New survey finds board-certified case managers earning more and on solid career trajectory

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., March 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Congress writes the next health reform chapter, a growing cadre of problem solvers gains recognition behind the scenes. A new survey finds more board-certified case managers (credentialed by the Commission for Case Manager Certification^®) bring specialized training and are earning higher salaries—evidence that health care organizations acknowledge the important role they play.

Since the Affordable Care Act became law, the number of case managers holding the Board Certified Case Manager^® (CCM^®) credential has expanded rapidly, from about 20,000 to more than 42,000. Case managers work with patients—especially those with complex needs—so they receive the health care, financial assistance and emotional support required for optimal health. They coordinate care, communicating across care settings, on behalf of patients and caregivers.

The newly released CCM survey[1] finds employers recognize the value board-certified case managers provide. Among the findings:

• Median annual salaries for board-certified case managers range from $75,000-$80,000—well above that for registered nurses[2] (89 percent of CCMs are licensed RNs).
• Almost half (45 percent) earn more than $80,000 per year, up from 33 percent in 2013.
• Beyond certification, 86 percent have specialty training (such as workers' compensation or chronic disease management)—up from 67 percent in 2015.
• More than two-thirds (67 percent) have been case managers for more than a decade.

"The professional growth trajectory for board-certified case managers mirrors the value they bring patients, providers and payers," said Commission CEO MaryBeth Kurland, CAE. "The Commission sets a high bar through our research-based exam and the Code of Professional Conduct.  CCMs instill excellence in the organizations they serve."

The Commission, the first and largest organization certifying case managers, marks its 25th anniversary this year. To celebrate, the Commission will extend a $25 discount on the exam application fee for those applying between now and May 31, 2017. Qualified applicants take the exam at one of 8,000 locations in 160 countries.

The Commission's recent focus on workforce development produced partnerships for excellence with like-minded organizations. The CCM is recognized for reimbursement under the Post-911 GI Bill and is the only health care case management credential endorsed by the National Association of Social Workers.

"The Commission remains independent—it's not a membership organization," Kurland said. "Our founding purpose endures: professional case management excellence through certification and programs that support it." The CCM is the only comprehensive case manager certification accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

To learn about workforce development, see ccmcertification.org/about-us/about-ccmc/2016-compendium. For more about professional development (e.g., CMLearning Network, CCMC's Case Management Body of Knowledge^®, Pre-Approved Continuing Education and Certification Workshops), call (856) 380-6836 or visit http://www.ccmcertification.org.

About the Commission for Case Manager Certification
The Commission for Case Manager Certification is the first and largest nationally accredited organization that certifies more than 42,000 professional case managers and over 2,500 disability management specialists. The Commission is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that oversees the process of case manager certification with its CCM^® credential. The Commission also oversees the process of disability management specialist certification with its CDMS^® credential. The Commission is positioned as the most active and prestigious certification organization supporting the practice of case management. For more information, visit www.ccmcertification.org, connect with the Commission on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @CCM_Cert.

[1] 2017 CCMC Professional and Demographic Characteristics of Certified Case Managers (n=2,739)
[2] Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm

SOURCE Commission for Case Manager Certification

Related Links

http://www.ccmcertification.org/