Important updates for the CDCES exam

If your New Year’s resolution includes getting ready for diabetes certification exams, keep reading!

The Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CBDCE) has posted a few critical updates on its website regarding CDCES testing blackout dates and an extension of COVID-19 pandemic professional practice requirements. This information will help as you plan your exam dates and work toward acquiring professional practice hours.

Blackout Periods for Application Submission, Scheduling, and CDCES Testing

According to the CBDCE website, to improve the candidate experience, they will be moving to a new application platform in early 2024. Due to this change, there will be specified periods where no applications are accepted, and testing will be closed.

Blackout period for exam application

To accomplish the transition to a new platform, there will be a two-week blackout period from February 9, 2024, to February 27, 2024, when individuals cannot apply for the CDCES exam.

Blackout period for exam application AND testing

In addition, there will be a blackout period where scheduling or testing is unavailable from February 19, 2024, to February 27, 2024.

Please consider this important information as part of your plan to apply, schedule, and take your CDCES exam. We will keep you updated and let you know if any changes occur.

Professional Practice Experience Updates

Starting in 2021, the CBDCE increased the period of time allowed to accumulate professional practice hours from 4 years to 5 years. This additional time allotment addressed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ability of health professionals to accrue practice experience in diabetes care and education (DCE). The CBDCE also decreased by half the number of diabetes care and education hours required within 12 months prior to taking the application.

The good news is that the CBDCE Board of Directors approved making these initial temporary changes to the professional practice requirement for initial certification to a permanent state (see table below).

According to the CBDCE Website, Professional Practice Experience Requirement Changes are identified

below:

1. For applications submitted through 2024*, the minimum DCE experience needed in the prior 12 months is reduced from 400 hours to 200 hours, and
2. For applications submitted through 2026**, minimum 1000 hours (or 2000 hours for unique qualifications pathway) of DCE experience needed can be accrued over a longer period of time. The time frame is increased from 4 years from application date to 5 years from application date.

Learn more about changes in the Pandemic Impact Certification Statement or visit CBDCE website.

Plus, you can join our FREE webinar coming up soon (see below)

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CDCES Prep with Coach Bev – 2024 Updates | Jan 24 at 11:30 am

Starting your journey to becoming a CDCES? You won’t want to miss our FREE Preparing for CDCES Exam Webinar! This course will transform your test anxiety into calm self-confidence and test-taking readiness. Coach Beverly has taken (and passed) the CDCES exam 7 times and loves sharing her insights on exam success. She will include the latest exam updates with her clear spoken and engaging approach.

A perfect way to kick off your New Year and it’s FREE!

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Accreditation: Diabetes Education Services is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider 12640, and our CPEU courses have received Prior Approval* from the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR), Provider DI002. Since our CPEU courses received Prior approval* from the CDR, these CPEU courses satisfy the CE requirements for the CDCES /BC-ADM regardless of your profession! 

The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the certification exam. CBDCE and ADCES do not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES or BC-ADM exams, except for those published by CBDCE & ADCES.