Want to know how to become a case manager? Discover the four steps you must take, including earning a bachelor's degree and getting certified.
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Lyss Welding is a higher education analyst and senior editor for BestColleges who specializes in translating massive data sets and finding statistics that matter to students. Lyss has worked in academic research, curriculum design, and program evalua.
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Social work case managers connect people with necessary support services in sectors like healthcare, mental health, and criminal justice. These professionals help clients navigate complex systems and improve their overall well-being.
While case manager roles and requirements may differ depending on your area of specialization, entering this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, relevant experience, and certification.
In this article, we'll go over how to become a case manager step by step. We'll also look at case manager qualifications and the various types of case manager positions you can pursue.
Case managers help people navigate and/or access healthcare, mental health support, criminal justice, child welfare, and other social service systems. These professionals typically collaborate with clients' family members, healthcare providers, licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), and other community organizations.
On a given day, case managers may:
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Below, we go over the basic case manager qualifications you'll need to start your journey in social work case management.
Before enrolling in a degree program, it's a good idea to volunteer or assist real case managers. This way you can learn more about what to expect from the role. Look to supportive housing organizations if you want to work as a housing case manager. If you want to work with children and families, become a youth mentor. You can also volunteer with the American Red Cross as a caseworker.
Although you don't need a specific bachelor's degree to become a case manager, employers typically hire candidates with degrees related to social services and mental health. Examples of common case manager degrees include:
Make sure the school you attend holds institutional accreditation from a recognized agency. In addition, BSW programs should hold accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education.
You may need a master of social work (MSW) for some case manager jobs. These professionals may also offer clinical services, like talk therapy, as long as a licensed clinician supervises them. MSW grads can work as case managers to rack up the supervised hours they need to become LCSWs.