Geriatric Care Manager Certification and Licensing

Currently, geriatric care managers are not licensed. That is, they are not licensed as care managers per se. Employers and clients, though, tend to look for credentials – the path to becoming a care manager often involves licensure in some health or human services field, for example, social work or nursing. The first step is usually having a college degree.

Voluntary certification can also be an asset. You’ll want to make sure that the certification comes from an institution that is recognized and respected. The National Academy of Certified Care Managers is known for setting standards high. You’ll have a quicker route to certification if you have a degree in a related field. There are a number of options, including psychology, social work, gerontology, and nursing. You’ll also need two years paid supervised care management experience. If your degree is at the associate’s or bachelor’s level (as opposed to the master’s level), you’ll need prior experience working with clients in a related field. In other words, professionals with less than a master’s degree are expected are to enter care manager through another field, and not directly. If you have a degree in an unrelated field, or an RN diploma, it is still possible to become certified, but you’ll need more years of supervised work.

In order to be certified through the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, an organization devoted exclusively to elder care, a person must already hold one of four certifications, issued by well-respected certifying agencies. Care managers with advanced degrees can eventually become Fellow Certified Geriatric Care Managers. There are additional requirements for experience and professional activity.