About
Position Statements
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Canons of Ethical Conduct
CBDCE is an organization that strives to protect the public from practitioners inadequately educated and poorly trained to provide diabetes care and education to persons with diabetes. Thus, CBDCE felt it was critical to protect the integrity of the CDCES credential.
To that end, the CBDCE (formerly NCBDE) Board of Directors, at its June 2012 meeting, adopted a set of Canons of Ethical Conduct and Rules and Procedures for the administration of those Canons.
Effective January 2013, CBDCE began asking CDCESs, formerly CDEs, (and those who apply for the Certification Examination for Diabetes Care and Education Specialists) to agree by attestation that they will abide by the Canons.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging (DEIAB) Statement
As the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE), we must promote and model a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging (DEIAB) within our organization, for our certificants and for people with and at risk for diabetes. Individuals certified through CBDCE programs should reflect and value the diversity of all people.
CBDCE’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DEIAB) Tenets:
- Equity
- Representation
- Accountability
- Mission-Aligned Partnerships
Equity as the Foundation
CBDCE is built on a foundation of equity. All strategies, policies, and activities — from credentialing requirements to partnerships — must be guided by health equity to ensure certificants, applicants, staff, and leadership experience belonging in safe, respectful environments.
Representation and Inclusive Participation
Individuals certified by CBDCE should reflect the diversity of all people. Leadership, committees, and decision-making spaces must intentionally include diverse perspectives across race, gender, profession, region, and lived experience, while actively identifying and addressing missing voices.
Accountability and Continuous Growth
DEIAB is a constant practice, not a one-time effort. Accountability requires setting ground rules, correcting non-person-centered language, ensuring balanced participation, and leaning into discomfort. CBDCE commits to ongoing training, continuous learning, and transparency in its decision-making.
Mission-Aligned Partnerships and Practices
CBDCE will act within its scope as a certifying body, ensuring DEIAB considerations are embedded in credentialing pathways, eligibility requirements, and strategic goals. Partnerships and external activities must align with the mission, prioritize equity, and produce measurable, sustainable outcomes.
Under those tenets, CBDCE is committed to:
- training our volunteer leaders and staff to be more aware of barriers and avenues to becoming a more diverse and inclusive organization;
- ensuring that efforts are made to support DEIAB values when identifying and communicating with our potential certificant pool;
- supporting ways for potential certificants and those who are currently certified to become aware of strategies to incorporate and value DEIAB in their professional roles; and
- partnering with organizations to advance and amplify DEIAB efforts.
Adopted in December 2021; updated October 2025.
Statement of Credential Limitations
As health care organizations and other employers have begun to recruit experienced and qualified diabetes care and education specialists, some confusion has arisen regarding the CDCES® credential, or CERTIFIED DIABETES CARE AND EDUCATION SPECIALIST® .
The certification examination is a voluntary activity. It is sensitive to areas of general practice and contemporary diabetes knowledge across multiple professional disciplines. Passing the examination verifies core knowledge in the field of diabetes. Holding the CDCES ® credential does not confer any permission to manage diabetes beyond the limitations of the individual’s professional practice.
Boundaries of practice are determined by state practice acts. Job descriptions and job functions are determined by employing agencies, not the CDCES® credential.
Adopted 6/1993; revised 6/2012; 5/2020
Statement on Use of Terms “CDCES Eligible” and “CDCES Pending”
From time to time, the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education ("CBDCE") is asked to review academic records, credentials, and/or diabetes education professional practice experience for the purpose of deeming an individual "CDCES eligible". "CDCES eligible" is not a status used or recognized by CBDCE. Evaluation of qualifications is done at the time an individual submits an Application for the Certification Examination for Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. Determinations of eligibility for certification by CBDCE are not made prior to receipt of an Application documenting completion of all requirements.
Eligibility requirements for certification change periodically. When this occurs, the progress of an individual toward meeting eligibility requirements may also change. To prevent confusion as well as preclude any use of such a term as a temporary or permanent alternative to certification, this status is not available from CBDCE.
Further, CBDCE does not recognize a status of "CDCES pending". Health professionals are either certified by CBDCE or they are not. After a health professional has taken the Certification Examination for Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, there is no certification status until that individual has received official notification of having passed.
Adopted 10/2005; updated 5/2020
Statement on Study Programs for the Certification Examination
The Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education does not require, provide, accredit, or endorse any specific study guides, training or review courses, or other examination preparation products. The CBDCE 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. NeitherCBDCE 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.
Adopted 6/1993, last revised 10/2020
Joining a Professional Membership Organization
The Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) encourages every Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) to become a member and actively participate in a professional membership organization. Such membership complements the credential and contributes to professional and personal development and to achieving a successful and meaningful career.
The CBDCE acknowledges that every CDCES needs convenient and ongoing access to information on current diabetes related standards, as well as educational, scientific, and clinical advancements. In addition, it’s important to network with fellow health professionals and explore opportunities to grow and develop in one’s career. A voluntary health association or professional membership organization that focuses on diabetes can offer such information and networking opportunities.
There are numerous professional organizations and associations in the diabetes arena that provide valuable and accessible opportunities at the national, state, and local levels for new and experienced CDCESs. CBDCE suggests that CDCESs assess their personal and professional needs and interests and join and actively participate in a professional membership organization that best meets those needs and interests. One should expect a professional membership organization to be a resource for current information and news and to provide opportunities to serve on professional boards and committees and in volunteer roles, interact with dedicated professional and lay volunteers, and support awareness campaigns and research and program fundraising.
Where to Start
Ask peers what professional organizations they belong to and what opportunities for learning, networking, and volunteer leadership they have enjoyed as a member of those organizations.
Disclaimer
Although there are professional relationships between CBDCE and various professional membership organizations, CBDCE is a separate and autonomous credentialing organization, not a membership organization. CBDCE is incorporated independent of any other organization, with its own mission, bylaws, finances, and volunteer leadership structure.
Adopted in August 2017. Revised in May 2020 to reflect the change of the name and credential.
Licensure of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists
The Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) believes that the provision of diabetes education should be vested in health professionals who have fulfilled requirements for CBDCE certification as Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES). Furthermore, CBDCE believes that a state which, in its wisdom, has determined a diabetes educator or care and education specialist licensure (or registration) law is necessary to protect the health and welfare of its citizens, should also embody similar requirements.
Therefore, should such licensure initiatives be undertaken by a state, the CBDCE will advocate that the law address the following points:
- A licensed health professional, providing diabetes education within his/her licensed scope of practice, may optionally obtain licensure as a diabetes educator or care and education specialist but would not be required to do so.
- An applicant that holds a CDCES certification, in good standing, would automatically qualify for licensure.
- Educational requirements for non-licensed or non-certified applicants should include completion of diabetes education program(s) sponsored by any advanced academic or continuing education organization that meets state determined standards.
- All non-licensed or non-certified applicants should be required to successfully pass a psychometrically valid competency assessment examination.
- States should consider using existing voluntary certification processes, including administration of eligibility and psychometrically valid examination requirements, as the basis for issuing licenses.
- “Grandfathering” of current diabetes educators or care and education specialists may be necessary. However, such provisions should be time-limited.
Should state legislative bodies consider licensure of diabetes educators or care and education specialists, CBDCE will advocate on behalf of CDCESs that any proposed legislation reflect the aspects outlined above. Advocacy efforts may include non-financial support such as written and/or verbal testimony given before state legislative bodies.
Adopted in April 2011. Revised in October 2017 and also in May 2020 to reflect the change of the specialty, organization name and credential title.