Education & Care

How to become a Case Manager

From social services assistant: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

1–3 years

Typical pay

$48k–$68k

Starting from

Social services assistant

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from social services assistant and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   1–2 years

   Work as a social services assistant

   Front-line experience is what agencies hire case managers for.

2. 2

   2–4 years

   Get the required degree

   Most case manager posts require a bachelor's; healthcare ones often require nursing or social work.

3. 3

   1–2 years

   Learn assessment and care planning

   Building a plan a client will actually follow, and documenting it defensibly.

4. 4

   Certify

   CCM is the recognised credential and lifts pay meaningfully.

   ◆ CCM (CCMC)

5. ✓

   Destination

   Case Manager

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