CBDCE promotes ongoing quality diabetes care, education, prevention and support by providing certification and credentialing programs that incorporate and reflect best practices. 

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CBDCE Celebrates 40 Years of Credentialing Excellence 

The Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) is proud to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026, marking four decades of promoting quality diabetes care. CBDCE was established in 1986 to formalize and validate a specific body of knowledge for multidisciplinary health professionals specializing in diabetes care and
education. CBDCE administers the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist® (CDCES®) and the
Board Certified-Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM®) credentials, with nearly 21,000
professionals credentialed, highlighting the strength of the diabetes community. 

In 1986, about 1,250 health professionals took the very first CDCES (formerly CDE®) examination. Over the years, the number of individuals holding the CDCES credential has continued to grow. 

With the recent addition of the BC-ADM credential, the organization has strengthened its position as the premier certification board in diabetes care and education. CBDCE looks forward to supporting the community and those they serve for many more years to come.  Read More.

“We have expanded our role to capture not just the education but the support and care that we provide. Where we were 40 years ago as we took the first CDCES exam to where we are today is an incredible thing to reflect on,” Joan Bardsley, MBA, RN, CDCES, FAADE, former Chair of the CBDCE Board and inaugural CDCES test taker, said.

Watch 2026 CBDCE Chair, Joanne Rinker's video message. 

About CBDCE 

CBDCE is a national not-for-profit certifying board that administers the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist® (CDCES®) and the Board Certified-Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM®) credential programs. Approximately 21,000 health professionals are credentialed in the diabetes care and education community. CBDCE’s mission is to promote ongoing quality diabetes care, education, prevention, and support by
providing certification & credentialing programs that incorporate and reflect best practices.
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Accreditation

On March 22, 2016, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) granted accreditation to the NCBDE CDE program for demonstrating compliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. NCCA is the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. The NCCA Standards were created in 1977 and updated in 2003 to ensure certification programs adhere to modern standards of practice for the certification industry. CBDCE joins an elite group of more than 120 organizations representing over 270 programs that have received and maintained NCCA accreditation.