Rationale of the Week | What is the difference between CDCES vs. BC-ADM?
For last week’s practice question, we quizzed participants on what is the difference between a CDCES & BC-ADM. 57% of respondents chose the best answer. We want to clarify and share this important information, so you can pass it on to people living with diabetes and your colleagues, plus prepare for exam success!
Before we start though, if you don’t want any spoilers and haven’t tried the question yet, you can answer it below: Answer Question
Question: What best describes the difference between a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) and a person Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM)?
Answer Choices:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher is required to obtain a CDCES.
- BC-ADMs are responsible for increased complexity in decision making.
- With an advanced degree, BC-ADM’s are qualified to set up an independent practice.
- The main difference is that BC-ADM’s prescribe medications based on diagnosis.
Getting to the Best Answer
If you are thinking about taking the certification exam, this practice test question will set you up for success. Test writers anticipate possible answers based on the details in the question. They will wave those “juicy answers” right under your nose. Your job is to weed through the particulars, pluck out the most important elements and choose the BEST answer.
Answer 1 is incorrect. 8.68% chose this answer.” A bachelor’s degree or higher is required to obtain a CDCES.”
Eligibility to take the exam is based on licensure, registration, or certification. According to the CDCES website, the following health care professionals meet the discipline requirement.
- Clinical psychologist
- Occupational therapist
- Optometrist
- Pharmacist
- Physical therapist
- Physician (M.D. or D.O.)
- Podiatrist
- Registered nurse (includes nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists)
- Dietitian or dietitian nutritionist holding active registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration
- PA holding active registration with the NCCPA
- Exercise physiologist holding active certification as an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP®)
- Health educator holding active certification as a Master Certified Health Education Specialist from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing
- Master’s degree in social work
Answer 2 is correct. 56.62% of you chose this answer.” BC-ADMs are responsible for increased complexity in decision making.”
Answer 3 is incorrect. About 15.68% of respondents chose this. “With an advanced degree, BC-ADM’s are qualified to set up an independent practice.”
This is a juicy answer but is not correct. Let’s say I want to set up shop as a Registered Nurse with a Masters in Public Health. I also have my CDCES and BC-ADM. Even with my BC-ADM, I couldn’t bill for services, and under whose oversight would I see people with diabetes and make treatment recommendations?
Again, it’s not the BC-ADM that creates the opportunity to set up an independent practice. As a licensed RN, I can’t set up an independent practice and bill for my services in my state. Certification does not change your scope of practice and can come from different organizations. Each state’s licensure and scope of practice regulations come from a governmental authority. We must practice within the legal parameters of our scope of practice based on licensure.
Finally, Answer 4 is incorrect. 19.03% chose this answer. “The main difference is that BC-ADM’s prescribe medications based on diagnosis.”
The BC-ADM is a certification exam and it does not confer prescriptive authority. Only those with certain licenses can prescribe medications, and the regulations can vary from state to state. For example, I am a Registered Nurse with a Masters in Public Health. I also have my CDCES and BC-ADM. As a licensed RN, I do not have prescriptive authority. Certification does not change your scope of practice and can come from different organizations. Licensure comes from governmental authority.
We hope you appreciate this week’s rationale! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our Question of the Week and participate in this fun learning activity!
Want to learn more about this question?
CDCES or BC-ADM, Which Certification is Right for Me?
Now Recorded & Ready for OnDemand Viewing
Topics:
- Discuss the similarities and differences between the CDCES and BC-ADM credentials.
- CDCES or certified diabetes care and education specialist
- BC-ADM or board certification in advanced diabetes management
- List the academic and experiential qualifications to take both exams.
- Explore which certification best match your personal and professional goals.
- Describe the steps to study and prepare for exam success for both certifications.
Coach Beverly is excited to share her insights on determining the best certification choice and the pathway to success. She will share her personal journey on achieving both her CDCES and BC-ADM over 20 years ago and how these credentials have impacted her opportunities as a diabetes specialist and president of her own company. We hope you can join us!
Can’t make it live? No worries. We will send post the recorded version to the Online University within 24 hours of the broadcast
Instructor: Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, has been Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management for over 20 years. She is an Associate Clinical Professor at UCSF, a working educator, and a nationally recognized diabetes expert. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from UCLA, with a focus on behavioral health and education.
Meds Management Update for Type 2 Diabetes
Airs live on December 21, 2023, at 11:30 am PST
Topics:
- Describe the role of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists in advocating for optimal therapeutic approaches.
- Discuss the application of the new ADA/EASD Guidelines to improve glucose and reduce CV and renal risk.
- List strategies to initiate & adjust oral & injectable therapy using a person-centered approach.
In this exciting webinar, Coach Beverly walks participants through the “Management of Hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes” as outlined by the most recent American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines. She kicks-it off with a brief overview of the different classes of medications then uses a case study approach to apply the ADA algorithm.
Can’t make it live? No worries. We will send post the recorded version to the Online University within 24 hours of the broadcast
Instructor: Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, has been Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management for over 20 years. She is an Associate Clinical Professor at UCSF, a working educator, and a nationally recognized diabetes expert. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from UCLA, with a focus on behavioral health and education.
All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information
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The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the CDCES exam. CBDCE does not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES exam, except for those published by CBDCE.
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