by Deanna Gillingham | Jul 12, 2018 |
One of the most frequently asked questions we get is regarding CCM exam practice questions. We post a practice question each weekday in our Facebook Group Case Managers Community, with the answer posted the following day. But many people are looking for more than this. So we began researching options. (more…)
by Deanna Gillingham | Jul 5, 2018 |

Have you ever thought about starting your own Case Management or Patient Advocacy business?
Do you currently have a business you would like to grow?
Anne Llewellyn and I will be conducting a Pre-Conference Workshop on this subject at this year’s National Nurses in Business Association National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada October 12-14. This nurse entrepreneurship and career alternative conference is the #1 business conference for nurses! (more…)
by Debby Formica | May 8, 2018 |
Have you ever wondered how the CCM certification exam is created? Where do those questions come from and who writes them? We were curious too! CCMC was very gracious and gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how the CCM Exam & Question Development occurs to share with you. We are sure you will find the following article by Debby Formica very interesting and informative! (more…)
by Deanna Gillingham | Jan 7, 2018 |

Last call to those who want to take the CCM exam this April 2018! It’s less than a month to go before the April 2018 application window closes on January 31. So, if one of your goals this 2018 is to add CCM to your name, then this is your opportunity! Act now while you still have time!
You will have 3 opportunities to take the CCM Exam in 2018, April, August, and December. We all know how fast time flies, and with only 3 testing periods per year, it is easy to miss out.
Personally, I think April is the best time to take the CCM, what better way to spend a cold winter day than studying! (more…)
by Lola Koktysh | Aug 11, 2017 |
A healthcare CRM system can streamline case management processes to improve patient outcomes, reduce payer denials and support revenue cycle and a great Go-To Tool for Case Managers
Being complex and collaborative, case management implies not only care coordination from admission to discharge, but also advocating for options and services to meet patients’ health needs and achieve improved health outcomes.
Handling this process without any dedicated tools or (even) with outdated technology is troublesome, at best. Sometimes, case managers even have to resort to paper to document patient data or draft a care plan. Accordingly, using ineffective and inconvenient technology for case management can cause business problems. (more…)
by Deanna Gillingham | Aug 7, 2017 |
If one of your goals for 2017 is to pass the CCM Exam, this is your last chance!
The application window for the August 2017 exam is closed, but the December exam window is now open. You can sign up to take the December CCM exam that will move your career to the next level until September 30, 2017.
Completing your application is easier than ever. The entire application can be done online where you will find everything you need to complete your application. (more…)
by Zulvey Smith, RN CCM | May 12, 2017 |
This is the story of my journey from being afraid
to move beyond the traditional nurse role
to becoming a certified case manager.
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Do What You Love”
An ideal that most of us believe in and want to live by.
I had been a nurse for six years and I loved my job. There’s nothing that brings me more joy than knowing I am making a difference and helping those in need. I prided myself on helping people and the thought of leaving bedside nursing often ended with “I’m afraid I wouldn’t have that same impact on a phone line between myself and a patient.” Still, with the satisfaction of working in the hospital, I was curious and wanted to try something different, something new.
Moving into the case management world of an insurance company is a scary step for someone with the title of Registered Nurse. Passion trumped fear. I took the step and made a choice. I entered the world of Case Management. (more…)
by Deanna Gillingham | May 10, 2017 |

You’re used to taking exams as a professional, and as you know, each test is slightly different. Today, I’d like to go over the layout for the CCM Exam Prep and offer 8 Tips For Success to help you prepare.
When I began studying I didn’t know where to begin. I started by looking at CCMC’s website. They have a lot of valuable information, but it is not easy to find everything you are looking for in one spot. Here is a summary of the information you need to know when preparing for the exam.
CCM Exam Overview
The CCM Exam is administered three times a year in April, August, and December.
The application window opens five months before the exam and remains open for three months.
The CCM exam is administered at Prometric test centers. After being approved by CCMC to sit for the exam you will receive information to contact Prometric to schedule your exam date.
Quick Tip: As soon as you get your authorization from CCMC to sit for the exam, be sure to contact Prometric to get the test date of your choice, as some centers fill up fast!
In order to sit for the CCM exam, you must meet the eligibility criteria. Take a look at this post for specific eligibility information.
According to CCMC, “The CCM exam is practice-based, meaning all questions are based on the knowledge that an experienced case manager should know and understand. There is not any course or education required to take the exam or to prepare for the exam.”
The CCM Exam includes:
- 180 multiple choice questions (150 are scored, the other 30 are pretest questions that are being tested for possible inclusion of future tests)
- Covers 5 knowledge domains
- Questions are drawn from CCMC item pool
- 3 hours to complete
5 Knowledge Domains
The CCMC Exam questions cover the following five knowledge domains:
* approximately
Quick Tips for Preparing for The CCM Exam
Here are 8 specific tips for studying and taking the CCM exam:
Study Tips:
- The CCM exam was updated in December 2020, make sure you have the updated study materials.
- Plan study time according to the number of questions on the exam. Look at the number of questions in each domain and plan study time accordingly.
- A broad general knowledge is more important than memorizing facts. Have a general knowledge of the items in each domain. Here is a list of the domains.
- Know the Case Manager Philosophy and ensure your answers align with it.
- Study until you understand the information well enough to teach someone about it (especially the information you are not familiar with). When you understand the information that well, it is a good sign!
Exam Tips:
- Exam questions are direct. There are no “all of the above” or “none of the above” questions.
- Answer questions according to how Case Managers, in general, would answer, not how it is done at your place of employment.
- Breathe! When you get to the exam, write “BREATHE” at the top of your scratch paper, and look at it when you are feeling overwhelmed.
Hopefully, this helps you have an idea of what to expect on the exam.
If you are looking for study materials, the CCM Study Guide along with one of our Online CCM Prep Courses is sure to help you feel confident and ready to take the exam.
I have put together a free step by step guide to studying for the CCM exam called Successful Study Strategies. If you would like me to email it to you, simply complete the form below with your personal email address and it will be on its way to you. You will be able to save this to your computer for future use and print it off if you like. Please use your personal email address and not your work email address, as most employers’ emails will not accept emails with attachments.
by Deanna Gillingham | May 1, 2017 |

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been talking about how amazing becoming a certified case manager is. We’ve gone over how your career will grow, your earnings will increase, and how more employment opportunities await certified case managers. We’ve even talked about the great conferences to attend!
So, you’ve been reading about case management and have decided it is a career move you’d love to pursue. Let’s go over the details of eligibility.
Are You Eligible?
As our world continues to change, the demand for patient-centered healthcare is increasing rapidly. As a result, the need for professional case managers has grown substantially.
The Commission for Case Manager Certification has heeded this need by changing the eligibility criteria for case managers seeking board certification. These changes give much better – qualified professionals the opportunity to take their career to the next level.
According to the CCM Certification Guide, there are 3 areas of qualification applicants must meet to be eligible to take the exam.
- Meet specific licensure or education requirements.
- Qualify within one of CCMC’s employment category experience categories.
- Be of good moral character, consistent with the CCMC Code of Professional Conduct.
(more…)
by Deanna Gillingham | Apr 18, 2017 |

Are you currently working as a case manager?
Are you making $75,000 or more a year?
The CCM recently released a new survey which reveals some fascinating facts about the growth of Certified Case Managers. As the healthcare world continues to become harder to navigate, the need for qualified case managers is growing rapidly.
As the survey points out, since the Affordable Care Act has become law, the number of case managers holding the CCM credential has risen from around 20,000 to more than 42,000. This is good news for the patients who rely on well-educated, dependable care coordinators to help guide them, and the hard working case managers themselves. Becoming a certified case manager is a win, win for all involved.
Here are just a few reasons to take that next step and become certified.
Increased Earning Potential
According to the latest CCM survey, released at the end of March 2017, the median average salary for Certified Case Managers is between $75,000 – $80,000 a year, well above the average RN or Social Worker salary. Even more interesting is that almost half (45%) earn over $80,000 a year! (more…)