Note: The following information is provided as an overview of the renewal process. Specific details are provided in the  Handbooks published in the year you renew. The Handbooks are the final documents regarding the policies and procedures that apply to the renewal process.

For newly certified CDCESs, you will renew in your expiration year and the accrual cycle begins January 1 following your certification year. Renewals open in July of your expiration year - refer to the Renewal Handbook for renewal window dates, fees, and deadlines.

• Jasmine became certified on February 6, 2021, her certification expires on December 31, 2026, her accrual cycle began January 1, 2022.
• Steve became certified on December 15, 2021, his certification also expires on December 31, 2026, his accrual cycle began January 1, 2022.
• Mary became certified on July 1, 2023, her certification expires on December 31, 2028, her accrual cycle began on January 1, 2024.

The expiration date is found on your wallet card and certificate, as well as provided in the verification documentation and on the dashboard. We know five years seems far away right after you become certified, but now is the time to:

• Learn about the various renewal pathways
• Add an appointment to your calendar for January 1 of the year your certification expires that reminds you to check in with CBDCE to ensure you understand what is needed for renewal.

The five-year time frame has a history in the high pass rate of those who recertified by exam versus initial candidates when renewal was required to be by examination; even with changes to examination content outlines since initial certification. The decision to offer renewal by continuing education starting in 2005 as an option versus solely by examination was based on the renewal exam pass rate of 95% and higher for the ten years prior to offering the renewal by continuing education option. In addition, the changes to the exam content outline based on various practice analysis over the years have been minimal regarding the tasks and knowledge in the field.

"I wanted to keep my CDCES certification streak going! There were some years that I had to step out of a formal CDCES role; however, I was always glad that I renewed my CDCES credential because I kept returning to roles that used my training and benefited from my credential. I would have missed out if I had not renewed by CDCES. "

Dana E. Brackney
PhD, RN, CNS, CDCES, ADM

Beginning with CDCESs renewing in 2025 or later, to further promote quality diabetes care and education and engage in on-going professional development, the Board has made the following changes to the requirements for renewal by continuing education (CE). These changes are to be inclusive of the renewal by CE minimum 75-hour requirement.

1. Required CE activities: CDCESs must participate (virtually or in-person) in CE activities twice during their renewal cycle regarding the annual release of American Diabetes Association’s Standards of Care for Diabetes*.
    
2. CE that is encouraged but not required: To align with the recent change in the specialty, the Board is encouraging CDCESs to take CE activities in at least one of the following topics during their renewal cycle (individual or program level):

          > education principals/teaching strategies;
          > diabetes-related technology;
          > leadership/strategy (e.g., CQI, change agent, program development);
          > population health; or
          > diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (e.g., social determinants of health,
             cultural competency).

Other topics/activities to meet the minimum total of 75 hours of CE activities is at the discretion of the CDCES provided that the activity meets the other current guidelines, e.g., is related to diabetes, formal activities are approved by a provider on our List of Recognized Providers, etc. Please visit the CBDCE portal and/or current Renewal Handbook for details on the requirements for renewal.

*The Standards of Care for Diabetes are updated on an annual basis. CBCDE encourages CDCESs to participate in CE activities every year that focus on the updates. The CE activities for the updates are widely available; some may be free or at a minimal charge, e.g., via the American Diabetes Association or Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists.

There are 3 ways to renew the CDCES certification with each pathway having its own requirements. 

Pathway 1: Renewal with professional practice and CE activities

Requirements:

1. Continue to hold the license or registration for the same discipline held at the time of initial certification. This license or registration must be current, active, and unrestricted at the time of renewal.
2. Obtain a minimum of 1,000 hours of professional practice experience under the renewal practice definition during the accrual cycle.
3. Accrue a minimum of 75 hours of continuing education (CE) activities in content areas applicable to diabetes. Review the guidelines for acceptable CE activities.

Pathway 2: Renewal with professional practice and exam

Requirements:

1. Continue to hold the license or registration for the same discipline held at the time of initial certification. This license or registration must be current, active, and unrestricted at the time of renewal.
2. Obtain a minimum of 1,000 hours of professional practice experience under the renewal practice definition during the accrual cycle.
3. Take and pass the Certification Examination for Diabetes Care and Education Specialists.

Pathway 3: Renewal with CE activities and exam

Requirements:

1. Continue to hold the license or registration for the same discipline held at the time of initial certification. This license or registration must be current, active, and unrestricted at the time of renewal.
2. Accrue a minimum of 75 hours of continuing education (CE) activities in content areas applicable to diabetes. Review all of the guidelines for acceptable CE activities.
3. Take and pass the Certification Examination for Diabetes Care and Education Specialists.

You will need to renew your certification in the last year of your cycle. However, there are different deadlines depending on when and how you renew. Refer to the graphic above for the 2023 renewal application window dates, deadlines, and fees.

2024 Renewals: Open July 15, 2024. Renewal handbook will be available mid-April. If you would like a hard copy renewal handbook sent to you, email info@cbdce.org to request a copy. 

2023 Renewals - The Grace Period for 2023 renewals ended on March 31, 2024 and is no longer availabile. If you wish to become certified again, it will require you taking and passing the exam. Learn more on the requirements for reinstatement in the Examination Handbook.  Log into the dashboard to learn more about the requirements, including what experience is included
in the renewal professional practice requirement, a definition that is expanded and inclusive of many different experiences than those that qualified for initial certification.

• If you’re renewing using the renewal practice requirement and continuing education activities pathway, the standard window is typically open mid-July through mid-September and requires completion of an online or paper application. Other windows are available later in the year, but require additional fees and may require additional documentation.  See the Renewal by Continuing Education Handbook for specific dates.
• If you were selected for an audit of your renewal by CE, you will need to provide CBDCE with documentation showing you met the renewal requirements. Take a look, here, at the documentation you will need to provide, if selected.
• If you’re renewing using the renewal practice requirement and exam pathway, applications are accepted on a year-round basis, as long you take and pass the exam no later than December 31 of the year your certification expires.  See the Examination Handbook for more details.

*Be sure to review the Renewal by Continuing Education or Exam Handbook for the year you are renewing to get the most up to date details of the different pathways

• Individuals whose CDCES credential have expired within the last 5 years may pursue reinstatement of their credential. Reinstatement requires that an individual must meet appropriate eligibility requirements and pass the exam.
• Individuals whose CDCES credential expired longer than five years ago will need to review the initial eligibility requirements to determine your path to certification.
• Upon passage of the examination a new CDCES number is issued along with a new accrual cycle. Note that certification is not extended between the time of credential expiration and passing the examination.
• Refer to the Exam Handbook to identify the accrual cycle for the reinstatement of an expired credential.

• Individuals must continue to hold a current, active, and unrestricted license, certification or registration for the same discipline held at the time of initial certification.
• Must apply for the examination with documentation of either 75 hours of acceptable continuing education hours OR 1000 renewal practice requirement at the time of applying for the examination and pay the appropriate application fee.
• Must pass the examination
   

Upon passage of the exam, a new certification number and accrual cycle will be issued.