What is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist?

First awarded in 1986, as Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) credential and in 2020 with a new name: Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) to more accurately reflect the specialty. CDCES has become a standard of excellence for the delivery of quality diabetes education. Those who hold this certification are known to possess comprehensive knowledge of and experience in diabetes prevention, management, and prediabetes.

“Becoming a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) is one of the best professional and personal decisions I have ever made.” – Coach Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM

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Preparing for the CDCES Exam |
FREE Webinar

This course will transform your test anxiety into calm self-confidence and test-taking readiness.

Topics Covered Include:

• Exam requirement updates for 2021.
• Exam eligibility and test format
• Strategies to succeed along with a review of study tips and test-taking tactics.
• We will review sample test questions and the reasoning behind choosing the right answers.
• Learn how to focus your time and prepare to take the CDCES Exam. We provide plenty of sample test questions and test-taking tips!

Can’t join us live?
Don’t worry, we will send you a link to the recorded version.

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Studying for the CDCES?
Try one of our online bundles!

Interested in diabetes certification, but not sure where to start? Find your Study Path and Tools that are right for you based on this quick 4 question survey.

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CDCES Prep Bundle | Levels 1, 2, 3 + Bonus Courses | 42+ CEs

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CDCES Deluxe Prep Bundle Levels 1, 2, & 3 + Toolkits | 44+ CEs

Beverly has custom designed this deluxe course bundle to prepare you for your CDCES (formerly known as CDE) or BC-ADM Exam.

This Deluxe Prep Bundle includes:

• Level 1 – Diabetes Fundamentals
• Level 2 – Standards of Care 
• Level 3 – Boot Camp
• Test Taking Toolkit – over 220 practice questions!
• Technology Toolkit – Insulin pumps, sensors, and calculations, oh my!
• Bonus Course: Mindfulness and Compassion in the Diabetes Encounter 

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Virtual DiabetesEd Specialist Conference | April 15-17, 2021 | 30+ CEs

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CDCES Online Prep Bundle + 5th Ed AADE Review Guide Book | 41+ CEs

Beverly has custom designed this course bundle to prepare you for your CDCES Exam. This bundle includes our CDCES Online Prep Bundle (featured above) plus the AADE Review Guide – 5th Edition. The online bundle includes Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 (Boot Camp), plus two bonus courses.

The ADCES Review Guide offers over 480+ practice questions and is a fantastic independent study tool and comprehensive resource for the Diabetes Care and Education Specialist Exam.

Live Seminars | Available Virtually in Spring in Sacramento and Fall in San Diego

Who should attend? Health care professionals interested in taking the CDCES or BC-ADM exam or those seeking a state of the art review of current diabetes care. We also invite those looking for hours to renew or apply for the CDCES or BC-ADM exam.

Whether you join in San Diego or Sacramento, this intensive 3-day seminar gives you the crash course you need to help you pass either certification exam.

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Why become a CDCES?
Three Reasons for Coach Beverly

“The best part of becoming a CDCES is working with my colleagues and people living with diabetes. As diabetes educators, we hear compelling and beautiful life stories. I am astounded by the barriers they face and inspired by their adaptability, problem-solving skills, and resilience.”

– Coach Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM

Reason 1: CDCES is a widely recognized certification by employers and health care professionals throughout the U.S.  This credential demonstrates a specialized and in-depth knowledge in the prevention and treatment of individuals living with pre-diabetes and diabetes.

Reason 2: Currently, 10% of people in the U.S. have diabetes and another 35% have pre-diabetes which means 45% of Americans are running around with elevated blood glucose levels.  Given this epidemic, there will be plenty of future job opportunities.

Reason 3: Having my CDCES along with my nursing degree, has opened many doors of opportunity; from working as an inpatient Diabetes Nurse Specialist in a hospital to working as a Manager of Diabetes Education in the outpatient setting to starting my own consulting company.

What are the steps to become a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists?

Step 1. Review the qualifications to achieve your CDCES

• Visit the ADCES CDCES Certification page to review eligibility and to schedule your exam.
• Practice Hours Spreadsheet Tracker. Download this sheet to easily track your practice hours.

• Visit CBDCE (formerlly NCBDE) eligibility page or you can call 1-877-239-3233 or email info@ncbde.org with any questions.
• Download the 2021 Certification Examination for Diabetes Educators Handbook for complete information about eligibility and certification information. Instructions on how to apply, study resources, and the application are also included. Please note that the CBDCE has approved temporary changes to the professional practice requirement relating to DCE for the initial CDCES certification that begins on April 1st. Read page iii for more information.

Step 2. Sign up for our FREE Webinar – Preparing for the CDCES exam

• This webinar reviews CDCES exam eligibility requirements (enroll at the top of this page), the exam format, and study strategies. Beverly also provides test-taking tips, sample test questions, and the reasoning behind choosing the right answers.

Step 3 – Review our 10 Steps to Succeed and Pass the CDCES Exam page

• Coach Beverly has created a 10-Step Study Path and Material List to help you succeed! These are based off 25 years of CDCES coaching experience and student feedback. Prepare for the exam, earn your CEs, gain confidence as an educator, and more!

Step 4 – Increase knowledge of diabetes and co-morbidity management

• Attend our Live DiabetesEd Specialist Course.  This course will provide you with critical information and clinical pearls for your practice.
• Enroll in our Online University courses. If you can’t attend our live seminars, we invite you to enroll in our bundles such as:
  • CDCES Prep Bundle, CDCES Deluxe Prep Bundle,
  • CDCES Prep Bundle + ADCES Review Guide or our
  • Test Taking Toolkit + ADCES Review Guide – 5th Ed.
• Benefiting from our extensive library of on-demand diabetes presentations. And even if you do attend our live seminars, these online courses are an excellent review and reinforce key points.
• Read the 2021 CDCES Exam Updated Content Outline – A two-page tool to assess your pre-test knowledge.

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ADA 2021 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes

This yearly publication by the American Diabetes Association outlines the goals of care for diabetes management. Since it is evidence-based, it includes a useful summary of the trials and research that the goals are based on. A must-read if you are entering the diabetes field or preparing to take the CDCES or BC-ADM Exam.

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ADA Clinical Bundle

Published by the ADA, for educators and clinicians who want to explore diabetes treatment in-depth, along with gaining a better understanding of the co-morbidities that are often missed or undertreated. In addition, this set includes a handy pocket-sized foot exam chart and an intensive guide book on diabetes management.

All books are reviewed and published by the American Diabetes Association. This is an excellent bundle for those preparing to take the Board Certification in Advanced Diabetes Management Exam (BC-ADM).

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ADA Standards of 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 Care and Education Specialist

Purchase ADA Standards of Care 2021 Booklet

Screening and Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus 2021 – One-page cheat sheet that summarizes screening, risk status, and diagnostic criteria for diabetes. Great for your office and as a study tool.

Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment in 2021.  This hyperglycemia road map details strategies to achieve glucose control for both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Section 8 of Standards of Care, 2020

Language & Diabetes. What we say matters | Resource page
Language is powerful and can have a strong impact on perceptions as well as behavior. This mini webinar and article provide recommendations for the language used by health care professionals and others when discussing diabetes through spoken or written words whether directed to people with diabetes, colleagues, or the general public, as well as research questions related to language and diabetes.

Med Cheat Sheets 2021 | Hypertension, Lipids, and Neuropathy These summary sheets are helpful for your clinical practice and preparing for certification exams. For exam success, be familiar with the general concepts, (side effects and precautions) of these medications.

AADE 7™ Self-Care Behaviors – A must-read for anyone entering the field of Diabetes or as a reference for those already in the field.  These 7 Self-Care Behaviors™ provide a framework for patient-centered diabetes self-management education and training (DSME/T) and care.

AACE Comprehensive Type 2 Diabetes Management Algorithm 2020.  This link provides the complete executive and slide set summary by an American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology Consensus Panel on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. If you are taking the CDCES or BC-ADM exam, we encourage students to be familiar with the slide content that reviews diabetes management.

2017 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support – A joint position statement of the American Diabetes Association, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. An important document to review for those providing Diabetes Self-Management Education or those considering taking the certification exam.

AADE – White Paper on Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Therapy 2018 » – This paper outlines the topics that should be covered by diabetes educators when teaching patients and families or significant others about insulin pump therapy.

We invite you to visit our comprehensive library of articles and resources – See more »

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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.”**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 of continuing education. Diabetes Education Services is accredited/approved by the Commission of Dietetic Registration which is on the list of CBDCE Recognized Providers.”