New survey: Salaries on the rise for board-certified case managers

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., March 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Case managers who are board-certified by the Commission for Case Manager Certification^® bring a high level of specialized experience?and their salaries are rising to reflect the value they bring to health care organizations, a new survey finds.

More than 46,000 case managers hold the Certified Case Manager^® (CCM^®) credential. The CCM is valued across the health care spectrum in settings such as hospitals, health plans and workers' compensation firms. Board-certified case managers work around the globe, including all 50 states and U.S. territories.

The Commission released findings from the survey of CCMs¹ in an e-book that informs the industry about who board-certified case managers are and how they are rewarded. It spotlights the ways employers in particular value CCMs?and why. Among the findings:

• Median annual salaries for board-certified case managers increased since 2017, ranging from $80,000?$85,000?well above median pay for registered nurses and social workers,² the two most common training backgrounds for board-certified case managers.
• Salaries are rising for both staff and managers/executives. More than half of CCMs who are executives earn more than $100,000 annually, as do more than a third of those in management.
• Beyond certification, 98 percent have specialty experience in areas such as hospital case management, managed care and care transitions.
• Among CCMs who are supervisors, 99 percent have recommended the credential; a strong majority (75 percent) prefer or require the CCM when hiring.

"We know there's an urgent need for a well-prepared workforce, ready to address health care challenges across the community?not just in the hospital setting," says Commission CEO MaryBeth Kurland, CAE. "The Commission invests in certification and lifelong learning for both professional case managers and those who are already board-certified. As we celebrate National Social Work month, we also shine a spotlight on our collaboration with the National Association of Social Workers and the joint effort to encourage more social workers in the medical arena to pursue board certification. Our research-based exam, along with required adherence to the Code of Professional Conduct and continuing education, means employers can be confident that board-certified case managers personify professional excellence."

Case managers support clients across the health continuum?focusing most often on those with complex needs?so they receive the health care, financial assistance and emotional support they need. They coordinate care and connect the dots for patients and their caregivers across care settings.

The Commission, the first and largest organization certifying case managers, is currently accepting applications for the CCM exam. Qualified applicants take the exam at one of 8,000 locations in 160 countries. The CCM is the only comprehensive case manager certification accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

To learn about the Commission's commitment to workforce development, see the workforce compendium.

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 48,000 professional case managers and disability management specialists. The Commission is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that oversees the process of case manager certification with its CCM^® credential. The Commission is positioned as the most active and prestigious certification organization supporting the practice of case management. The Commission also oversees the process of disability management specialist certification with its CDMS^® credential. For more information, visit www.ccmcertification.org, connect with the Commission on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @CCM_Cert.

¹ Professional and Demographic Characteristics of CCMs February 2019 (n=4,683)
² https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

SOURCE Commission for Case Manager Certification