A Guide To Certified Medicaid Planning
Discover what a Certified Medicaid Planner (CMP)™ is, what they do, and how to become a CMP™.
What Is a Certified Medicaid Planner™?
A Certified Medicaid Planner™ is an expert in the field of Medicaid who has been certified by the Certified Medicaid Planning Governing Board. Individuals must meet certain educational and experience requirements and pass a certification exam.
What Does a Certified Medicaid Planner™ Do?
The primary role of a CMP™ is to act as an Authorized Representative. In this role, they may:
- Help clients navigate the complex Medicaid application process.
- Ensure their clients meet Medicaid eligibility requirements by implementing Medicaid planning strategies.
- Find the most cost-effective and legal way to achieve Medicaid eligibility.
- Complete the Medicaid application on their client’s behalf.
- Identify all Medicaid programs their client is eligible for.
What Are the Goals of Medicaid Planning?
A CMP works closely with their senior client, family members, financial advisors, and other members of a care team to help seniors:
- Extend the life of a client’s savings to pay for long-term care
- Access Medicaid waiver programs to help with the cost of long-term care
- Preserve assets where possible
- Provide seniors with financial security
Who Can Be a Certified Medicaid Planner™?
A CMP™ often has a background working with seniors or in the healthcare field and may include individuals like:
- Elder law attorneys
- Assisted living staff and administrators
- Social workers
- Medical professionals
- Geriatric care managers
- Financial advisors
- Certified public accountants
How To Become a Certified Medicaid Planner™
Step 1: Meet Qualification and Education Requirements
The Certified Medicaid Planning Governing Board provides complete information on the qualification requirements for individuals who want to pursue certification. There are four different pathways to meet the prerequisites, ranging from an advanced degree to verified work experience.
Pathway 1
Advanced degree
- Juris Doctorate
- Master’s Degree in Accounting
- Master’s Degree in Health Financing
- Master’s Degree in Social Work
Pathway 2
Bachelor’s or Associate Degree + experience
- Medicaid program administration
- Law
- Finance
- Accounting
- Care management
- Social work
Pathway 3
Professional license + experience
- Insurance license for life or health insurance
- Securities license
- Certified Financial Planner® designation
Pathway 4
Professional experience
- Professional experience must be within a qualified field
- Employment is based on a minimum of 35 hours per week
Step 2: Pass the Certified Medicaid Planner™ Examination
- 160 questions
- 3-hour time limit
- Covers a wide array of Medicaid planning topics
- Minimum passing score: 65%
- Administered at a testing site with a professional proctor
Step 3: Agree To and Uphold the Certified Medicaid Planner™ Ethical Principles
The Certified Medicaid Planning Governing Board provides a complete guide to the CMP™ Ethical Principles for individuals who want to pursue certification.
- Unifying set of client-first principles
- Multi-discipline code of professional conduct
- Held accountable by the CMP™ Governing Board
- Strict discipline policy that can include sanctions and decertification
Step 4: Obtain and Maintain Licensure
- Pay an annual certification fee of $250
- Submit an application for re-certification every three years
- Complete 20 hours of continuing education every three years
Join Our Team as a Certified Medicaid Planner
Medicaid planning is a growing field, with more and more seniors regularly needing assistance with the Medicaid application process.
While we are able to work with seniors across 44 states, we see the greatest need for Certified Medicaid Planners in the Western half of the United States.
We have developed industry-specific software that caters to the services we offer as Certified Medicaid Planners™. We have invested in marketing to grow our business and build our brand. Our ultimate goal is to build a network of Certified Medicaid Planners™ in various regions who will work as case managers for our team while building their own census in a dedicated area. If you are interested in pursuing a career as a Certified Medicaid Planner™ and joining an established team, reach out to us! We’d love to chat.