Frequently Asked Questions – Online University
Accreditation Info
Who are these courses designed for?
Our courses are intended for a wide range of healthcare professionals, including:
- Registered Nurses (RNs)
- Registered Dietitians (RDs/RDNs)
- Pharmacists
- Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
- Physician Assistants (PAs)
- Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES)
- Board Certified Advanced Diabetes Managment (BC-ADM)
- Other healthcare providers involved in diabetes care and chronic disease management
What types of CE credits are available?
Depending on the course, learners may be eligible to earn:
- AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (Physicians)
- Nursing Continuing Professional Development Contact Hours
- ACPE Contact Hours for Pharmacists
- CPEUs for Dietitians
- In some cases, IPCE Credit for Interprofessional Continuing Education
Specific credit details are listed on each course registration page.
How long does it take to complete a course?
Most self-study courses take between 1 and a half to 5 hours to complete, but durations may vary by program. Please check the individual course description for the estimated time to complete.
What is the timeframe to complete the course and earn credit?
Each course is available for a full year from the release date. You must complete all content and submit the course evaluation before the expiration date listed on the course page to receive CE credit.
How do I earn CE credit for a course?
To earn credit:
- Review the course objectives and disclosures.
- Complete the educational content.
- Access and complete the online evaluation at the link provided within the course.
- Submit the evaluation form to generate your CE certificate.
Pharmacists: Your CE credit will be reported to the NABP CPE Monitor within 30 days after completion.
Will I receive a CE certificate?
Yes. After successfully completing the course and evaluation in Partners for Advancing Clinical Education linked at the end of each course, you will receive a certificate of completion that includes the number and type of CE credits awarded.
What technology do I need to access the courses?
To participate, you will need:
- A computer or mobile device with reliable internet access
- A modern browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox)
- Audio capability (speakers or headphones)
- A personal email address to receive course communications and log in
Are there any faculty disclosures I should know about?
All faculty involved in our CE programs disclose any relevant financial relationships, which are reviewed and mitigated in accordance with accreditation standards. Disclosures are listed on the course description page and within the course materials.
Technical Difficulties
Tech Requirement
To participate in our online courses, students will need reliable access to a computer or mobile device with a stable internet connection. A modern web browser, such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, is required for optimal compatibility. Students should have access to speakers or headphones for the audio in our content. It is recommended to keep software up to date for the best user experience. Access to a personal email account is also required for course communications and login credentials..
My Courses vs. My Bundles?
Usually individual courses you purchased or bundles from the previous year will live in this tab. You will find the most recent bundles you have purchased in the my bundles tab.
Why did my courses disappear?
Your courses most likely did not disappear. When we do our system updates sometimes courses from the previous year will move into the My Courses tab. Check both the My Courses Tab and the My Bundles Tab to see if your courses are there.
Why is the video presentation stopping in the middle of the video?
The video stopping without loading fully is likely rooted in a connection issue. To troubleshoot this, first, we recommend that you use Chrome browser for optimal performance. If you’re using those, please refresh the page to see if that helps. If not, you may need to restart your computer or your internet connection.
How do I know when my courses expire?
Your courses expire a year after your original registration date. To track how many days you have left on a specific course, launch the course in the Online University. Under the description on the course page, will be a countdown to indicate how many days you have left until your course(s) expires.
If you require a class extension, click here to purchase an extension.
I am receiving a message- ‘You do not have access to these courses’
This message usually indicates your courses have expired or you’re using the wrong email.
If you purchased your courses over a year ago: Your courses are in your student center for one year after the purchase date. If you bought your courses over a year ago, please go to our online store by clicking here to purchase an extension.
If you recently purchased your course or a course extension: Verify that the email you used is the same as your existing account. If it isn’t email us at [email protected] so we can connect your purchase to the correct account.
I am receiving a message- ‘Your email is not associated with an account’ – even though I paid for these courses.
This could be because you haven’t created your password yet, are using the wrong password, or you’re trying to access an account with an email that is different than what you used to place your purchase. If you used a different email than an existing account, contact us at [email protected] to have your accounts synced.
If you’re using the app: You may be trying to log in to the CDCES Coach App on your phone instead of logging into the online university itself. You can access the online university in the app, but to do so you have to register for an account in the app first (this is free). After you register your email and password on the CDCES Coach App, then you can click the Online University button in the app and log in. The app’s online university mirrors the one you see in your computer’s browser for ease of navigation.
Who do I call if I am having technical difficulties with my student center?
Diabetes Education Services at (530) 893-8635. Their support hours are 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Monday – Friday, excluding holidays. Here is the link to our Contact Page. Most technical difficulties can be solved with Online Orientation or by switching browsers.
Course Information
How long do I have access to my courses?
One full year from your original date of purchase. If you find you need more time with the materials as your year of access nears its end, then we have extensions available for certain bundles.
How do I access my courses after purchase?
See Online University Orientation for this and other navigation questions. The Orientation uses one class as an example, but the navigation is the same for all classes.
How do I enter my license number for CEs?
In order to add your license number to your student account, you must log in to the Online University. Once you have logged in, click “My Account” on the left menu.
In your account, you can add in your license type and license number in the fields highlighted below.
Do I need WiFi or data for these courses?
Yes. All of our Online University content is inside the Online University. Many are able to use WiFi hotspots, and data, or allow the video or podcast to buffer for a few minutes before they head out if they want to listen on the go.
What is the ‘Critical Thinking Tool’ under assignments?
We are dedicated to providing the highest quality educational experience. To maintain our CDR* accreditation, all students are required to complete this Critical Thinking Tool after each course. Please keep a copy of this completed tool for your records along with your CE certificate in case of an audit. *CDR is the Commission on Dietetic Registrations (an approved provider for the CBDCE when applying for the Diabetes Care & Education Specialist Exam or renewal)
Where can I find the handouts and resources for each course?
See Online University Orientation under the “Accessing My Courses” section for this and other navigation questions. The Orientation uses one class as an example, but the navigation is the same for all classes.
How do I reset my password?
If you are not already logged into your account: In order to update your password for your student account, you must go through the “Forgot Password” function in the online university. You will receive an email after clicking forgot password and will be led through prompts to reset your password. Sometimes this email can be filtered by spam blockers, so if you do not receive the email after 15 minutes, contact us at [email protected]
If you are already logged into your account: You can update your password by going to “My Account” in the left menu in the Online University.
On your account page, in the upper right, click the “Change Password” button.
On the change password page, add in your new password in both fields and then click the “Update Password” button
How do the online courses work?
Each course has a narrated powerpoint presentation (video) and podcast that you can listen to anytime and as many times as you want for a year after the purchase date. Each course also includes additional printable resources, a short survey, a Critical Thinking Tool, and a practice test. The survey and Critical Thinking Tool are mandatory for accreditation purposes, so the test is locked until the survey and Critical Thinking Tool are completed.
After the course is completed, you will see an option to print your certificate under the “My Certificates” section. Visit our Online University Orientation to read more.
What devices can I view these courses on?
All of our courses can be viewed on a Mac, PC, IPAD, Tablet, iPhone, or Android.
What are the best browsers to view your courses?
Recommended Browser versions:
- Chrome 40 or above
How long will it take me to complete my courses?
Because every student works at their own pace, it is difficult to establish a concrete timetable. For example – If one class is worth 1.5 CEs, it should take you approximately 1 ½ hours to complete the webinar, plus an additional 5 to 10 minutes to complete the post-assessment portion for your CEs. However, students purchasing our bundles normally take 3 to 6 months to complete everything.
Online University Login Information
Where can I access the Online University?
Click on the green Student Login box located in the upper right-hand corner of our website. Log in with the username and password you created for the Online University after you purchased your program. Note: the password needs to be set up in the Online University separately from the Online Store. Here is a direct link to log in to your student center.
Online University Orientation
For tips on navigating the Online University, visit our Online University Orientation
Can I go back into my classes after I have completed them?
Yes, you can go back into the courses as many times as you would like. Your courses are active for one year from the purchase date.
What if I don’t pass an exam, can I retake it?
You can retake an exam as many times as needed to get a passing score of 80%.
I passed the exam and want to retake it but it is locked
The tests tied to the CE course will lock after you get 80% or higher. However, we have now introduced Practice Test Courses that can be found in your “My Courses” section, which will allow you to retake them until you get to 100%. After you reach 100%, if you want to retake it, reach out to us to let us know which test it is and we can reset it for you by emailing us at [email protected]
Certification Information
What if I see incorrect information on my certificate?
You can change this information in your “My Account” section. Visit our Online University Orientation for steps on updating your account.
Are your programs accredited?
We are an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, and the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Since these programs are approved by the CDR, it satisfies the CE requirements for the CDCES®* regardless of your profession. If you want the CE credits to apply for professional hours of continuing education, you would need to see if there is reciprocity in your state (most RNs and RDs in other states have reciprocity with the California BRN and CDR).
The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the diabetes certification exams. CBDCE & ADCES does not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the certification exams, except for those published by CBDCE & ADCES.
**To satisfy the requirement for renewal of certification by continuing education for the Certification Board for Diabetes Care & Education (CBDCE), continuing education activities must be applicable to diabetes and approved by a provider on the CBDCE List of Recognized Providers (www.ncbde.org). CBDCE does not approve continuing education. Diabetes Education Services is accredited/approved by the Commission of Dietetic Registration which is on the list of CBDCE Recognized Providers.
Live Webinars
If I miss the “live webinar”, can I still listen to it later?
Yes, all of our live webinars are uploaded into your student center approximately 24 hours after they air, with exception of our Virtual Training Conference which can take up to a week after they air. They will be located under the corresponding title of the webinar in your Online University account.
What if I want to attend a live webinar, but I have computer issues?
Contact GoToWebinar at (855) 352-9002. They can troubleshoot any technical issues you are experiencing.
The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the diabetes certification exams. CBDCE & ADCES does not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the certification exams, except for those published by CBDCE & ADCES.
**To satisfy the requirement for renewal of certification by continuing education for the Certification Board for Diabetes Care & Education (CBDCE), continuing education activities must be applicable to diabetes and approved by a provider on the CBDCE List of Recognized Providers (www.ncbde.org). CBDCE does not approve continuing education. Diabetes Education Services is accredited/approved by the Commission of Dietetic Registration which is on the list of CBDCE Recognized Providers.
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