The most common credential among case management department employees is RN at 73%, followed by certified case manager (CCM) at 26% and accredited case manager (ACM) at 8%.

There does appear to be a correlation between certain certifications and salary. Case management directors and supervisors who have an RN credential, on average, earn $10,000 more than those who do not. Case management directors and supervisors who have a CCM credential earn $20,000 more annually than their peers who do not, while SW case managers with a CCM credential earn an extra $15,000 annually. The CCM credential does not appear to affect RN case manager salaries, but RN case managers with an ACM credential earn approximately $5,000 more annually. SW case managers with an ACM credential earn 50% more than SW case managers without it.

Although the results show a connection between credentials and an increase in salary, some respondents voiced their frustration with not being compensated for ­continuing education. "My facility offers no benefit or pay raise for becoming certified in anything," wrote one respondent.

Excerpted from Case Management Weekly Issue - June 15, 2011