Today, gaining a national case management certification is mandatory for many professionals. Employers view certification as a way to show their case managers have the expertise to do their job. It puts them ahead of the pack!
There are several national certifications that are available for case managers to look at. Here are some ways to evaluate those out there:
1. Examine your case management career goals.
If you are a hospital nurse case manager and want to stay at a hospital, you might want to consider the American Nurses Credentialing Center Case Management Exam or the American Case Management Examination.
If you want to explore other areas of case management and you have a variety of experience in healthcare, you can consider the Case Management Certification Exam by the Commission for Case Manger Certification. The CCMC exam is the oldest and most recognized certification exam.
If you work in managed care and want to stay in this area, think about the Managed Care Nurse Case Management Exam.
2. Determine the case management certifications you are eligible for.
Review the eligibility for each of the certification exams to make sure your experience meets the eligibility criteria for the exam you are interested in. You should think broadly as to what you have done in your career. If you are not sure about your experience, you can call the certification body and talk to someone about this.
3. Consider your primary professional discipline.
Some certifications are for specific disciplines. For example, the Nursing Case Management Exam by the American Nurses Credentialing Center is for RNs only. So, if you are not a Registered Nurse, you would not meet the primary eligibility requirement for this certification.
4. Review your job description.
Review your job description and make sure it lines up with the eligibility criteria for the certification you are applying. Your Job Description is the primary tool you will be asked to submit as part of the application. Make sure it contains the elements of the eligibility criteria. If you see gaps, ask your manager to either update the job description or write an addendum to show that you do the things that are required in the eligibility criteria. Submit all of this with your application.
5. Don’t Stop at one Case Management Certification!
Many people take additional certifications as they acquire expertise and move up in their careers, as their career goals change, and as a way to amplify their expertise.
Certification is an achievement that many professionals strive to achieve. Be proud of the certification you achieve and advocate for it as needed by educating others on the value it brings you and as part of your own professional development.
Want more information?
If you have questions on Stepping Up to Certification, take a few minutes to review a special report, Stepping Up to Certification. I wrote this report and have kept it updated to reflect the latest national certifications for case/care managers and patient advocates. Each of the various certification organizations contributed to the report and discuss their specific certification and the value it brings. Here is the link to access the report: https://anne-llewellyn.s3.amazonaws.com/2021+Stepping+Up+To+Certification+1209.pdf+final+version.pdf
Feel free to email me if I can assist you in any want as you take the certification journey.
Looking for Case Management Certification Resources?
Check out Case Management Institutes certification resources here.
Anne is a registered nurse with over forty-three years of experience in critical care, risk management, case management, patient advocacy, and healthcare education including training and development. Anne speaks and writes frequently on topics for consumers, caregivers, and all members of the healthcare team so together we can improve each person’s healthcare experience. Follow her in her weekly Blog, Nurses Advocate where she shares stories and events that will help people be better prepared when they enter the healthcare system. https://nursesadvocates.com. You can reach Anne via email at anne@nuresesadvocates.com