For complete eligibility requirements, please refer to the:

National Certification Board for Diabetes Education (NCBDE) Certification Examination Handbook

Download the Handbook to ensure you qualify! You can also contact the NCBDE directly with questions on eligibility at (847)228-9795.

FREE Webinar – Preparing for the CDE® Exam

Are you wondering where to start? Join our FREE live “Preparing for CDE® Exam” webinar or view it On Demand now. 

What is included?

• 70-minute video presentation to help you learn how to focus your time and prepare to take the CDE® Exam
• Test taking tips and strategies to achieve your CDE® goal
• Plenty of sample test questions and test taking tips from Coach Beverly

CDE® Exam Content Outline

To assess your knowledge, start by downloading and reviewing the CDE® Exam Content Outline. 

We suggest rating your knowledge in each of the key areas on a scale of 1-5. 

One means you are not very familiar with the content and five means you are a pro. Areas with 1-3 rating deserve the majority to your study time. Areas rated 4-5 warrant less review and study time.

Next, map out a timeline that includes best times to study, topic areas to review and start gathering your study resources.

Practice tests! Practice tests! Practice tests!

To prepare for success, get in your best shape by exercising your test taking muscles. Take as many tests as possible to increase your comfort, confidence and exam readiness.

NEW AADE Diabetes Education Review Guide – 4th Edition 2017

The review guide provides test-taking strategies and the rationale for the correct answers; 450+ self-assessment questions to gauge areas that may require additional study; and 400 questions (2 practice exams/200 questions each) to simulate exam day.

We highly recommend the purchase of this important study tool that provides abundant test taking practice which is critical for success.

CDE® Prep Exam Prep Online Toolkit

This Online Prep toolkit is designed to help you assess your knowledge to determine content areas to focus your study time for the CDE® Exam. Coach Beverly presents two test taking ( 90-minute) webinars with over 200+ hand-crafted practice questions that help you get into the test taking mindset.

• Preparing for CDE® Exam Course + 100 Question Overview Practice Test– includes a 70-minute on demand course that details the content of the exam, test taking tips and strategies to achieve your CDE® goal. Plus, you have access to a 100 question computerized practice exam that provides vignette based questions and other critical content that will prepare you for the actual exam.  
• CDE® Test Taking Strategies Course + 101 Standards of Care Practice Test – includes a 60-minute on demand course and 101 newly constructed multiple choice test questions inspired by the American Diabetes Standards of Care.  Designed to test your knowledge of the 15 Critical Content areas and help prepare you for the CDE® Exam.  In this course, Beverly explains how to dissect the question, eliminate the wrong answers and avoid getting lured in by juicy answers.

Art & Science Desk Reference, 4th Ed.

Coach Beverly Study Tip: A student said that one of the things that helped her most with the exam, was reading through the Case Studies in the Art and Science Book. These case studies are easily identifiable in colored boxes in each of the chapters.

Published by AADE, the Art & Science Desk Reference 4th Edition is the must-have resource for all diabetes educators.

This Desk Reference (2017) is written by practicing Diabetes Educators for Diabetes Educators and provides the core knowledge and essential strategies and skills all educators need to facilitate behavior change in persons with diabetes. Boost your knowledge and keep current with all of the critical changes in the healthcare landscape.

Coach Beverly Study Tip: Know the National Goals for the exam. Keep in mind that your particular clinic goals may not match the national goals. So, leave your clinic goals behind when you are taking the exam.

Top 5 Articles to Review

Based on student feedback and the exam outline, here are the top five articles to start reviewing:

2018 American Diabetes Association Standards of Medical Care

This yearly publication by the American Diabetes Association outlines the national goals of care based on the latest research for diabetes management. This is one of the most important guidelines to read as a Certified Diabetes Educator

You can purchase the printed booklet version. The ADA Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes is a key resource for healthcare professionals involved in diabetes care, education, and support.

Or download the 2018 American Diabetes Association Standards of Medical Care.

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support in Type 2 Diabetes: A Joint Position Statement of the American Diabetes Association, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

A detailed care plan for people with diabetes, published by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology.

ADA Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment – 2018

This hyperglycemia road map details strategies to achieve glucose control for both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. 

AACE/ACE Comprehensive Type 2 Diabetes Management Algorithm 2017

A summary of the ACE/AACE Statement by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology Consensus Panel on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Recommendations for Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes – 2018

One page cheat sheet that summarizes screening, risk status and diagnostic criteria for diabetes.

The CDE® Exam includes content on providing education and self-management training to people with diabetes across their lifetime; this includes kids, women, pregnancy and older adults. It also includes questions on acute illness, hospitalization and insulin pump therapy. The largest test section includes intervention questions. This area focuses on medications, insulin and pattern management, nutrition therapy and exercise.

Join a Live Seminar 

Want a live summary of the key content in a beautiful setting? Attend our three day course in Carmel California, April 11th – 13th, 2018 or San Diego, CA in September 5th – 7th, 2018. Beverly and her teaching team translate the complex science of diabetes into understandable terms, while keeping it real, practical and fun. You can earn a total of 32 CEs by attending. 

Diabetes Education Services Online University Courses

With a total of over 44.5 CEs offered, our online university presents a multitude of relevant courses and test taking tools for your Diabetes Education. Most courses include an On Demand webinar led by Coach Beverly, a podcast, additional resources and a post presentation test.

Our most popular online course bundle is currently the CDE® Prep Bundle – Level 1, 2, and 3. However the 1-Year Subscription to the entire Online University catalog includes Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 plus our Medication and CDE Exam toolkits. 

We recommend starting with our Level 1 Diabetes Fundamentals, then progressing to Level 2, which focuses on special populations, further review of insulin and medications, hospitalization and more. When you are ready to take the exam, join our Level 3 CDE® Boot Camp to receive the full spectrum of CDE® preparation.

Hit the books

Our most popular book bundle is the AADE Art & Science Desk Reference and Review Guide. Many students find success pairing their online courses with an additional text reference.

For independent study time, these books provide the tools and comprehensive resources that help you focus your study time efficiently and effectively. Purchase the 800+ page Art and Science Reference Book and Review Guide for an additional boost in knowledge! Focus on those areas you have identified during your self assessment.  

NEW AADE Diabetes Education Review Guide – 4th Edition 2017

The review guide provides test-taking strategies and the rationale for the correct answers; 450+ self-assessment questions to gauge areas that may require additional study; and 400 questions (2 practice exams/200 questions each) to simulate exam day.

We highly recommend the purchase of this important study tool that provides abundant test taking practice which is critical for success.

Art & Science Desk Reference, 4th Ed. 

Coach Beverly Study Tip: A student said that one of the things that helped her most with the exam, was reading through the Case Studies in the Art and Science Book. These case studies are easily identifiable in colored boxes in each of the chapters.

Published by AADE, the Art & Science Desk Reference 4th Edition is the must-have resource for all diabetes educators.

This Desk Reference (2017) is written by practicing Diabetes Educators for Diabetes Educators and provides the core knowledge and essential strategies and skills all educators need to facilitate behavior change in persons with diabetes. Boost your knowledge and keep current with all of the critical changes in the healthcare landscape.

Coach Beverly Study tip: on the exam, they list the generic and trade names for the medications.  Make sure you know what class the medication belongs to, precautions, side effects and important patient teaching points.

A helpful strategy is to be very familiar with the content outlined in our Medication and Insulin PocketCards.

Diabetes Medication and Insulin PocketCards 

You can now purchase all four of our medication PocketCards in a new laminated accordion style format or download for free now. The perfect study partner! 

We also offer many online courses that review the critical content for medications that will help increase your confidence and knowledge for the exam and your clinical setting.

Anti-hypertensive, Cholesterol and Neuropathy Medications 

The exam also includes questions about common medications to treat hypertension and lipids. Make sure to have a general knowledge of the main classes, side effects precautions and patient education content. Here are the best resources to build your medication knowledge:

Print these “cheat sheets” as part of your studies, plus they are great resources to have available in your practices setting.

AADE Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion

This paper highlights critical content about insulin pump therapy. You will find this useful for teaching patients and families and in preparation for your exam.

Medication Update Toolkit – 3.5 CEs

This Meds Update Toolkit includes two On Demand courses designed to keep you abreast of the rapidly changing world of Diabetes Pharmacology in the Outpatient and Inpatient Setting. If you want cutting edge information on the latest pharmacology and hospital glucose management, we highly recommend this toolkit.

Meds Update 2018– Earn 1.5 CE

Feeling overwhelmed by all the new recently approved diabetes medications? Two bio-similiar insulins are now available and another GLP-1 RA was just approved. Plus, 2 new combo oral meds are now available.

Are you wondering how to apply the new 2018 ADA and AACE Medication Management Guidelines into practice?

We are here to help out!

This webinar will discuss how to integrate these new medications into our practice. We will discuss the benefits and limitations and critical information to share with our patients and providers.

If you want cutting edge information on the latest pharmacology and hospital glucose management, we highly recommend this Meds Update.

Basal Bolus Insulin in the Hospital Basal Bolus in the Hospital Setting – Earn 2.0 CE  

Glucose control in the hospital matters! This course provides participants with a step-by-step approach to safely and effectively implement Basal Bolus Insulin Therapy in the inpatient setting.

• We discuss appropriate insulin dosing based on the patient’s clinical presentation and apply dosing strategies to a variety of case studies.
• Included are hard-to-manage situations that commonly occur in hospital settings and a discussion of solutions that will keep patients safe and get glucose levels to goal.
• In addition, sample basal/bolus and insulin drip guidelines plus lots of resource articles are included.
• This online course is designed for individuals and is also available for institutions.

“It’s like having a coach  in your pocket!” 

FREE CDE^® Coach App

Our free CDE^® Coach App App provides you with easy access to our Medication PocketCards, Online University login, Free Webinars, Question of the Week, Knowledge Bytes and much more! 

When you download the CDE® Coach App you have immediate access to the most up-to-date information:

• 2018 ADA Standards of Care in easy to read format
• Users enjoy the pinch and zoom function on all PocketCards
• Listen to Online University podcasts on-the-go!
• Updated Diabetes Medication and Insulin PocketCards
• Test your knowledge with our Question of the Week & Rationale

The Scope of Practice, Standards of Practice, and Standards of Professional Performance for Diabetes Educators (2011)

A must read for anyone entering the field of Diabetes or as a reference for those already in the field.

Empowerment vs. Compliance Model Chart

This chart provides a quick and direct summary and contrast of these competing philosophies. The exam philosophy is patient-centered with a focus on empowerment. Review this chart to become familiar with the empowerment approach.

The Use of Language in Diabetes Care and Education (2017)

This review article published in Diabetes Care review the power of language on perceptions and diabetes behaviors. This document reviews effective strategies to communicate about diabetes through our written and spoken language.

Join a Live Seminar 

Want a live summary of the key content in a beautiful setting? Attend our three day course in Carmel California, April 11th – 13th, 2018 or in San Diego, CA September 5th – 7th, 2018. Beverly and her teaching team translate the complex science of diabetes into understandable terms, while keeping it real, practical and fun. You can earn a total of 32 CEs by attending. 

Diabetes Education Services Online University Courses

With a total of over 44.5 CEs offered, our online university presents a multitude of relevant courses and test taking tools for your Diabetes Education. Most courses include an On Demand webinar led by Coach Beverly, a podcast,  and a post presentation test.

Our most popular online course bundle is the CDE® Prep Bundle – Level 1, 2, and 3! However the 1-Year Subscription to the entire Online University catalog includes Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 plus our Medication and CDE Exam toolkits. 

We recommend starting with our Level 1 Diabetes Fundamentals, then progressing to Level 2, which focuses on special populations, further review of insulin and medications, hospitalization and more. When you are ready to take the exam, join our Level 3 CDE® Boot Camp to receive the full spectrum of CDE® preparation.

 Eliminate false answers and choose the BEST answer. Don’t get lured in by overly complex answers, look at each answer as either true or false.

Focus on NATIONAL standards– leave your clinical goals behind. 

Don’t read into the question or answers – sift through vignettes to find relevant information. Choose the best answer based on the information provided in the vignette.

Stay centered– move, stand and breathe during the exam.