CCM vs ACM: Which Case Management Certification Fits You?
By Editorial Team ·
Choose the ACM if you're an RN or social worker doing case management in a hospital or health system and plan to stay in that setting. It's built around it: you need a year of case management experience inside a health delivery system to apply. Choose the CCM if your case management work is outside a hospital, or may move between settings, or if your license isn't nursing or social work. Its experience rules aren't tied to health delivery systems, and it accepts more disciplines.
Cost is close: $430 for the CCM and $359 for the ACM to sit the exam. The bigger differences are eligibility, exam format and how long each lasts. If you're heading for the ACM, our free ACM practice quizzes are a quick way to test yourself.
CCM vs ACM at a glance
| CCM | ACM | |
|---|---|---|
| Awarded by | The Commission (formerly CCMC) | ACMA, through its National Board for Case Management |
| Who can apply | A health or human services license or certification, or a relevant bachelor's or graduate degree | RNs and social workers only |
| Experience | 12 months supervised by a CCM, 24 months unsupervised, or 12 months supervising case managers, within 5 years | 1 year (2,080 hours) of supervised, paid case management in a health delivery system |
| Exam | 3 hours, multiple choice | 2-hour, 110-question core plus a 90-minute simulation (12 cases) |
| Where | Pearson test center or online, in set exam windows | Pearson VUE center or online, within 3 months of applying |
| Cost to sit | $430 ($235 application + $195 exam) | $359 |
| Retake | $195 | $359 for both sections, $200 for one |
| Valid for | 5 years: 80 CE hours, 8 in ethics | 4 years: 40 CE hours, 30 in case management, plus $209 |
Sources: The Commission's CCM Exam Guide (July 2026), CCM Renewal Guide (July 2026) and eligibility overview; ACMA's ACM Candidate Handbook (2026). As of October 2026.
Who should choose the ACM
- You work in a hospital or health system. ACMA only counts case management experience in a health delivery system, and its simulation cases are designed around that practice. The content outline covers assessment, discharge barriers and readmission risk, care coordination and transitions of care.
- You're an RN or a social worker. There are separate ACM-RN and ACM-SW exams, so the simulation matches your discipline.
- You have about a year of experience. One year (2,080 hours) is enough, provided it was supervised and paid. Internships don't count.
Who should choose the CCM
- You work outside a hospital, or expect to. The CCM's experience paths ask for case management employment, not employment in a health delivery system.
- Your background isn't nursing or social work. Any license or certification in a health or human services discipline that lets you assess clients independently can qualify, as can a relevant bachelor's or graduate degree with supervised field experience.
- You want a longer cycle. The CCM runs 5 years between renewals, against 4 for the ACM.
CCM requirements
The Commission looks for two things.
1. Licensure or education: either a current, unrestricted license or certification in a health or human services discipline that allows you to assess clients independently, or a bachelor's or graduate degree in social work, nursing or another health or human services field that included supervised field experience.
2. Employment experience, one of:
- 12 months of full-time case management supervised by a board-certified case manager (CCM)
- 24 months of full-time case management, with no CCM supervision needed
- 12 months of full-time work supervising people who provide case management
The experience has to fall within the past five years and be complete when you apply. Part-time work counts, pro-rated against a 37-hour week. Fees are paid by credit card, and you test in the first exam window after approval unless you pay $85 to defer once.
ACM requirements
- RNs: a valid, current nursing license.
- Social workers: a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited school of social work, or a valid social work license.
- Everyone: at least one year (2,080 hours) of supervised, paid work as a case manager in a health delivery system. With less than two years, you add your supervisor's contact details and an attestation.
The exam has two parts, and you only retake the part you fail. The 2-hour core has 110 questions (90 scored, 20 unscored pretest). The 90-minute simulation has 12 cases with 31 questions written for your discipline.
What each costs over a full cycle
| CCM | ACM | |
|---|---|---|
| To sit the exam | $430 | $359 |
| If you need one retake | +$195 | +$200 or +$359 |
| Continuing education to renew | 80 hours over 5 years | 40 hours over 4 years |
| Renewal fee | Set by The Commission at renewal | $209 every 4 years |
The ACM costs less up front. The CCM lasts a year longer but asks for more continuing education: about 16 hours a year against 10 for the ACM.
Can you hold both?
Yes. They're separate credentials from separate organizations, and neither requires you to give up the other. If you change settings later, you can add the second one; just budget for two renewal cycles.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CCM or ACM better for nurses?
Both accept RNs. For a hospital-based nurse case manager, the ACM matches the work more closely. For a nurse doing case management outside a hospital, the CCM is the broader fit, since its experience rules aren't limited to health delivery systems.
How much does the CCM certification cost?
$430 at application: a $235 non-refundable application fee plus a $195 exam fee. A retake is $195.
How much does the ACM certification cost?
$359. A retest costs $359 for both sections or $200 for one, and recertification is $209 every four years.
How long do I need to work before taking the CCM?
12 months of full-time case management supervised by a CCM, 24 months without CCM supervision, or 12 months supervising case managers, all within the past five years.
Can I take either exam online?
Yes. Both are delivered by Pearson, at a test center or with remote proctoring.
Preparing for the ACM? Start with our free ACM practice quizzes.
Official source: eligibility, fees, and the current content outline are set by American Case Management Association (ACMA). Confirm the details there before you register.