The CBHCM (Certified Behavioral Health Case Manager) is a certification offered by ACMA (American Case Management Association) for case managers working in behavioral health settings such as psychiatric hospitals, community mental health centers, and substance use treatment programs. The exam validates competency across behavioral health assessment, case management process, applicable laws and ethics, treatment resources, and quality outcomes measurement.
This page provides a free printable CBHCM practice test PDF you can download and study offline. The questions reflect the structure and content of the ACMA certification exam, making this PDF a practical tool for candidates preparing for their first attempt or reviewing before a renewal.
The CBHCM exam is organized around five domains. Each is tested with scenario-based questions that require you to apply knowledge rather than simply recall facts.
Assessment questions cover the mental status examination — appearance, behavior, speech, mood and affect, thought process and content, perceptual disturbances, cognitive function, and insight and judgment. You need to know DSM-5 diagnostic categories including schizophrenia spectrum disorders, mood disorders (MDD and bipolar), anxiety disorders, PTSD, and substance use disorders with their severity levels. Screening tool knowledge is essential: CAGE-AID, AUDIT, and DAST-10 for substance use; the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) and SAD PERSONS mnemonic for suicide risk; and ASAM criteria for determining the appropriate level of care in SUD treatment across all six dimensions.
The exam tests the full case management cycle: assessment, problem identification, goal setting, care planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and transition planning. Motivational interviewing is heavily tested — you need to know the five stages of change (Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance) and the OARS technique (Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, Summaries). Care coordination questions focus on linking clients to community resources and interagency communication with proper releases of information.
HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 are both tested. Critically, 42 CFR Part 2 governs substance abuse records and is more restrictive than HIPAA — it requires written consent for most disclosures with limited exceptions (medical emergency, audit/evaluation, court order). The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires that mental health and SUD benefits not be more restrictive than medical/surgical benefits. Exam questions also cover the Baker Act and similar involuntary commitment statutes, the Tarasoff duty-to-warn obligation, and mandated reporter requirements for abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
You must know levels of care from most to least intensive: inpatient psychiatric, partial hospitalization program (PHP), intensive outpatient program (IOP), and standard outpatient. Additional resources tested include ACT (Assertive Community Treatment), supported housing models such as Housing First, peer support specialists, crisis stabilization units, and community mental health centers. Transition planning questions focus on aftercare planning, medication management, follow-up appointment scheduling, and relapse prevention strategies.
Quality domain questions cover utilization review criteria for behavioral health (medical necessity criteria and length-of-stay guidelines), outcomes measurement tools (PHQ-9, GAD-7, Columbia Protocol), quality indicators including readmission rates and follow-up appointment compliance, and care management metrics reported to payers and accreditation bodies.
Prefer browser-based study? Our interactive CBHCM practice test delivers questions with instant scoring and full answer explanations across all five ACMA exam domains. Use the PDF for offline concept review and the online test for timed exam simulation.