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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