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Who is a CDCES®?
A Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist® (CDCES®) is a health professional who possesses comprehensive knowledge of and experience in diabetes prevention, prediabetes, and diabetes management. The CDCES educates, supports, and advocates for people affected by diabetes, addressing the stages of diabetes throughout the lifespan.
The multi-disciplinary CDCES credential is held by registered and advanced practice nurses, registered dietitian nutritionists, pharmacists, physicians, PAs, and other health professionals. A CDCES works in different settings, including hospital, outpatient, and private practice.
How CDCESs Help People with Diabetes:
The CDCES promotes self-management to achieve individualized behavioral and treatment goals that reduce risks and optimize health outcomes.
Who is a BC-ADM® Certification Holder?
The professional holding the Board Certified-Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM®) certification skillfully manages complex patient needs and assists people at risk for and with diabetes and other cardiometabolic conditions with therapeutic problem-solving. Within their discipline's scope of practice and licensure, health professionals who hold the BCADM certification may adjust (and in some cases, prescribe) medications, treat, and monitor acute and chronic complications and other comorbidities, counsel people living with diabetes on lifestyle modifications, address psychosocial issues, and participate in research and mentoring. Holding the BCADM credential does not confer a change in scope beyond current licensure or registration.
Prevalence of Diabetes
In 2021*, 38.4 million Americans, or 11.6% of the population, had diabetes. Nearly 1.7 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, including about 304,000 children and adolescents. Diagnosed and undiagnosed: Of the 38.4 million adults with diabetes, 29.4 million were diagnosed, and 8.7 million were undiagnosed. Prevalence in seniors: The percentage of Americans age 65 and older remains high, at 29.2%, or 16.5 million seniors (diagnosed and undiagnosed)—new cases: 1.2 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes yearly.
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May). National Diabetes Statistics Report, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/php/data-research/index.html, checked January 16, 2026.
Role of Diabetes Care and Education (DCE):
Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES), historically also referred to as diabetes self-management training or diabetes education, is performed by health professionals who have appropriate credentials and experience consistent with their profession’s scope of practice. CBDCE uses the term ‘diabetes care and education’ or ‘DCE’.
Why is a career in diabetes care and education worth considering?
You can make a significant impact on people living with diabetes. CDCESs and those holding the BC-ADM certification are mentors and help care, support, and educate people. Both CDCESs and BC-ADM holders love what they do! They are very passionate about patient care and support. For every health professional holding either the CDCES and/or BC-ADM certifications, there are approximately 1,900 people with diabetes. Diabetes is a significant problem in healthcare, and the need for diabetes care and education is in high demand! In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled as the American population.
Benefits of Earning the CDCES or BC-ADM Certifications
- Expands career opportunities and improves your future marketability in your chosen profession
- CDCESs and BC-ADMs are in high demand because the number of people with diabetes continue to increase
- CDCESs and BC-ADMs have a direct impact on people living with diabetes and help to optimize health outcomes
- Many CDCESs and BC-ADMs believe this is their calling and are passionate about diabetes care and education
CDCES Eligibility and Requirements
- To earn the CDCES, you MUST practice in your discipline for at least two years before considering sitting for the exam. In addition to the discipline requirement, please review all of the eligibility requirements.
- Discipline: qualifying health professional license/registration including, but not limited to, RN, NP, RD/RDN, RPh, PA, and ACSM-CEP®.
- Professional practice experience (work or volunteer) **:
- General: 2 years
- Diabetes care and education: 1,000 hours - within a maximum of 5 years (with 200 of those hours in the last 12 months)
- Continuing education (CE): 15 hours of diabetes-related CE within the past 2 years
Diabetes Career Paths
There is no direct career path to specializing in diabetes care and education; however, many health professions can lead you to this path. You can start collecting the DCE hours once you meet the discipline requirement. As a student, if you are participating in an internship, you can NOT collect DCE hours. You may want to consider internships or a volunteer program for a diabetes-related organization, hospital program, diabetes camp, etc. Get to know a CDCES or BC-ADM in your community and get involved with organizations such as the American Diabetes Association, Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, The Diabetes Link, or Children with Diabetes.
Additional Resources
The American Diabetes Association (ADA)
ADA's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The moving force behind the work of the American Diabetes Association is a network of more than 565,000 volunteers, their families and caregivers, a professional society of nearly 20,000 health care professionals, as well as more than 250 staff members.
Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES)
A professional membership organization dedicated to promoting the expertise of the diabetes care and education specialist, ensuring the delivery of quality diabetes self-management education and support to the person with diabetes and contributing to the future direction of the profession.
The Diabetes Link
The Diabetes Link is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young adults with diabetes by providing access to the peer support, connections, and expert resources they need to thrive. Over the years The Diabetes Link (formerly CDN) has been recognized as the preeminent organization serving young adults with diabetes, establishing national partnerships with organizations such as ADA, JDRF, and the Association for Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES); also, as the leading provider of young adult patient education by healthcare providers and certification boards such as The Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE).
Children with Diabetes (CWD)
A professional membership organization dedicated to promoting the expertise of the diabetes care and education specialist, ensuring the delivery of quality diabetes self-management education and support to the person with diabetes and contributing to the future direction of the profession.