CDCES Certification: Overview and FAQ

If you’re passionate about helping people with diabetes live better lives, becoming a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) could be a great next step for you. Clinicians with this credential are qualified to work in diabetes clinics, hospitals, primary care offices, public health departments, home health agencies, and more. Learn what it takes to earn your diabetes certification, and what it can do for your career.

What Is the CDCES Credential?

This certification validates a clinician’s expertise in caring for patients with diabetes and prediabetes. Formerly known as Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs), professionals with this credential help educate and support patients while improving health outcomes. It’s administered by the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE).

Clinicians who are eligible for this credential include the following:

• Registered nurses (RNs)
• Nurse practitioners (NPs)
• Registered dietitians and registered dietitian nutritionists (RDs and RDNs)
• Registered pharmacists (RPhs)
• Physician’s assistants (PAs)
• Certified clinical exercise physiologists (ACSM-EPs)

Professionals who earn this certification are committed to following the Diabetes Care and Education (DCE) process, outlined in the certification candidate handbook. This includes:

1. Assessment to determine the patient’s diabetes education and care needs.
2. Individualized care plan and education that reflect the patient’s goals and current practice guidelines.
3. Interventions that assist the patient in meeting their goals and connect them with resources.
4. Monitoring progress and communicating whether the patient is achieving their goals.
5. Documentation including the assessment, plan, interventions, and outcomes.
6. Services development/administration activities to support program continuation.

What Are the Benefits of Becoming Diabetes Certified?

There are several reasons a nurse might want to pursue a specialty certification like this one. Benefits of certifications include:

• Career advancement: This credential can make you qualified to work specialized CDCES jobs, such as on diabetes care teams, in specialty clinics, and more.

• Income: You could make more money after certification. Some facilities offer bonuses for certified nurses.

• Recognition: Only about 19,500 clinicians have this credential — earning it can set you apart, and show your dedication and knowledge.

• Job satisfaction: Certified nurses tend to feel more confident and more fulfilled in their roles.

CDCES: Salary Averages

What you earn with this credential will depend on your background, setting, and location. On average, a typical diabetes educator salary is about $88,000 per year.

How to Earn CDCES Certification: 4 Steps

Ready to get started earning this credential? Here’s how to do so.

Step 1: Meet CDCES requirements

To qualify for the certification exam, you’ll need to meet CBDCE’s eligibility requirements:

• Possess a qualifying clinical license or complete one of the Unique Qualification (UQ) pathways.
• Have 2 years of practice experience, with at least 1,000 hours providing diabetes care and education. At least 200 hours must be in the past year. Professionals with a master’s degree or higher in a health-related field may apply to waive 1 year of experience.
• Complete at least 15 approved continuing education (CE) hours in diabetes within the past 2 years before applying for the exam.

Step 2: Apply for Certification

When you’re ready to apply, you can do so on the CBDCE website. You’ll need to create an account to get started, and then complete the forms online. You won’t have to provide proof of eligibility but be prepared to do so in case your application is audited. The final step in the application process is to pay the initial CDCES certification cost, which is $350 for regular applicants, and $200 for UQ applicants.

When your application is approved, you’ll have a 90-day window to schedule and take the exam, so be sure you meet the requirements above before applying.

Step 3: Pass the CDCES Exam

The certification exam is offered year-round at PSI testing centers. You can also test on your home computer via remote proctoring. The exam includes 175 multiple-choice questions, which you’ll have four hours to answer.

Here’s an outline of what’s covered on the exam:

• Assessment
  • Physical and psychosocial
  • Self-management behaviors and knowledge
  • Learning
• Care and education interventions
  • Disease process and treatment approach
  • Individualized education plan
  • Person-centered education on self-care behaviors
  • Evaluation, documentation, and follow-up
• Standards and practice
  • National diabetes care standards
  • Practice standards
  • Population health strategies
  • Collaboration
  • Advocacy for diabetes access
  • Prevention strategies
  • Evidence-based care and education
  • Impact of disparities
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Looking for resources to help you prepare? Thoroughly review the exam handbook to understand the full test content. Taking a CDCES course might help. The Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) offers both live and self-paced courses, as well as a review guide for the exam.

Step 4: Maintain Your Credential

This credential is valid for five years and expires on December 31 of the last year of your certification cycle. You can find your expiration date on your wallet card and in your CBDCE account. To be eligible, you’ll need to still have a valid clinical license. There are three ways to renew:

1. Professional practice and CE: Complete 1,000 hours of practice, and 75 hours of CE in diabetes care.
2. Professional practice and exam: Complete 1,000 hours of practice,and take and pass the certification exam.
3. CE activities and exam: Complete 75 hours of CE, and take and pass the certification exam.

There are also renewal fees, which are subject to change. Consult the CBDCE renewals page for updated costs.

Diabetes Certification FAQs

How hard is the CDCES exam?

About 67% of candidates who apply using the standard pathway pass the certification exam on the first try. You can give yourself the best odds of success by preparing well in advance, sticking to a study plan, and reviewing all available test materials.

CBDCE vs. ADCES — what’s the difference?

The Association for Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) is a separate organization from CBDCE, but the two collaborate to support clinicians who specialize in diabetes care. ADCES offers study resources for clinicians interested in earning certification, but the certification process is managed by CBDCE.

Why did the CDE credential change?

This credential and its certifying organization were renamed in 2020 to better describe the range of services and support that its clinicians offer to patients. The newer name encompasses an expanded scope of services, and clinicians with the previous CDE credential can continue to use that designation while renewing as CDCES.

Related Certifications

• Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)
• Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN)
• Certified Case Manager (CCM)
• Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES)
• Nurse Coach Board Certified (NC-BC)

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