By STEPHANIE WATKINS on June 24, 2023
Are you unclear about what kind of education you’ll need to pursue a career in case management? There are several categories of case management, so it’s not surprising that there are various education levels one can have to become a case manager.
* High School + Experience
Many case management positions are open to high school grads with several years of experience. Experience is a valuable commodity, especially in today’s job market where prospective employers have little inclination or desire to provide on-the-job training.
* Associate’s or Bachelor’s in Human Services
This degree major may be the most in demand when applying for case management jobs. Human services (also called social services) degrees include social work, psychology, rehabilitation counseling, special education, health administration, and many others.
Bachelors’s (Any Subject)
Many employers are satisfied with a bachelor’s degree of any kind, combined with at least two years of experience in case management or human services. I have two friends—one a bachelor of accounting, the other a bachelor of business administration—who have made case management their chosen career path.
* Master’s (Counseling or Rehabilitation)
Depending on the type of case management opportunity you’re going after, a master’s degree might be necessary. While I’ve seen case management jobs that simply asked for a master’s degree of any type, counseling degrees are highly favored. The following are master’s level degrees you’re likely to see in case management job ads:
* MSW = Master of Social Work; LMHC = Licensed Mental Health Counselor; LCSW = Licensed Clinical Social Worker; LPC = Licensed Professional Counselor; and LMFT = Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, among others.
* RN or BSN
Nurses are an important component in case management. Since the nurse has clinical duties, various certifications may also be required, depending on the health system or hospital’s specifications. Acute care setting experience may be required. Good written and verbal communication are a must, since it’s the nurses’ job to coordinate patient care with the interdisciplinary team.
Case management encompasses various disciplines and education levels. Add in experience, and certifications and we see that there are quite a few educational paths into case management.
| Stephanie Watkins is the owner and editor of BillableNotes.com, which focuses on case management, Medicaid coordination, and the health and human services industry. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. |
