Once all the eligibility requirements are met and you are ready to test, it’s time to apply for the exam.

Effective March 1, 2024  you will apply for the CDCES Exam through CBDCE but will first need to create an account with CBDCE.

To apply under the STANDARD Pathway: Create your CBDCE account > click on Get Certified > Create New Application > continue through each page of the application and into the shopping cart to application submittal and payment.

To apply under the Unique Qualifications Pathway (UQP): Create your CBDCE account > top navigation bar, select Initial Application - Unique Pathway Application > Create New Application > review instructions and upload your UQP application documents. 
 

If you apply online, notification of approval to take the exam or that you have been selected for audit is provided at the time of application. Before you can complete the application process, you’ll need to pay the application fee. The fee for initial certification is $350.

Effective with March 1, 2024: If approved, you will be emailed an eligibility confirmation notice which includes the 90-day window during which you’ll need to schedule and take your exam. Keep it handy. There's a lot of important and valuable information in it.  Once you’ve got the confirmation notice, you can schedule your exam through your CBDCE account that you created. Because appointments are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, you will want to schedule your exam appointment as quickly as possible after approval in order to have the most flexibility.

To schedule your exam: you can schedule your CDCES exam, easily, in your CBDCE account. Sign in to your CBDCE account, click on "Get Certified" > click on "details" in the application > click on Schedule Exam > you will be redirected to the PSI test taker portal to schedule your exam.  Please be mindful of your eligibility period to schedule/take the exam.

To transfer your eligibility to a new 90-day window: Candidates may transfer to a new 90-day
window by completing a transfer form and paying a $100 transfer fee. Transfers must be requested at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date or your eligibility end date, whichever is earliest. 

How to transfer to a new eligibility window:
1.  Sign in to your CBDCE account dashboard at www.cbdce.org.  
2. If you are currently scheduled to take the CDCES exam, you MUST unschedule your exam in the PSI test taker portal. Failure to do so will affect the updating of your eligibility end date. 
3. To unschedule your exam, click on Get Certified > click on Details in the application > click on Schedule > you'll be redirected to the PSI test taker portal to unschedule your exam.
4. To purchase the transfer > In your CBDCE dashboard > click on Get Certified > click on Details in the application > select Request Exam Extension (left navigation pane) > Yes > Extension Checkout to make your payment.
5. No transfer will be completed until payment is made in full and must be made by the dates above.

 

Just a reminder: You’ll need to be pre-approved and follow the UQ process. You'll apply online through your CBDCE account and upload all your supporting documentation for pre-approval.

UQ Requirements Update: Effective January 1, 2025 the recommendation requirement has changed. Individuals applying under the UQ Pathway, in addition to the other requirements (Master's degree, experience, CE), applicants will only need to provide either (1) CDCES OR two (2) healthcare professional recommendations/references with their application. Read more in the information sheet in the UQ application. 

Individuals with documented disabilities or qualifying medical conditions needing special accommodations for the exam are required to submit a Request for Special Accommodations and the Documentation of Disability-Related Needs form along with your application. You will submit your accommodation request when you apply for the exam so you will want to make sure you have all the appropriate forms completed and ready to upload in your application. Additionally, requests must be made during the registration process and  prior to scheduling your exam appointment.

Refer to the Exam Handbook for  information about the process and to access the forms. (Exception: Comfort items that appear on the Pre-Approved Comfort Aids list--refer to Comfort Items and Accommodations below.) 
 

You will be notified once your accommodation has been approved. After approval of your accommodation, you will need to complete an online form through the PSI website to schedule your exam. This form will identify the type of request as well as desired dates, times, and modality or test center locations. This online form is set up to streamline the process to create fewer back and forth emails. Need assistance with your special accommodation? Contact the PSI special accommodations team at 1-800-367-1565 Ext. 6750.

Comfort Items and Accommodations:
Effective May 2023, test takers no longer need to formally request testing accommodations for items that fall on the "Pre-Approved Comfort Aids" list (List). This List includes specific medicine and medical devices including those attached to a person's body, communication aids, mobility devices, and service animals. Test Center Administrators and online proctors will perform an inspection of the aids prior to testing. Also note if an approved medical device makes alert noises, it must be able to be silenced. If the medical device is not able to be silence, a formal special accommodation request must be provided. Take a moment to review the List to see if your accommodation falls within the listing. 

Candidates have the option of taking the CDCES exam by either testing at a PSI Test Center or testing by Live Remote Proctoring (LRP). 

Testing via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) allows a candidates to test using their own computer from their home. The candidate must have a computer that meets the requirements for the LRP. 
 

We do not recommend the use of a work computer for testing LRP but if you do, you MUST have administrative rights to disable all firewalls to download the testing platform. The compatability test does NOT check for administrative rights.

Important:  If you choose to use a work issued computer device, you acknowledge that technical restrictions may interfere with exam delivery. In doing so, you forfeit the right to appeal the outcome or request a complimentary retake due to technical issues including not being able to download the platform.

If you are thinking about taking your exam via LRP, candidates need to review the requirements for LRP testing as they differ from testing at a test center. Review the Guide to LRP below to learn more about testing this modality. 

Candidates should thoroughly review the information on testing choices in the CBDCE Examination Handbook and the Guide to Live Remote Proctoring to determine which option is best for them.

Watch PSI online proctored tutorial to assist and prepare you by simulating the essential checks, offering crucial artifacts and acquainting you with the examination environment prior to your actual test and visit PSI's video on what to expect in a LRP environment. 

 

Launching your LRP Exam

• To launch through your CBDCE account > log into your CBDCE account > click on Get Certified > click on ‘details’ in the application > click on Schedule Exam > you will be redirected to the PSI test taker portal where you will launch your exam.

• To launch through the PSI test taker portal > Go to the PSI test taker portal -- here is a direct link to the test taker portal: https://test-takers.psiexams.com/cbdce/auth/login. Once at that link, you will see a login screen for CBDCE > Enter your CBDCE account user name and password > will redirect to the PSI test taker portal to launch your exam. ​

• Don't wait until the last minute to figure out your computer situation or to locate your account login information. 
• Again-- if you use a work computer and are unable to download the program, you will be marked as absent/missed exam and will NOT be eligible to reschedule or receive a refund of your fees. 
• Run your compatibility test to make sure that the computer you are testing on is compatible with the PSI testing environment. Reminder that if you will be using a work computer, you must have administrative rights to download the exam platform. The compatibility test does NOT test for administrative rights. 
• You will launch your CDCES exam from your CBDCE account. Be sure you have you login information handy so there are no issues when logging in to take your exam. You may even want to login to your CBDCE account a day or two before to ensure no login trouble on your exam day. 
• Thoroughly review:
  • CBDCE's LRP Guide testing information and rules testing via LRP
  • PSI webpage for detailed system requirements
  • List of major/minor violations

A percentage of applications are selected for audit. You will know upon submission of your application if you were selected for an audit. If selected, you will need to submit appropriate documentation supporting eligibility. The necessary documentation must be received/uploaded within two (2) weeks of audit notification.

Individuals selected for audit will need to gather the documents and upload in their CBDCE account. Documents required are: ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

3. Proof of continuing Education (CE) activities (certificates of completion)

​​​​​​Review the audit documents for more information and instructions on uploading in your CBDCE account.
 

Our applications have gone online. For questions contact us at info@cbdce.org. 

CBDCE
1340 Remington Rd, Suite J
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: 847-228-9795
Email: info@cbdce.org

 

Those individuals who will be taking the exam from July 1, 2024 and forward the examination is a computer-based examination composed of 175 multiple-choice questions, objective questions given over a total testing time of four (4) hours. Twenty-five of the 175 questions are new pre-test questions that allow CBDCE to collect meaningful statistics on but are not included in the determination of individual Examination score. These pre-test questions are not idetified separately and are scattered throughout the examination.