Kaplan University offers the Life Care Planning Certificate Program to individuals interested in pursuing careers related to case management of patients with acquired birth injury, personal injury, catastrophic injury, and chronic illness. Life Care Planning deals with the identification and quantification of the disability needs of patients that are multi-dimensionally related. In effect, it summarizes the required treatment and estimated cost over the life expectancy of a patient.

The program is especially designed for registered nurses or rehabilitation professionals who are considering a career in life care planning in various settings such as law firms, insurance companies, managed- care organizations or independent practice. Healthcare professionals will find this program useful to support plans of career change. Students learn about the many aspects of disabilities and chronic health conditions including medical, economic, and psychological.

Required Courses include Introduction to Life Care Planning; Standards and Ethics for Life Care Planning; Medical and Psychological Aspects of Disability I: Spinal Cord Injuries, Amputations, and Burns; Medical and Psychological Aspects of Disability II: Brain Injury and CVA/Stroke; Medical and Psychological Aspects of Disability III: Selected Conditions; Research Literature, Practice Guidelines, and Internet Resources; Life Care Planning in Pediatric and Elder Care Management, and Special Needs Trusts and Medicare Set-Asides. Program length is twelve (12) months. Applicants must possess a healthcare license. The university is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Registered nurses are believed to be ideally qualified to become life care planners. This is credited to the medical knowledge and clinical assessment skills brought about by experience. In healthcare cases that involve litigation, the services of life care planners are required to determine the scope and cost of future medical needs.