The American Academy of Case Management

"Dedicated to Continued Learning, Growth, and Achievement in Health Care Practice"

Fellowship Program in Case Management

The American Academy of Case Management offers a Fellowship program for qualified professional nurses and other professional health care providers practicing the specialty of Case Management. The Fellowship Process is a two-tier program including a Fellowship Credentialing Examination and completion of a comprehensive course in Managed Care, which is provided to applicants upon successful completion of the examination.

A conferred Fellowship is considered by many professional organizations to exemplify a high level of attainment and validation of one's education, knowledge and skills in a practice specialty. Fellowship is a conferred status provided to those who meet comprehensive criteria for specialty practice through testing, education and practice. Webster's II dictionary defines a "Fellow" as a learned member of a learned society. The AACM Fellowship program provides for this validation within a peer group of professionals. Fellowship in the AACM denotes this high level validation and achievement.

Education program leading to Fellowship:

The American Academy of Case Management offers a full continuing education program of courses for 150 hours of continuing education. Successful completion of this 150 hour program qualifies one for Fellowship in the Academy. Access Program Information.

The objectives of the AACM are:

Provide a high quality program of Fellowship in the American Academy of Case Management for professional nurses and professional health care providers practicing case management and meeting all requirements for Fellowship status in the Academy.
Develop and support high standards of education and practice requirements for the attainment of fellowship status.
Provide a mechanism for the ongoing involvement of a peer advisory board of qualified case managers and other selected health care professionals to oversee program development and requirements for fellowship in the AACM.
Provide society with a mechanism to ascertain the appropriate education, skills, knowledge and experience required by case managers who have achieved Fellow status in the Academy.
Establish quality standards and requirements for re-fellowship of its credentialed members, attesting to ongoing education and skill attainment in the practice specialty case management.
Provide a comprehensive program of approvals for continuing education, seminars, offerings, independent study, and other related educational activities, to ensure high quality standards are met and that such programs are of value to professional case managers.

Fellowship Status in The American Academy of Case Management

Requires attainment of the following criteria:

Completion of an official, established education program to prepare health care professionals for the practice of Case Management. Educational programs must have provided a minimum of 150 hours of lecture/study. Candidates for Fellowship must present valid evidence of successful completion of such program. The AACM review board will review and approve programs on an individual basis. Once a program is approved, it will be published as "approved" by the AACM. Programs submitted for approval consideration must have their curriculums specifically based in case management theory/practice. To view approved programs, click here. Those completing an approved program are exempt from taking the examination.
Fellowship examination by validation of practice experience - this option allows Case Managers who have been in active practice as a Case Manager to submit verification of practice experience. Candidates must validate experience in the practice of case management. Candidates must have practiced a minimum of 2,000 hours over the two year period to the date of application for Fellowship. Requirements for validation are provided on the certification application. Candidates who meet the practice requirement are then authorized to take the proctored Fellowship examination in Case Management.

Upon successful completion of the Fellowship credentialing examination, candidates will complete a comprehensive distance education course in Managed Care. This course is provided to applicants by the AACM. This course is a 60 contact hour, comprehensive course covering all aspects of managed care. There is no charge to the applicant for course materials, which include syllabus, assignments, outlines, and a final examination. Applicants will however, purchase the required textbook. Applicants are provided up to one year, following successful completion of the Fellowship Credentialing examination, to complete the required managed care course. Applicants must achieve a minimum score of 75% on the final examination, and have successfully passed the Fellowship credentialing examination, to be conferred Fellowship in the Academy. Full course information is sent to applicants upon successful completion of the Fellowship credentialing examination.

Fellowship Credential Examination

Candidates who are such authorized will receive notification that they are permitted to take the examination. The candidate will schedule the examination with the administrative office of the AACM. The examination is a proctored examination. Criteria for selecting a proctor is presented on the application for Fellowship. All proctors must be approved by the AACM.

The examination must be taken at one setting. Proctors are sent detailed instructions on administering and monitoring the examination. The examination is comprehensive and tests knowledge in all areas of health care case management. The AACM does not endorse or recommend any review courses or texts or materials to study for examination preparation. The philosophy of the AACM is that authorized candidates to the examination already possess the knowledge to successfully complete the examination. Candidates are informed in writing of their examination scores within 30 days of receipt of the examination in the AACM office.

Conferral of Fellowship Status in the AACM

Fellowship status is conferred when the applicant has: 1). successfully completed the credentialing examination with a score of 70% or above and 2). has successfully completed the required Managed Care course with a score on the final examination of 75% or above.

Fellowship Identification & Credentials

Those applicants who are conferred Fellowship by the AACM- shall be deemed "Fellow in the American Academy of Case Management" and may use the initials/credential "FAACM"

Time line

All Fellowships shall be for a period of 4 years from the date that the initial Fellowship is conferred by the AACM.

POLICIES OF THE AACM,INC: access here

Continued Status of Fellowship After Expiration

Fellows in the AACM may apply for and receive a re-conferral at the expiration of their four year term by:

Obtaining 60 or more hours of continuing education within the four year period of Fellowship status and submitting validation of practice as a Case Manager for a minimum of 2,500 hours within the same time period. For complete information please click here.

Certificate

Fellows will receive a large size official Certificate attesting to conferred Fellow status, as well as an official letter of notification. The certificate is suitable for framing and details the official professional title, and time frames for fellowship. Wallet sized identification cards are also presented. Those recertifying receive a new, updated certificate.

Standards & Code of Ethics

Once a candidate has been officially conferred Fellowship status in the AACM, the Fellow will receive a handbook detailing a code of ethics. Code of Ethics.

Fee Schedule

The Fellowship fee for Case Managers is $ 200.00 for the four year term. Payment in full is due at the time of application. If the candidate's application for the fellowship examination is not approved, the applicant will be reimbursed the $ 200.00 fee. A completed application must be mailed in to the AACM with full payment to be considered for approval to take the credentialing examination. An application is available on this website.

Disclaimer

The American Academy of Case Management and its Fellowship Program is not affiliated with any other programs of credential evaluation or certifications. The AACM is not affiliated in any way with any other professional organization related to case management education or practice.