By Anne Llewellyn MS, BHSA, RN-BC, CCM, CRRN CMF, CMGT-BC
What is the ANCC Nurse Case Management Certification Exam?
The ANCC (American Nursing Credentialing Center) Nurse Case Management Certification exam is one of the many certifications case managers can take to validate their work in case management. The major difference between this one and the other case management certification exams is that the ANCC exam is focused on the nursing process.
The largest discipline to work in case management, utilization management, and population health is nursing. As a result, the ANCC developed the Nursing Case Management Exam specifically for registered nurses who work in case management across the broad healthcare continuum.
What are the eligibility requirements for the ANCC Nursing Case Management Certification Exam?
According to the ANCC website, the eligibility criteria for those seeking to sit for the Nursing Case Management Certification exam are as follows:
- Hold a current, active RN license in a state or territory of the United States or hold a professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country.
- Have practiced the equivalent of 2 years full-time as a registered nurse.
- Have a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in nursing case management within the last 3 years.
- Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in nursing case management within the last 3 years.
To learn more about the eligibility procedure visit this website https://www.nursingworld.org/our-certifications/nursing-case-management
Is the ANCC Nursing Case Management Certification Exam hard?
Well first, we must define what you mean by hard! All certification examinations are challenging for most test takers. As professionals who have been out of formal education for some time, taking a national certification exam can put fear into test takers.
The key to being successful in any certification exam is to choose the certification that meets your area of practice and your career goals. In the area of case management, there are several national certifications that professionals can apply to. Click here to read a Special Report that looks at the various certifications that case managers can obtain and decide which one is best for you.
Once you decide on the certification exam you want to take, review the eligibility criteria to make sure you meet the criteria set by the certification body. The application can be tricky for some, but most certification bodies lay out the process step by step and are available if you have questions.
Once you are approved to sit for the certification exam, you should allow time to prepare for the exam. Most people take three months to prepare.
The American Nursing Credentialing Center provides a test content outline that covers the areas that make up the exam content. Nurses sitting for the exam should review this material to make sure they are comfortable with the information.
Some research and reading should be done as part of your preparation. If you have a good working knowledge of the items on the test design, you should do well.
The ANCC Nursing Case Management exam is designed to follow the nursing process – so nurses sitting for the exam should be familiar with the content. The key is to apply your knowledge to questions and scenarios that are asked on the exam. Being able to read and critically analyze the question and the four choices is important. To review the test outline for the ANCC Nursing Case Management Exam click here.
Many people utilize prep courses to help them prepare for examination. The key to a good prep course is that it follows the test outline and explains how it applies to actual practice. This helps the test taker identify what they know and what specific areas they may need to study more.
What is the ANCC Nurse Case Management Certification Exam pass rate?
According to the 2021 ANCC Certification Data, 216 nurse case managers took the exam, and 151 passed on the first try.
How is the ANCC Case Management Certification Exam scored?
The ANCC Nursing Case Management board certification examination is a competency-based examination that provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of registered nurses in the nursing case management specialty after initial RN licensure. Test results are pass or fail. If you fail, your score report will include diagnostic information for each content area of the test. To learn more about how the exam is scored, please refer to page 5 of the ANCC Nursing Case Management Certification and Renewal Handbook.
What score do you need to pass the ANCC Case Management Certification Exam?
According to the Nursing Case Management Certification and Renewal Handbook page 5: To pass the ANCC examination, an examinee must achieve a scale score of 350 or higher.
How many questions are on the ANCC Nurse Case Management Certification Exam?
The ANCC Website notes that the exam is made up of 150 questions (125 scored plus 25 pretest questions that are not scored).
How to study for the ANCC Nurse Case Management Certification Exam.
Test takers should review the test content outline as this document outlines how the exam is made up. ANCC also provides a variety of study aids test takers can use to prepare for the exam.
How to pass the ANCC Nurse Case Management Certification Exam?
How to pass the ANCC Nurse Case Management Exam will be different for everyone. The best way to prepare for the exam is to review the test content outline and see what you are familiar with and where you might need additional studing. The rule of thumb is to take three months to prepare before taking the exam. This gives you time to read and learn what you don’t know.
Best review for the ANCC Case Management Certification Exam.
The American Nursing Credentialing Center offers test takers a Nurse Case Management Review and Resource Manual that reviews the test content outline.
In addition, the authors of this article have developed an online certification review course that explains how the theory of nursing case management applies to actual practice. This course is not part of the ANCC study materials. It was developed independently by authors Anne Llewellyn MS, BHSA, RN-BC, CCM, CRRN CMF, CMGT-BC, and Elaine Miller Bruner, RN, MSN, CMGT-BC for the Case Management Institute. Click here to learn more about the course
How much is the ANCC Nursing Case Management Certification Exam?
According to the ANCC website, the cost of the Nursing Case Management Exam is divided into two categories. This is because ANCC is the credentialing arm of the American Nursing Association (ANA), so they offer a discount for ANA members. The cost for ANA members is $295.00. The cost for a non-member is $395.00.
How to schedule the ANCC Nursing Case Management Certification Exam.
According to the ANCC Website, once you are approved to sit for the Nursing Case Management Exam, you can schedule the exam in one of two ways: one is through a Prometric Testing Center or via Test via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP)
I hope this article helps you understand more about the Nursing Case Management exam that is offered through the American Nursing Credentialing Center. If you have questions as you look to Step Up to Case Management Certification, please feel free to email me or Elaine Miller Bruner. You can reach us via email at: Anne Llewellyn: allewellyn48@gmail.com. Elaine Miller Bruner: millereli2@aol.com