CDCES
Review
Review the exam content outline (ECO) and use it to assess your readiness. The ECO will help you identify any potential knowledge gaps.
When doing the self-assessment, focus on areas that fall outside your day-to-day experiences in your current practice setting.
Exam Content Outline
Review the ECO to assess your knowledge across the Outline
Examples
For example, Jane typically partners with adults with type 2 diabetes, so she’d want to review the ECO thinking about a patient population that falls outside of her current one, e.g., conduct the self-assessment considering how a pediatric population with type 1 or type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes might be different and where that might help identify areas of study.
Or, if you are a registered dietitian nutritionist, you may also want to focus on areas that might be outside the usual scope of your discipline. For example, Diane, a registered dietitian nutritionist, might look over the ECO looking for nursing- or pharmacist-focused tasks or Erin, a pharmacist, might look at dietetic or nursing-focused tasks.
For topics that you’d like to focus on, you might want to consider finding a continuing education activity or other resource that will meet your needs. CBDCE does not offer courses or test preparation materials, other than the practice exam. For a list of exam preparation resources, review the Exam Handbook.
Exam Handbook
Review the Exam Handbook, which includes:
- Exam Content Outline
- Information on studying
- Sample questions
- Resources
- Policy on when new information can be tested
Exam Preparation FAQs
Why doesn't CBDCE provide review courses or publish study materials?
As outlined in its Articles of Incorporation and Mission Statement, CBDCE's responsibilities do not include the creation or development of educational courses or materials. CBDCE believes that offering preparation courses or study materials would constitute a conflict of interest and could imply a guarantee of passing. Individuals will want to review the information CBDCE provides about preparing for the exam, including the Exam Content Outline. This information is available in the Exam Handbook published annually. CBDCE does have a practice exam available that some applicants may find helpful.
Where can I go study?
As the CDCES certification is a practice-based certification, it requires individuals to accrue professional practice experience prior to applying. This practice experience is necessary in order to master the knowledge and application of that knowledge associated with the specialty. As such the ‘where to go to study” is not an easy and direct answer to provide as one cannot just study from a ‘book’ to prepare for the exam. The exam does assess not just knowledge related to diabetes care and education but the ability to apply knowledge and analyze situations a diabetes care and education specialist may see in their role. We do provide a variety of references to assist with studying in our Exam Handbook. We also recommend a thorough review of our Exam Content Outline as this identifies the various areas that one is tested on.
Study Tips
To do your best on the exam, you should work on developing effective study strategies:
- Establish a timetable to focus your study efforts.
- Set a modest amount of time aside each day to study rather than study for several hours at a time.
- Form a study group with other health professionals providing diabetes education in your area.
- Network with interdisciplinary diabetes care and education specialists at your organization or at local and/or state diabetes group meetings.
- Partner with another health professional and spend time with them when they are providing DSMES.
- Watch exam tips video below
Practice Exam
For a small fee, you can take the optional practice exam to increase your confidence on exam day. Learn more details about it in the Exam Handbook. The practice exam is NOT a requirement for certification. See disclaimer* below for additional information.
The practice exam allows you to:
- Practice using the time allotted in relation to the full exam
- Understand how questions are structured and formatted
- See how the exam will look on the screen and how to move through the exam questions
*Disclaimer
CBDCE does not require, provide, accredit, or endorse any specific study guides, training or review courses, or other examination preparation products. The CDCES practice exam is developed independently from the certification exam and is not a requirement for certification. CBDCE and its subject matter experts do not have involvement in the creation, accreditation, approval, endorsement or delivery of examination review courses, preparatory materials, educational programs, or training programs/products that prepare candidates for the certification examination. Neither CBDCE Board of Directors nor subject matter experts may counsel or provide assistance to organizations developing the content for review courses or materials. Continuing education credits are not awarded by the CBDCE.
Exam Day Tips
Here are a few things that can help you on the day of your exam:
- Familiarize yourself with the exam day rules.
- If testing at a testing center, dress in layers as room climates may vary from location to location. As part of maintaining a secure testing environment, test takers will be required to undergo a metal detection wanding inspection as part of the security check.
- During the admission process and prior to beginning the examination, you will be required to participate in a process to biometrically verify your identity. Biometric identification may include photography, fingerprint scan, or other.
- If testing via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP), make sure your computer meets the LRP requirements and, most importantly, that you know your CBDCE login to launch your exam. Read more in our Guide to LRP. It is not recommended that candidates consider using work computers or test in a work environment if taking the exam via LRP.
- Read every question and all the choices carefully before choosing any answer.
- Double-check that you are looking at all the answers – scroll down on the screen to see all options.
- Don’t read too much into the questions. Use your experience and your common sense.
- Remember that answers are reference based and are not based on individual practice or where you work.
- Review the Exam Prep page again.
- Candidates may opt in to be notified via SMS text messaging if their scheduled test center experiences an unexpected closure. Candidates can update their preferences in the PSI test taker portal.