CDCES - Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
About CDCES Certification
The Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam is administered by the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE). It is a specialized certification for healthcare professionals dedicated to supporting individuals with diabetes. Earning this credential validates a professional’s expertise in diabetes care, including comprehensive patient education, behavior change strategies, and effective management of diabetes and its related conditions. This certification reflects a high standard of competency in diabetes care and education and highlights a commitment to empowering patients to manage their health, improve their quality of life, and prevent complications through evidence-based practices.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
Exam Description | A comprehensive certification exam for professionals in diabetes care and education. |
Credentials Earned | Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). |
Eligibility Requirements | To qualify for the CDCES Examination, candidates must have a current, active license in a relevant healthcare field, hold a recognized certification, or possess a master’s degree in social work from an accredited U.S. institution. They must also have at least two years of professional practice experience in their field, though a one-year waiver applies for those with a master’s degree or higher in a health-related field. Additionally, candidates need a minimum of 1,000 hours of diabetes care and education (DCE) experience within the past five years, with at least 200 hours in the most recent year. Lastly, they must complete 15 CE hours related to diabetes within the past two years from an approved provider. |
Completion Time | 4 hours to complete exam. |
Subjects Covered in the Exam | 3 main categories: Assessment, Care and Education Interventions, and Standards and Practices. |
Number of Questions | 175 multiple-choice questions with 150 scored, 25 unscored pre-test questions. |
Exam Format | Multiple-choice, computer-based test. |
Exam Proctoring | Exam can be taken via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) or at a PSI testing center. |
Recertification Details | Required every 5 years; Candidates must maintain a current, active, and unrestricted license, certification, or registration in their original discipline. They must accrue at least 1,000 hours of professional practice experience during the five-year certification cycle. Renewal can be achieved by either passing the Certification Examination by the deadline or meeting continuing education requirements. |
Pass/Fail Rates | Pass rates vary annually but average between 63% and 73%. |
Difficulty Level | Hard. |
Study Material | BoardCerts CDCES Question Bank provides practice questions that follow the exam blueprint. |
BoardCerts CDCES Question Bank
BoardCerts offers a comprehensive question bank tailored to help you succeed on the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam. With BoardCerts practice questions and three predictor exams, our content is fully aligned with the CDCES exam blueprint. Each question is meticulously reviewed by physicians and CDCES-certified nurses, to ensure accuracy and relevance. Our question bank reflects the complexity of the exam, featuring detailed rationales and explanations to deepen your understanding and optimize your preparation.
CDCES Exam Content Outline
The Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Examination assesses candidates across three primary content areas:
- Assessment (25%): Covers evaluating physical and psychosocial aspects, self-management behaviors, learning needs, and readiness for behavior change.
- Care and Education Interventions (70%): Focuses on developing and implementing individualized diabetes care and education plans, including treatment approaches, self-care behaviors, and behavior change strategies.
- Standards and Practices (5%): Addresses professional practice standards, guidelines, and ethical considerations in diabetes care and education.
For more detailed blueprint outline, please review the CDCES exam blueprint, which can be found here: Preparation and Resources.
Exam Categories: Percentage Distribution
CDCES Application Process
Online Application:
Application Submission:
Audit Process:
Scheduling the Exam:
Preparation:
CDCES Exam Dates and Costs
The Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam is offered year-round. Once your application is approved, you have a 90-day testing window to schedule and take the exam.
For the most up-to-date information on exam costs and application details, visit the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) website.
CDCES Exam Format
Number of Questions: The CDCES exam includes 175 multiple-choice questions, of which 150 are scored, and 25 are unscored pre-test questions.
Exam Response Options: Multiple-choice with four response options (A, B, C, D).
Testing Options: Available at PSI testing centers or via live remote proctoring.
Time Allotted: Candidates have 4 hours to complete the exam.
Passing Score for CDCES
Difficulty Level: The CDCES exam is challenging, with annual pass rates ranging from 63% to 73%.
Passing Score: The passing score for the CDCES exam is 70 on a scaled score ranging from 0 to 99. The raw score (number of correct answers) needed to achieve this varies due to a process called equating, which adjusts for differences in exam difficulty across different test versions.
Exam Statistics: Detailed pass rate statistics are available on the CBDCE webpage. Pass rates vary by year, generally ranging between 63% and 73%.
Score Reporting: Upon completing the CDCES exam, candidates receive an unofficial score report immediately at the test center, indicating a pass or fail result. The official score report is later accessible through the candidate's CBDCE account. For those who pass, a certificate and wallet card are mailed, detailing the certification number and expiration date.
CDCES Exam Proctoring
The Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam is administered by the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) in partnership with PSI Services. Candidates have the flexibility to choose between two options:
- Live Remote Proctoring: Candidates can take the CDCES exam from a location of their choice, such as their home or office, using live remote proctoring. This option allows real-time monitoring by a professional proctor through your computer’s webcam and microphone, ensuring a secure testing environment
- In-Person Testing Centers: Alternatively, you can opt to take the exam at one of PSI's designated testing centers, which are available across various locations. This traditional method involves attending a physical location to complete the exam under supervised conditions.
Both options are designed to maintain the exam's security and integrity while providing flexibility to accommodate your preferences and circumstances.
CDCES Preparation and Resources
At BoardCerts, practice questions are carefully designed to align with the CDCES exam blueprint, ensuring relevance to the topics covered on the exam. Questions are developed in coordination with this blueprint, incorporating validated references used for the official exam. This structured approach ensures that the question bank is based on authoritative resources, offering an effective and comprehensive preparation experience.
Topics on Exam: Understand topics on the CDCES exam blueprint, which can be found here: Preparation and Resources.
Review Course: Take a review course, such as the CDCES Review Course offered by CBDCE, to build a solid understanding of the exam content.
Question Bank: The BoardCerts CDCES Question Bank is a highly recommended resource, meticulously designed to align with the exam blueprint. Reviewed by physicians and CDCES-certified nurses, it offers extensive question practice essential for success. Additionally, it features predictor exams to assess readiness and strengthen test-taking confidence.
CDCES Certification Renewal
CDCES certification must be renewed within the calendar year of expiration, with renewal required every five years to ensure professionals maintain up-to-date diabetes education knowledge.
Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for renewal, individuals must hold a current, active, and unrestricted license, certification, or registration in the same discipline as initially certified. They must also complete at least 1,000 hours of professional practice experience within the five-year cycle..
Professional Practice Requirement: The professional practice requirement includes direct or indirect contributions to diabetes care and education, such as patient education, service development and management, public health initiatives, research, case management, and professional training. However, roles in product sales, distribution, or unrelated fields do not qualify.
Accrual of Practice Hours: Accrual of practice hours depends on certification history. First-time renewals begin accruing hours on January 1 following initial certification, while those who have previously renewed start after their last renewal deadline. All required hours must be completed before submitting the renewal application.
Alternative Renewal Option: For those unable to meet the 1,000-hour practice requirement, an alternative renewal option is available, which requires:
- Passing the CDCES exam
- Completing 75 continuing education hours within the five-year cycle.
More details on renewal by continuing education can be found on the CBDCE website.
CDCES Practice Questions
- Practicing sample questions is a vital component of CDCES exam preparation, enabling you to become familiar with the exam format, question types, and core content areas. The BoardCerts CDCES Question Bank provides high-quality, exam-focused sample questions that closely align with the CDCES exam blueprint, ensuring you are thoroughly prepared and confident on test day.
- Access Sample Questions: Explore sample questions from the BoardCerts question bank here. These questions are designed to match the application level and difficulty of the CDCES exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
