FAQs
Q: Where do I find information on the four different certifications approved by NAPGCM?
A: Please use the Career Resources link to the left of this page for detailed information. Below is the contact information for the NAPGCM approved certifying bodies
Care Manager Certified (CMC)
National Academy of Certified Care Managers (NACCM)
http://www.naccm.net/
Certified Case Manager (CCM)
Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC)
http://www.ccmcertification.org/
Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
http://www.socialworkers.org/credentials
Certified Social Work Case Manager
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
http://www.socialworkers.org/credentials
Q: If I am having difficulty choosing the right certification, whom do I contact?
A: Each chapter has a “Certification Point Person” who can help you or refer you to someone on the certification committee. A list of these individuals can be found by clicking here.
Q: Does a Certificate in Geriatric Care Management from an educational institution fulfill the NAPGCM requirement to be certified?
A: No, Certificates in Geriatric Care Management are not uniform in their requirements, nor do they require the same levels of education and work experience that are required by the four NAPGCM-approved certifications.
Q: What books are useful to use for studying for the certification exam?
A: The two most frequently used study books are:
- “Handbook for Geriatric Care Management” by Cathy Cress. This book is available at the NAPGCM Store at www.caremanager.org or Amazon.com.
- “Guidelines for Case Management Practice Across the Long-Term Continuum” available from Connecticut Community Care at www.ctcommunitycare.org.Each certifying body has a list of additional resources in their application manual.
Q: When are the deadlines for submitting applications this year?
A: To learn more about future testing dates for CMC (Care Manager Certified) go to www.naccm.net.
To learn more about the CCM (Certified Case Manager) testing dates at www.ccmcertification.org.
NASW’s certification process is open to members of NASW and does not have an exam but will take time to gather the needed information for the certification application. You can learn more at www.socialworkers.org/credentials.
Q: I am confused by what “supervision” means for the CMC* application.
A: The National Academy of Certified Care Managers (NACCM) administers the Certified Care Manager (CMC) exam. NACCM views supervision as an ongoing process of consultation and performance appraisal for the purpose of continuously improving the quality of one’s care management practice. Professional consultation/supervision may be conducted by professional colleagues, mentors or supervisors in formal and/or informal arrangements. Activities may include face-to-face review, client satisfaction survey/analysis performed onsite, electronically or via teleconference. The content of professional consultation/supervision may include discussing care management issues, ethical issues, care plan development and care management interventions, use of clinical skills and core care manager functions.
To take the initial exam, a minimum of 2 years of paid full time supervised care management is required and proof of 50 hours/year of ongoing supervision.
NACCM does not require a specific number of hours per year of professional consultation/supervision for certification renewal.
Q: What is the definition of supervision for the NASW certification?
A: C-ASWCM: For the first two years of post-MSW practice, regularly scheduled face-to-face supervision meetings should occur at a rate one hour for every 30 hours of direct client-level case management tasks (minimum of 50 hours per year). Thereafter, supervision and consultation may occur on an as-needed basis.
C-SWCM: For the first two years of post-BSW practice, regularly scheduled face-to-face supervision meetings should occur at a rate of one hour for every 15 hours of direct client-level case management tasks (minimum of 100 hours per year) . For the subsequent two years, the rate should be one hour for every 30 hours of direct case management tasks (minimum of 50 hours per year). Thereafter, supervision and consultation may occur on an as-needed basis.
http://www.socialworkers.org/credentials/applications/c-aswcm.pdf or 202-408-8600
The Certified Geriatric Care Manager level of membership includes many additional benefits.
If you would like to change your membership category to Certified Geriatric Care Manager send a copy of your certification to the NAPGCM National office. An additional fee of $50 will be required.