CDCES Discipline Requirements

Medical professional talking to older couple in their home

If you have one of the licenses, registrations or certifications from the disciplines listed below or a master’s degree in social work, you can follow the Standard Pathway to certification.

License

You will meet the discipline requirement if you have a current, active, unrestricted license from one of the United States or territories in any of these disciplines:
 
  • Clinical psychologist
  • Occupational therapist
  • Optometrist
  • Pharmacist
  • Physical therapist
  • Physician (M.D. or D.O.)
  • Podiatrist
  • Registered nurse (includes nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists)

Registrations and Certifications

You will meet the discipline requirement if you have a current registration or certification in the following:
 
  • Dietitian or dietitian nutritionist holding active registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration
  • PA holding active registration with the NCCPA 
  • Exercise physiologist holding active certification as an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP®)
  • Health educator holding active certification as a Master Certified Health Education Specialist from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing

Master’s Degree in Social Work

You will meet the discipline requirement if you are a health professional with a minimum of a master’s degree in social work from a United States college or university accredited by a nationally recognized regional accrediting body.
 

Have you met the discipline requirement?

 Learn about other aspects of eligibility, including the professional practice and continuing education requirements. 

Didn't meet the requirement? 

 You may be able to earn certification through the Unique Qualification pathway.