What's Changing for CDCES and BC-ADM Certification: Moving to a 3-Year Renewal Cycle
CBDCE is shortening the recertification cycle for both credentials from 5-years to 3-years starting in 2027. Here's a clear breakdown of why it's happening, what it means for you, and when to expect it.
Why is the cycle changing?
Diabetes care is evolving faster than ever. New technologies, new pharmacotherapies, and updated clinical guidelines are emerging at a pace that a five-year certification window simply wasn't built to keep up with. To stay credible and aligned with public expectations, the CBDCE credentials need to reflect that pace of change.
This decision followed months of discussion and careful research, not a snap judgment. It reflects a broader shift happening across the credentialing world. Research on continuing certification, including work associated with the American Board of Medical Specialties1, points to shorter, more frequent assessment cycles as a better way to reinforce knowledge retention than long stretches between high-stakes renewals. Guidance from the Institute for Credentialing Excellence2 echoes this: competence can fade over time without continuous engagement, and recertification requirements should be driven by how much practice, knowledge, and skill actually change in the field, not by an arbitrary calendar.
Other specialty boards, including the American Board of Internal Medicine and multiple nursing specialty boards, have already moved toward shorter or more continuous certification models for exactly this reason. This update brings CDCES and BC-ADM in line with that trend, strengthening the credential's relevance and the public's confidence in it.
What does this mean for you?
The impact depends on where you are in your certification journey:
- If you're a new certificant: The 3-year renewal cycle takes effect for all new applicants starting January 1, 2027.
- If you're a current certificant: You'll renew on your certification's originally scheduled expiration date, under your existing requirements. Nothing changes mid-cycle.
- If your current term expires in 2026, , you'll complete one more 5-year renewal before moving to the 3-year cycle.
- If your current term expires in 2027, you'll have a choice: renew for the standard 5 years one last time, or opt into the new 3-year cycle early at a discounted rate. Additional information will be provided on these options in early 2027.
- If your current term expires in 2028 or later, you'll transition automatically to the 3-year cycle once you've met your current renewal requirements.
Will renewal requirements change?
Requirements are shifting proportionally to the shorter timeframe, not increasing. For example, the CDCES practice requirement drops from 1,000 hours over five years to 600 hours over three years, and continuing education requirements scale down similarly (75 CE hours over five years becomes 45 CE hours over three years). The core structure of how you renew (CE, practice hours, or exam pathways) stays the same.
Will fees change?
No. Renewal fees are staying the same: $250 for CDCES and $500 for BC-ADM.
This change is about keeping the CDCES and BC-ADM credentials meaningful - for you, for employers, and for the people living with diabetes who rely on certified professionals to have the most current, evidence-based knowledge available. More frequent renewal means your credential continues to signal exactly what it always has: that you're staying current in a field that never stops moving.
Have questions about your specific certification timeline? Reach out to CBDCE at info@cbdce.org.
References
- Lipner RS, Hess BJ, Phillips RL. Continuing Certification: A Narrative Review of the Evidence. American Board of Medical Specialties; 2024. Available via ABMS Research & Newsroom publications.
- Institute for Credentialing Excellence. Recertification and Continuing Competence: Best Practices and Guidelines. ICE publications and Credentialing Insights resources.