 2026, and you will be able to test through December 31, 2027. If this is the certification you want, you will need to apply soon.
- The ACM does not count toward Magnet designation. Since January 1, 2024, the Magnet Recognition Program only recognizes certifications accredited by one of four specific bodies, a standard the ACM does not currently meet. This is an essential factor to consider if you are employed by a Magnet-designated facility.
- The Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC) is now The Commission®. The name changed on February 24, 2026. The CCM credential, the eligibility requirements, and the accreditation all stayed the same.
We cover each of these in detail later.
CCM vs. ACM vs. CMGT-BC: Side-by-Side Comparison
Before we get into the details, here is how the three case management certifications compare at a glance:
| CCM | ACM | CMGT-BC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certifying body | The Commission® | ACMA / NBCM | ANCC |
| Who can apply | Any licensed health or human services professional who can perform an independent assessment | RNs and Social Workers only | RNs only |
| Work setting | Any | Hospital/health delivery system | Any |
| Experience required | 12–24 months | 12 months (2,080 hours) | 2 years RN + 2,000 hours in case management |
| Exam format | 180 multiple- choice, 3 hours | Core exam + clinical simulations | 150 multiple- choice, 3 hours |
| Most recent pass rate | 74% (2025) | 50–68% by section (2022) | 66% (2025) |
| Certificants | 49,789 | 6,800+ | 1,961 |
| Renewal | 5 years | 4 years | 5 years |
| Counts toward Magnet | Yes | No | Yes |
| Exam cost | $430 | $359–$405 | $295–$395 |
| Status | Active | Active | Retiring — apply by 12/31/2026 |
Next, we will look at each certification in detail, including eligibility, cost, pass rates, and study resources.
CCM (Certified Case Manager)
Considered the gold standard of case management certification, this certification will help you stand out as an experienced expert in your field. With approximately 50,000 CCMs, this is by far the most popular and prestigious case manager certification. The exam and credentials are offered by The Commission®, the first organization to certify case managers.
A note on the name change. On February 24, 2026, the Commission for Case Manager Certification became The Commission®. This was not a merger, a reorganization, or a replacement. The organization expanded its mission to serve all client advocacy professionals, and the shorter name reflects that broader role. What did not change: the nonprofit status, the accreditations, the leadership, the governance, the eligibility requirements, the exam, or the CCM credential. During the transition you will see "formerly known as" language so employers aren't confused.
You may also notice The Commission now refers to the credential as Board-Certified Case Manager. The initials after your name are still CCM.
This certification is the only cross-setting, cross-discipline case manager credential for healthcare and related fields that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). It is inclusive of all case managers no matter the work setting or credentials, as long as they have a license that allows them to conduct an independent assessment of the client. This makes it very popular with case managers today who are interested in career advancement and know the importance of making themselves more marketable.
CCM Exam Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to sit for this exam, candidates must meet the qualifications in three areas;
- license, degree, or certification,
- employment, and
- character.
Qualifications include:
Licensure, Degree, or Certification Requirements
Applicants must meet one of the following license, degree, or certification requirements:
(1) a current, active, and unrestricted licensure or certification in a health or human services discipline such as RN, LCSW, CRC, Rx, PT, OT, ST, RT, and CDMS, among others.
OR
(2) a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a health or human services discipline from an accredited institution in which they have completed supervised field experience in case management, health, or behavioral health.
Employment Requirements
Applicants must meet one of the employment requirements below:
- 24 months as a full-time case manager
- 12 months as a full-time case manager, supervised by a CCM
- 12 months as a full-time case manager supervising individuals who provide case management services
Part-time work will be calculated by The Comission to meet the equivalent full-time requirement. You should contact The Comission for more information if you are not working full-time and want to pursue CCM Certification.
CCM Character Requirement
Be of good moral character, consistent with the Code of Professional Conduct for Case Managers. (The Commission, 2026a)
About the CCM Exam
Candidates have 3 hours to complete the 180-question multiple-choice exam. Your appointment is scheduled for three and a half hours, which includes getting seated, the tutorial, and an end survey. The exam is administered in two sessions with one ten-minute break in the middle, whether you test at a center or at home.
Of the 180 questions, only 150 are scored questions; the other 30 are pretest questions, which are not scored. According to The Comission, “The CCM exam is practice-based, meaning all questions are based on knowledge that an experienced case manager should know and understand.”
Important: The exam blueprint changed in August 2025. The exam used to cover five domains. It now covers six, because Care Delivery and Reimbursement Methods were separated into two distinct domains.
The examination content focuses on the following six domains:
| Knowledge Domain | % of Exam | # of Items |
|---|---|---|
| Care Management | 30% | 45 |
| Psychosocial Concepts & Support Systems | 20% | 30 |
| Ethical, Legal & Practice Standards | 18% | 27 |
| Reimbursement Methods | 12% | 18 |
| Quality & Outcomes Evaluation and Measurement | 10% | 15 |
| Rehabilitation Concepts & Strategies | 10% | 15 |
Those who pass this exam are entitled to use the credential CCM (Certified Case Manager).
CCM Exam Schedule and Application Deadlines
The CCM exam is administered 3 times each year, during April, August, and December. The test can be scheduled for any available day during the testing month at a Pearson testing center. Online testing through OnVUE is also available. (The Commission, 2026b)
Applications to test must be submitted during the application window for that test month. See the table below for more information.
| Exam Period | April | August | December |
| Application window opens | November 1 | March 1 | July 1 |
| Application window closes | January 31 | May 31 | September 30 |
| Approve/Denial Notified | By February 28 | By June 30 | By October 31 |
| Exam Administered | April 1-30 | August 1-31 | December 1-31 |
Preliminary exam results are available immediately, and confirmed results approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the close of the testing period.
Cost of CCM Certification
The total cost of the exam is $430. This includes an application fee of $235, which is non-refundable, and an exam fee of $195, which is refundable if the applicant is ineligible to sit for the exam. (The Commission, 2026c)
A few other fees worth knowing about: deferring your exam to the next window costs $85, and a retake is $195
CCM Exam Pass Rate
Because the test questions are weighted there is no way to determine the percentage or magic number of questions you must correctly answer to pass. The Commission uses a modified-Angoff method to set the passing score, and a statistical process called equating adjusts for differences in difficulty between exam forms.
The Commission does provide the number and percentage of test takers who pass. The pass rate varies for each administration of the exam and between first-time and repeat test takers. The most recent published pass rates are in the chart below. Please note that the percentage represents the percentage of candidates who passed, NOT the score.
| Exam Administrations | Total Number of Candidates | Total Candidate % Passed | Total CCM Certificants Overall |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2025, August 2025 & December 2025 | 5,041 | 74% | 49,789 |
(The Commission, 2026d)
How to Study for the CCM Exam
The number one resource used by those passing the CCM exam is CCM Certification Made Easy: Your Guide to Passing the Certified Case Manager Exam, now in its 4th edition, rewritten for the latest six-domain exam blueprint. The Amazon list price is $79, but you can get it for $69.45 here, plus you will receive additional free bonuses. It is also available as an app for iOS and Android.
For those who prefer to learn by taking a course, the CCM Exam Prep Course from Case Management Institute has also been updated for the new blueprint. It is $397, includes 10.5 nursing CE credits, and is designed to work alongside the book. The book gives you the facts; the course shows you how to apply them. Your access does not expire until you pass.
In Summary: Is the CCM Right for You?
Who: Medical Professionals who are permitted to conduct an independent client assessment
Work Setting: Any
Credential: CCM
Work Experience: 1 - 2 years depending on your employment
Renewal: 5 years
Popularity: Approximately 50,000
Study Resources: CCM Certification Made Easy: Your Guide to Passing the Certified Case Manager Exam
Exam Cost: $430
For more information, contact The Commission directly at: YourCommission.org.
ACM (Accredited Case Manager)
The American Case Management Association (ACMA) created and administers the Accredited Case Manager (ACM) exam and credentials. This certification is only available to RNs and Social Workers. The ACM is designed for health delivery system and transitions of care (ToC) case managers working in the hospital setting. (ACMA, 2026a)
ACM Exam Eligibility Requirements
Licensure or Education Requirements
The ACM Certification examination is open to:
(1) Registered nurses with a current valid nursing license in good standing,
(2) Social workers with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in social work or a valid social work license in good standing.
Work Experience Requirements
All applicants must have 1 year (2,080 hours) of full-time, supervised paid work experience in a healthcare delivery system as a case manager or a role that falls within the Scope of Services and Standards of Practice of a case manager. Internship, whether paid or unpaid, does not count toward this requirement.
Having less than two years of experience adds the additional requirement of providing supervisor contact information and an attestation that they have at least one year of supervised case management experience.
About the ACM Exam
There are two components to this exam. The first part consists of questions that test the core case management knowledge, skills, and abilities of case managers working in a hospital/health system. The second part of the exam involves discipline-specific clinical simulations. Candidates must pass both the core and discipline-specific portions to be entitled to use the ACM credential. You do not get to choose which section comes first; the order is randomized.
The examination content focuses on hospital case management and transitions of care (ToC) in the following four domains:
- screening and assessment,
- planning,
- care coordination, intervention, and transition management,
- evaluation.
ACM Exam Schedule and Application Deadlines
Candidates for the ACM have two test scheduling options: quarterly or expedited.
With quarterly scheduling, candidates apply at any time and test within the regularly scheduled deadlines and timeframes listed below.
| Application Deadline | Exam Period |
| November 15 | January, February, March |
| February 15 | April, May, June |
| May 15 | July, August, September |
| August 15 | October, November, December |
Candidates who do not want to wait for the next exam period can opt for the Apply Now Schedule Now option. This expedited scheduling allows the candidate to take the exam sooner (in the next three months). There is an increased cost for expedited scheduling.
ACMA now administers the ACM exam through Pearson VUE, with the option to test at a center or remotely.
Cost of ACM Exam
The exam application fee is $359 for the quarterly testing and $405 for the expedited Apply Now Schedule Now. Candidates deemed ineligible to sit for the exam will receive a refund, less a $75 processing fee. (ACMA, 2026b)
ACM Exam Pass Rate
The ACM certification exam is pass/fail and was created to measure minimum competence in case management practice. A separate pass/fail score will be given for the core (multiple choice) and simulation portion of the exam. You will need to pass both portions of the exam to pass and earn the ACM credentials.
Rules to be aware of if you do not pass on your first attempt. You may test on either exam part a maximum of three times per calendar year. If you pass one part but not the other, your passing score is held for six months; if you do not pass the second part within that window, you start over with the entire exam.
ACMA provides the number and percentage of test takers who pass. The pass rate varies for each administration of the exam as well as between RN and SW test takers. The most recent pass rates ACMA has published are in the chart below. Please note that the number and percentage represent the number and percentage of candidates that passed, NOT the score.
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACM-RN Core — Test-Takers / Pass Rate | 689 / 63.7% | 818 / 64.7% | 664 / 64.9% |
| ACM-RN Simulation — Test-Takers / Pass Rate | 656 / 64.5% | 846 / 60.6% | 695 / 60.3% |
| ACM-SW Core — Test-Takers / Pass Rate | 283 / 59.4% | 300 / 59.0% | 314 / 50.2% |
| ACM-SW Simulation — Test-Takers / Pass Rate | 255 / 71.0% | 268 / 72.0% | 269 / 67.6% |
(ACMA, 2026b)
These are still the most current figures ACMA publishes. The same is true of their certificant count, which remains reported as of December 31, 2022: 5,118 ACM-RN and 1,724 ACM-SW.
Does the ACM Count Toward Magnet Status?
If you work at a Magnet hospital, or one pursuing Magnet designation, this affects you.
Since January 1, 2024, ANCC's Magnet Recognition Program only counts certifications accredited by one of four bodies: ABSNC, NCCA, ANAB (ISO 17024), or ICAC. If a credential is not accredited by one of those four, it cannot be included in your organization's Demographic Data Collection Tool (DDCT), the tool Magnet uses to count certified nurses.
The CCM is NCCA-accredited and counts. The CMGT-BC is ABSNC-accredited and counts. The ACM is governed by ACMA's own National Board for Case Management and does not hold accreditation from any of the four recognized bodies, so it does not count toward Magnet.
This does not make the ACM a lesser credential. It is well-respected, and for hospital-based case managers the simulation portion tests things no other case management exam tests. But if your employer is counting certified nurses for a Magnet submission, your ACM will not be counted, and that is important to know before you apply. Check with your organization's Magnet Program Director before you apply.
How to Study for the ACM Exam
ACMA sells the ACM Certification Study Guide, an interactive e-book to prepare for the exam, available only in electronic format. Add-ons include a full-length self-assessment exam with 110 multiple-choice questions and 5 specialty simulations. ACMA no longer posts the price publicly; you will see it at checkout, and members receive a discount. Additionally, local ACMA chapters often run study sessions and groups.
In Summary: Is the ACM Right for You?
Who: RN and SW
Work Setting: Hospital
Credential: ACM (Accredited Case Manager) ACM-RN or ACM-SW
Work Experience: Minimum of 1-year
Renewal: 4 Years
Popularity: 7,000+
Counts toward Magnet: No
Exam Cost: $359 - $405
For more information, contact ACMA directly at: acmaweb.org
ANCC (Case Management - Board Certified)
⚠️ This certification is being retired. Read this first.
In April 2026, the ANCC Commission on Board Certification announced that the Nursing Case Management (CMGT-BC) certification is moving to renewal-only. Here is the timeline:
- Applications accepted through December 31, 2026
- Testing available through December 31, 2027
- After December 31, 2027, the exam is retired.
ANCC's stated reason is that candidate volume made the exam difficult to sustain long-term, and other established certification options exist in this specialty.
If you already hold the CMGT-BC, you keep it. You can renew every five years as you always have. But renewing on time now is essential to keeping your credential. If your certification lapses beyond the two-year reactivation window, there will be no exam to take, and you cannot get the credential back.
If you want this credential and don't have it yet, you have until December 31, 2026 to apply. After that date, applications will no longer be accepted.
One reason it may still be worth it: the Magnet Program continues to accept retired certifications that were accredited at the time they were earned. The CMGT-BC is ABSNC-accredited. So if you earn it before the exam retires and keep it current, it counts toward your organization's Magnet numbers indefinitely.
More information is available in the article ANCC Is Retiring the Nursing Case Management Certification (CMGT-BC)
Administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the Nursing Case Management board certification exam is specifically focused on nursing case management.
After meeting the eligibility requirements to sit for the exam and successfully completing it, you are awarded the credential Case Management Nurse – Board Certified (CMGT-BC™). (ANCC, 2026a)
CMGT-BC Exam Eligibility Requirements
To qualify to sit for the ANCC Case Management Certification exam, applicants must meet the following licensure, work experience, and education qualifications.
RN License
Applicants must hold a current, active RN license within a state or territory of the United States or the professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country. International applicants also have additional requirements which are outlined on ANCC’s website.
Work experience
Applicants must have worked as an RN for the equivalent of 2 years of full-time employment. In addition, they must have a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in nursing case management in the last 3 years.
Education
To be eligible to sit for this exam, you must have completed 30 hours of continuing education in nursing case management within the last 3 years. (Need help with this? The Case Management Institute can help.)
About the CMGT-BC Exam
The ANCC exam is competency-based, assessing the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of RNs working in the specialty area of case management. The exam content focuses on four domains: professional foundation, care coordination, quality management, and health promotion.
The exam contains 150 questions and must be completed in 3 hours or less. Only 125 of the questions are actual test questions; the remaining 25 are not scored, as they are pretest questions.
CMGT-BC Exam Schedule and Application Deadline
You can apply at any time through December 31, 2026. Once the application is submitted an eligibility decision will be made within 4 - 6 weeks. If the applicant is deemed eligible, an authorization to test number will be given. The applicant then has a 120-day window in which to schedule and take the exam. Testing is through Prometric.
Because testing ends December 31, 2027, you will want to plan backward from that date. If you apply close to the December 2026 deadline, you will still have your full testing window, but you will not have time to reapply if something goes wrong.
Cost of CMGT-BC Certification
ANCC charges $395 to apply for the exam, but American Nurses Association Members pay a discounted rate of $295. Both prices include a $140 non-refundable administrative fee. (ANCC, 2026a)
Renewal is $350, or $250 for ANA members.
CMGT-BC Exam Pass Rate
The pass rate varies for each administration of the exam and between first-time and repeat test takers. In 2025, 286 RNs tested for the first time, of whom 188 passed, for a pass rate of 66%. As of December 31, 2025, there were 1,961 CMGT-BC certificants. Please note the pass rate is the percentage of test takers who passed the exam, not the score needed to pass. (ANCC, 2026b)
Study Resources for CMGT-BC
ANCC recommends and sells the Nursing Case Management Review and Resource Manual. In addition, they recommend a review course (How to Prepare for Your ANCC Certification Exam, n.d.).
The Case Management Institute has a review course created by Anne Llewellyn and Elaine Miller, co-author of the Nursing Case Management Review and Resource Manual. It is $397 and includes 10 hours of instruction across 5 units built on the ANCC blueprint, plus an audio version for your commute. Along with preparing you for the exam, this course will also give you 10 CE hours toward the 30 required to apply for the exam.
ANCC also has a list of the resources used to create the test. This list includes various Standards of Practice as well as The Ethical Case Manager and A Practical Guide to Acute Care Case Management, both available from Amazon. You can view the complete list on the Nursing World website here.
In Summary: Is the CMGT-BC Right for You?
Who: RN
Work Setting: Any
Credential: CMGT-BC
Work Experience: 2 years full-time as a registered nurse, and 2,000+ hours of clinical practice in nursing case management within the last 3 years.
Renewal: 5 Years
Popularity: Approximately 2,000
Study Resources:
- Nursing Case Management Review and Resource Manual 4th Edition
- The Ethical Case Manager
- A Practical Guide to Acute Care Case Management and
- Nurse Case Manager Board Certification Exam Prep Course
Exam Cost: $295 or $395
Learn More: NursingWorld.org
Get Certified
Whichever certification you choose, I encourage you to get certified. Obtaining your certification is a great career step. It shows that you are a lifelong learner who is serious about your profession, something employers and potential employers look for when promoting and hiring, making it well worth the investment. And what better investment of your time and money is there than investing in yourself!
If the ANCC credential is the one you want, keep the December 31, 2026 application deadline in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions About
Case Management Certification
Which case management certification is best?
There is no single best certification; there is a best one for your situation. The CCM is the most widely held and the most portable across settings and disciplines, which makes it the default choice for most case managers. The ACM is the stronger fit if you are an RN or social worker who works in a hospital and plans to stay there. The CMGT-BC is a nursing-specific credential, but it is being retired, so it is only worth pursuing if you can apply before December 31, 2026.
Can a social worker get case management certification?
Yes. Social workers are eligible for both the CCM and the ACM-SW. The CMGT-BC is limited to registered nurses.
How much does case management certification cost?
Exam fees range from $295 to $430 depending on the certification and your membership status. Once you add study materials, expect to spend roughly $500 for the CCM and $750 to $880 for the CMGT-BC.
How long does it take to get certified as a case manager?
The experience requirement is the longest part. You need 12 to 24 months of qualifying case management experience for the CCM, 12 months for the ACM, and two years as an RN plus 2,000 hours of case management practice for the CMGT-BC. Once eligible, plan on two to three months of study before you test.
Which case management certification counts toward Magnet?
The CCM and the CMGT-BC both count. The ACM does not, because Magnet only accepts credentials accredited by ABSNC, NCCA, ANAB, or ICAC.
Can I hold more than one case management certification?
Yes, and many case managers do. It is common to see CCM paired with ACM-RN or CMGT-BC. Just be aware that each credential carries its own renewal cycle, continuing education requirement, and fee.
Is the CCM exam hard?
The most recent pass rate was 74%, so most candidates pass. The candidates who struggle are usually the ones who answer based on how their employer does things rather than on national standards of practice. Studying the standards as they align with the exam blueprint, rather than relying on experience alone, is what makes the difference.
About the Author
Deanna Cooper Gillingham, RN, CCM, FCM, has been a Registered Nurse since 1994 and a Case Manager since 2011, with experience in complex and transplant case management. She is the author of CCM Certification Made Easy: Your Guide to Passing the Certified Case Manager Exam, now in its 4th edition, which has helped tens of thousands of case managers earn their certification.
As co-founder and CEO of the Case Management Institute, Deanna is passionate about developing the case management workforce by decreasing barriers to entry into the profession and developing case managers into leaders. She is also co-founder of the Case Managers Community, a Facebook group of over 30,000 case managers, and a Fellow of the Case Management Society of America.
References
American Case Management Association. (2026a). ACM certification. https://www.acmaweb.org/acm/default.aspx?nav=info
American Case Management Association. (2026b). ACM certification frequently asked questions. https://www.acmaweb.org/acm/default.aspx?nav=faq
American Nurses Credentialing Center. (n.d.). How to prepare for your ANCC certification exam. https://www.nursingworld.org/globalassets/certification/ancc-1788_certification-seven-tips_fnl.pdf
American Nurses Credentialing Center. (2026a). Nursing case management certification (CMGT-BC™). https://www.nursingworld.org/our-certifications/nursing-case-management/
American Nurses Credentialing Center. (2026b). 2025 ANCC certification data. https://www.nursingworld.org/globalassets/docs/ancc/ancc-cert-data-website.pdf
American Nurses Credentialing Center. (2026c). ANCC certification FAQs. https://www.nursingworld.org/certification/faqs/
American Nurses Credentialing Center. (2026d). Certifications accepted in the DDCT. https://www.nursingworld.org/organizational-programs/magnet/program-tools/accepted-certifications/
The Commission. (2026a). Certification guide for the CCM® examination. https://yourcommission.org/certification/board-certified-case-manager/get-certified/certification-guide-application-cycles-code-of-professional-conduct
The Commission. (2026b). Testing information. https://yourcommission.org/certification/board-certified-case-manager/get-certified/testing-information
The Commission. (2026c). Eligibility at a glance. https://yourcommission.org/certification/board-certified-case-manager/get-certified/eligibility-at-a-glance
The Commission. (2026d). Board-certified case manager — FAQs. https://yourcommission.org/certification/board-certified-case-manager/faqs
The Commission. (2026e). FAQs about our news! https://yourcommission.org/about-commissionr/faqs-about-our-news
It’s time to get unstuck. With 2021—and a coronavirus vaccine—finally in sight, it’s time to move forward. One way to do that is to stretch yourself professionally. For professional case managers, this could mean earning the Certified Case Manager® (CCM®) credential.
Case managers are struggling. Preliminary results from over 5,900 CCMs in our recent “Checking in With Our CCMs” survey reveals some of the burdens our case managers carry, and it’s eye-opening.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” When it comes to helping case management clients achieve their goals, Thomas Jefferson’s words were never truer. Every day, case managers need flexibility while standing firmly on ethical principles and standards.
