The Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam is administered by the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE). It measures your proficiency in diabetes management, focusing on patient assessment, the implementation of care and education interventions, and the application of professional standards and practices. This certification validates your ability to provide effective support to individuals managing diabetes and related endocrine conditions. By passing this exam, you demonstrate the skills required to improve health outcomes for patients in various clinical settings. The exam consists of 175 questions that test your ability to apply these core competencies in real-world scenarios.
This certification is intended for healthcare professionals who provide diabetes care and education. Candidates should have experience in clinical settings where they assess patient needs, develop care plans, and apply current standards of practice to improve health outcomes for individuals with diabetes.
Review the official exam guide provided by the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE). Focus your study on the three primary domains: assessment, care interventions, and standards of practice. Utilize clinical resources to understand current diabetes management protocols. Practice applying these concepts to patient scenarios to ensure you are prepared for the 175 questions on the exam. Consistent review of these materials will help you master the core competencies required for certification success and reach the passing score of 70.
This domain covers the processes used to evaluate a patient's health status, including identifying individual needs, clinical risk factors, and specific requirements related to effective diabetes management and patient care within a clinical environment.
This domain focuses on the delivery of care and education interventions designed to help patients manage their blood glucose levels, improve lifestyle habits, and maintain their overall health and well-being through evidence-based clinical support strategies.
This domain addresses the professional standards, ethical practices, and regulatory guidelines required for the safe, consistent, and effective delivery of diabetes care and education services within various healthcare environments and diverse clinical practice settings.
You will have a 240-minute window to complete the 175 questions. Manage your time effectively across the three domains to ensure you address all items. Arrive prepared to demonstrate your clinical knowledge and application of diabetes care standards.
The exam consists of 175 questions that cover assessment, care and education interventions, and standards and practices. You must be prepared to answer all of these items within the allotted time to demonstrate your professional competency.
To earn the certification, you must achieve a passing score of 70. This score reflects your mastery of the core competencies required to provide high-quality diabetes care and education services to patients in various clinical settings.
The exam allows for a duration of 240 minutes to complete all questions. It is important to pace yourself throughout the session to ensure you have enough time for every question and to review your answers carefully.
The Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) is the certifying body responsible for this exam. For information regarding the long-term certification path, check with Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) for the current certification path.
Verified 2026-09-13
This editorial was developed by synthesizing official exam guides and verified documentation from the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) to provide an accurate overview of the certification requirements for all candidates seeking professional recognition.