Welcome Aspiring Diabetes Care & Education Specialists
“Making a Difference” Scholarship for DiabetesEd Seminar is now open!
We are geared up to help grow and mentor future Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) to meet the increasing and varied needs of our diabetes community.
We are offering 2 DiabetesEd Seminar “Making a Difference Scholarships” which cover the registration cost for our most popular DiabetesEd Live Training Program in San Diego. This two day live conference will provide you with diabetes fundamentals and beyond! Earn 30+ CE’s with access to the courses for one year! Valued at $559*. (*Travel and lodging expenses not included.)
Applications Close Aug 29th
Recipient announced Sept 5th
Table of Contents
Our Mission
Over the next 10 years our goal is to welcome 500 new diabetes education specialists into the field. If you know a healthcare professional seeking a new challenge and eager to pursue a meaningful and rewarding specialty, please invite them to consider becoming a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES).
Diabetes Education Services is committed to improving equity and access to diabetes training and education for a diverse group of healthcare professionals. We don’t want financial barriers to stop anyone from attending this conference. These scholarships are an appreciation of those who are role models and advocates for practicing the best diabetes care in their communities.
The Diabetesed Training Scholarship program is not just about learning—it’s about creating connections, fostering growth and building a community of passionate diabetes care professionals. We are excited to offer this incredible opportunity to those who are committed to advancing their skills and knowledge in diabetes education. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of those living with diabetes.
These scholarships are awarded to healthcare professionals who provide care and education to under-served communities that lack access to Diabetes Specialists and healthcare resources. Applicants must be in the process of gaining practice hours and planning to take their CDCES Exam within the next 3 years.
Applications Close Aug 29th
Recipient announced Sept 5th
Eligibility Requirements
The goal of these scholarships are three-fold:
- To expand opportunities for a diverse group of U.S. healthcare professionals to improve diabetes care in their community; and
- To support applicants’ efforts to become Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) and
- To provide financial assistance with the DiabetesEd Course registration fee.
Who is eligible?
- Available to health care professionals who are working toward their CDCES who provide care to an under-served community that lacks access to Diabetes Specialists and healthcare resources
- Applicants must be in the process of gaining practice hours and planning to take their CDCES Exam within the next 3 years
- Preference is given to those facing financial hardships that are interfering with their ability to pursue this dream of achieving their CDCES.
- All applicants must be a U.S. resident.
Why Become a CDCES?
If you are a healthcare professional who wants to learn the steps to enter the rewarding field of diabetes education, we have created a new FREE webinar that outlines the benefits and steps involved in “Becoming a Diabetes Specialist.”
We want to share this information with as many healthcare professionals as possible to encourage them to consider specializing in diabetes. Our goal is to cast this net far and wide to address the rising prevalence of diabetes and empower health care professionals to enter the field.
How to Become a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES)
- Educational Requirement: Hold a relevant degree such as in nursing, dietetics, pharmacy, or other health-related field.
- Professional Licensure: Maintain an active license in a qualifying health discipline (e.g., RN, RD, MD, etc.) or have a degree in an eligible field like public health or social work.
- Experience Requirement: A minimum of two years (to the day) of professional practice experience in the discipline under which one is applying for certification. Obtain at least 1,000 hours of diabetes education experience within the last five years, with at least 200 hours in the most recent year.
- Continuing Education: Complete at least 15 hours of continuing education in diabetes management and care within 2 years before applying.
- Exam Application and Preparation: Apply for the CDCES exam through the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE). Prepare using study materials, review courses, and practice exams related to diabetes education.
- Maintain Certification: You can renew your certification every five years through continuing education, fulfilling practice hour requirements, or retaking the exam.
Additional Resources
Visit this page to gain ideas on how to get your 1000 practice hours and to use our hours tracker.
Visit the official CBDCE website or relevant professional bodies for more detailed guidance or recent updates.
Visit our CDCES Prep Page for more information and to register for FREE Webinars with lots of helpful information.
- Explore more helpful resources
We believe in your success! Learn the steps involved in preparing for the certification exams, earning CEs, and gaining confidence as a Diabetes Education Specialists and more!
Take a trip through our 10 Step Roadmap to Success for easy access to the tools and resources you need to succeed at either or both certification exams!
Want to learn more about our accreditation and how our CEs can help you meet the requirements for the CDCES exam? Click above to explore the details of our accredited courses.
Coach Beverly’s goal is to support our Diabetes Education Community and provide meaningful resources that are useful for your daily practice. Please enjoy these FREE resources that we have put together for you.
Interested in becoming a CDCES but not sure where to start?
Our 2-Step FREE Webinars Series Will Guide You
Our FREE webinars will help you discover the steps required to become a CDCES and will transform your test anxiety into calm self-confidence and test-taking readiness.
- Want to learn more about the qualifications to take the CDCES exam? Register for our Free “Becoming A Diabetes Specialist” Step 1 Webinar.
- Taking the CDCES Exam in the next 6 months? Register for our Step 2, “Prep to Take the CDCES Exam” Free Webinar.
Step 1: Becoming a Diabetes Specialist (CDCES)
Step 2: Preparing to Take the CDCES Exam
Can’t join us live?
Don’t worry, if you register, we will send you a link to the recorded version.
If you are a health care professional considering becoming a CDCES and want to learn more about eligibility and benefits of joining the Diabetes Education Community, this FREE webinar is for YOU. Coach Beverly will provide clarification on requirements, exam content, and study strategies to prepare for success.
We will review examination process, sample test questions, and the reasoning behind choosing the BEST answers.
Step 1: Webinar Topics
- Benefits of becoming a CDCES
- CDCES eligibility requirements for 2025
- Exam outline and study strategies to succeed
Step 2: Webinar Topics
- Test content updates for 2025
- Strategies to experience exam success
- Review of study tips and test taking practice questions
Building a Bridge Program: At Diabetes Education Services, our goal is to mentor the next generation of Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES). We are committed to welcoming healthcare professionals with diverse experiences and backgrounds to enter the diabetes field. Our online programs and scholarship programs aim to provide emerging CDCES professionals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to address the unique challenges encountered by people with diabetes from all walks of life, while also preparing them for certification.
Instructor
Coach Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, BC-ADM, CDCES
Author, Nurse, Educator, Clinician, and Innovator, Beverly has specialized in diabetes management for over twenty years and has successfully passed the CDCES exam six times. As president and founder of Diabetes Education Services, Beverly is dedicated to optimizing diabetes care and improving the lives of those with diabetes.
“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
Why become a CDCES?
3 Reasons from Coach Beverly
Read: 3 Reasons to Become a CDCES
“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, 13% of people in the U.S. have diabetes and another 36% have pre-diabetes which means 49% 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.
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 of 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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