What you need to know about CM credentials
What you need to know about CM credentials
Revised and updated for 1998
Here are some basic facts that should help you make decisions about which certification programs best fit your personal experience, expertise, and professional needs. Information below is summarized directly from candidate handbooks supplied by each credentialing board. For complete eligibility criteria and other relevant data, contact the appropriate credentialing board for the complete candidate handbook.
Note: Because of possible changes in eligibility requirements for 1998, the Washington, DC-based American Nurses Credentialing Center isn’t releasing information on its nursing case management credential. Hospital Case Management will print the new eligibility requirements as soon as they’re available.
1. CONTINUITY OF CARE CERTIFICATION, ADVANCED (A-CCC)
Credentialing board:
National Board for Certification in Continuity of Care, 7313 Southview Ct., Fairfax Station, VA 22039. Telephone: (860) 586-7525.
Eligibility criteria:
• Open to multiple disciplines, including nursing, social work, therapy, dietitians, and physicians.
• Bachelor’s degree plus two years of full-time experience within the last five years in continuity of care, or equivalent part-time experience (4,000 hours) within the past five years. Verification of employment is required.
Registration fee: $300.
Refunds: Candidates who withdraw from the exam may receive refund of $75 or reschedule for the next exam for an additional fee of $125. Requests for refunds or rescheduling must be made in writing within 30 days of testing date.
1998 testing dates: May 9, 1998, and Nov. 7, 1998.
Testing sites: Multiple sites available nationwide in 11 states. In addition, special testing centers can be requested for candidates who live more than 500 miles from the nearest testing site. There is a $100 fee for special testing sites.
Recertification: Five years after the date of initial certification candidates must be re-examined, or present documented evidence of at least 50 hours of educational activity within the five-year period.
Additional information: "The NBCCC recognizes that continuity of care includes many factors beyond those traditionally associated with discharge planning and case management, and that these important components of the total health and social support system are included in continuity of care," according to NBCCC’s Handbook for Candidates.
Exam content outline: Test covers continuity of care process, health care delivery systems, professional issues, standards, reimbursement and legal issues, and clinical issues.
Sample question: Which person on the health care treatment team has the ultimate responsibility for admission and discharge of a patient?
2. CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN HEALTH CARE QUALITY (CPHQ)
Credentialing board:
Healthcare Quality Certification Board of the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ), P.O. Box 1880, San Gabriel, CA 91778. Telephone: (818) 286-8074. Fax: (818) 286-9415.
Eligibility criteria:
• Associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree in any field, or valid RN or LPN license, or valid accreditation in medical records technology plus minimum of two years of full-time experience or its part-time equivalent (4,160 hours) in health care quality, case, utilization, and/or risk management activities in the last five years by the date of the exam.
• Alternative eligibility pre-application review may be appropriate in some cases if one but not both of the above requirements are met. Request the Candidate Handbook for further details and specific requirements. Deadline to submit required materials is 90 days prior to the exam.
Registration fee: Early bird (postmarked by 6/30): $300 for non-NAHQ members, $235 for NAHQ members; regular fee (postmarked by 8/31): $350 for non-NAHQ members, $285 for NAHQ members.
Refunds: $85 of each registration fee is nonrefundable to cover processing costs. Candidates who withdraw prior to exam may receive a full refund of the remaining amount by making a request in writing five days prior to the examination date.
1998 testing date: Nov. 14, 1998. Non-Saturday testing for religious reasons is available.
Testing sites: More than 25 sites nationwide in multiple states. Candidates living more than 400 miles from a testing site may request a special testing site for an additional nonrefundable fee of $100.
Recertification: Candidates must apply for recertification every two years. Cost of recertification is $95. Candidates must complete 30 hours or more of acceptable continuing education hours every two years and submit a summary of continuing education activities form.
Exam content outline: Management and leadership; information management; education, training and communication; performance measurement and improvement; accreditation and licensure.
Sample question: Which of the following processes is most cost-effective in preventing unnecessary resource consumption in the hospital?
3. CARE MANAGER CERTIFIED (CMC) Credentialing board:
National Academy of Certified Care Managers, 3389 Sheridan St., Suite 170, Hollywood, FL 33021. Telephone: (800) 962-2260.
Eligibility criteria:
• Candidates with master’s-level education in social work, nursing, gerontology, counseling, or psychology must have two years of supervised paid, full-time care management experience that includes face-to-face interviewing, assessment, care planning, problem-solving, and follow-up.
• Candidates with bachelor’s-level education must have four years of paid full-time experience with clients in fields such as social work, nursing, mental health, counseling, or care management, two years of which must be supervised, paid, full-time care management experience.
• Candidates with a high school diploma or any advanced degree in an area unrelated to care management must have six years of paid, full-time, direct experience with clients in fields such as social work, mental health, nursing, counseling, or care management, two years of which must be supervised, paid full-time care management experience.
Registration fee: $225; $20 for candidate handbook and application forms; $20 for reprocessing of incomplete or incorrect applications.
Refunds: Candidates withdrawing from the exam may receive a full refund less a $50 processing fee. Requests must be made in writing 10 working days prior to scheduled examination date.
1998 testing dates: Unlimited. Candidates may schedule the certification exam seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Testing sites: Test is computer-generated and can be taken at 250 Sylvan Testing sites nationwide.
Recertification: Three years after initial certification, candidates must demonstrate that they have maintained 1,500 hours of professional care management practice and completed 15 contact hours per year in approved continuing education. The recertification fee is not yet established, as the examination process is less than two years old.
Additional comments: NACCM recognizes the diversity of the practice of care management. The term assumes the broadest possible meaning of the roles, functions, responsibilities, and educational backgrounds of care managers. The successful applicant must have full-time direct access with persons with chronic disabilities and supervised care management experience that includes face-to-face interviewing, assessment, care planning, problem-solving, and follow-up.
Exam content outline: Test covers five major domains: assessment; establishing goals and a plan of care; coordinating and linking formal and informal resources to meet goals and implement plan of care; managing and monitoring ongoing provision of and need for care; and legal and ethical issues.
Sample question: A consumer living in supervised housing becomes psychologically unstable and is returned to a local mental hospital. What is the appropriate procedure to follow during the consumer’s hospitalization?
4. CERTIFIED REHABILITATION REGISTERED NURSE (CRRN)
Credentialing board:
Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board, 4700 W. Lake Ave., Glenview, IL 60025-1485. Telephone: (800) 229-7530.
Eligibility criteria:
• Current, unrestricted RN license plus at least two years of practice as registered professional nurse in rehabilitation nursing within the last five years. Employment must be verified by two professional colleagues, one of whom is a CRRN, or an immediate supervisor.
Registration fee: $185 for Association of Rehabilitation Nurses members (ARN), $265 for nonmembers.
Refunds: Candidates who withdraw from the examination can receive a refund less a $50 processing fee. Requests must be made in writing within 10 days after the examination date.
1998 Testing date: Electronic testing available at multiple sites all year long. Call Assessment Systems Inc. at (800) 470-8756 to set up an appointment. Bring application and fee in when you take the test.
Recertification: Five years after initial certification, professionals must either take the examination again, or submit verification of 60 hours of continuing education in the past five years. Two-thirds of continuing education hours must be approved by national or state nursing organizations. Recertification deadline is June 1.
Exam content outline: Test covers rehabilitation and rehabilitation nursing models and theories, functional health patterns, rehabilitation team members, community re-entry, and legislative and legal issues.
Sample question: What cranial nerve is affected in a patient who cannot smile but can chew without problems?
5. CERTIFIED CASE MANAGER (CCM) Credentialing board:
Commission for Case Manager Certification, 1835 Rohlwing Road, Suite D, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008. Telephone: (847) 818-0292. Fax: (847) 394-2172.
Eligibility criteria:
• Minimum educational requirement of post-secondary program in a field that promotes the physical, psychosocial, or vocational well-being of the persons served.
• License or certification awarded upon completion of education requirement outlined above must have been obtained by the candidate’s passing an examination in his/her area of specialization.
• Completion of the education program’s licensing or certification process must grant the license/certificate holder the ability to legally and independently practice without the supervision of another licensed professional, and to perform all six essential activities of case management, including: assessment, planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Candidate must have verifiable employment experience in one of three categories: 1) 12 months of acceptable full-time case management employment or its equivalent under the supervision of a CCM for the 12 months; or 2) 24 months of acceptable full-time employment or its equivalent; or 3) 12 months of acceptable full-time employment or its equivalent as a supervisor, supervising the activities of individuals who provide direct case management services.
• Candidate must also demonstrate that, as part of their employment, they apply the six essential case management activities listed above within each of the following five core components, which include: coordination and service delivery, physical and psychological factors, benefit systems and cost benefit analysis, case management concepts, and community resources.
Registration fee: $130 nonrefundable application fee plus $160 examination fee, due when candidate sits for exam, or total certification fee of $290.
Refunds: $130 application fee is nonrefundable.
1998 testing dates: June 6, 1998, and Dec. 5, 1998.
Testing sites: Candidates are sent a list of established testing sites roughly six weeks prior to examination date.
Recertification: Five years after initial certification, candidates must verify completion of 80 hours of approved continuing education in the past five years to avoid re-examination. There is a recertification fee of $150.
Exam content outline: Test covers the five domains described in the eligibility criteria, which include: coordination and service delivery, physical and psychological factors, benefit systems and cost benefit analysis, case management concepts, and community resources.
Sample question: Which of the following best describes the purpose of diagnostic vocational evaluation?
6. CERTIFIED DISABILITY MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST (FORMERLY CERTIFIED INSURANCE REHABILITATION SPECIALIST)
Credentialing board:
Certification of Disability Management Special ists Commission (formerly Certification of Insur ance Rehabilitation Specialists Commission), 1835 Rohlwing Rd, Suite E, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008. Telephone: (847) 394-2106. Fax: (847) 394-2172.
Eligibility criteria:
Candidates must meet requirements for one of the following five eligibility categories:
• 1a) valid registered nurse or certified rehabilitation counselor certification/license plus minimum of 24 months of acceptable full-time employment or its equivalent providing direct rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities receiving benefits from a disability compensation system
• 1b) master’s or doctorate degree with specific course requirements granted by a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting body at the time the degree was conferred plus a minimum of 24 months of acceptable full-time employment, or its equivalent, providing direct rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities receiving benefits from a disability compensation system.
• 2) master’s or doctorate degree with very specific course requirements granted by a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting body at the time the degree was conferred plus a minimum of 36 months of acceptable full-time employment, or its equivalent, providing direct rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities receiving benefits from a disability compensation system (the differences between categories 1a and 2 are in the course requirements listed);
• 3) bachelor’s degree with a major in rehabilitation granted by a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting body at the time the degree was conferred plus a minimum of 36 months of acceptable full-time employment, or its equivalent, providing direct services to individuals with disabilities receiving benefits from a disability compensation system;
• 4) bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree in any discipline granted by a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting body at the time the degree was conferred plus a minimum of 60 months of acceptable full-time employment, or its equivalent, providing direct services to individuals with disabilities receiving benefits from a disability compensation system.
Registration fee: $130 nonrefundable application fee plus $160 examination fee, due when candidate sits for exam, or total certification fee of $290.
Refunds: $130 application fee is nonrefundable.
1998 testing dates: Apr. 25, 1998; Oct. 31, 1998.
Testing sites: Test sites are arranged on the basis of geographic distribution of the candidates sitting for each examination in order to minimize travel expenses for as many candidates as possible. Lists of established sites are sent to candidates one month prior to the examination date.
Recertification: Five years after initial certification candidate must verify completion of 80 hours of approved continuing education in the past five years to avoid re-examination. There is a $150 certification renewal fee.
Exam content outline: Test covers job placement and vocational assessment, case management and human disabilities, rehabilitation services and care, disability legislation, and forensic rehabilitation.
Sample question: When an insurance claims representative talks to a disability management specialist about the "claim severity" of a case, what is the claims representative referring to?
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