Renewal of Certification FAQs

Where can I find information on the renewal of certification by continuing education option?

Renewal of Certification by Continuing Education Details Information

Is there a section of FAQs for the renewal of certification by continuing education option?

Renewal of Certification CE FAQs

Is there a practice requirement for CDE recertification?

Beginning with CDEs renewing in 2010, all CDEs must submit documentation of 1000 hours of professional practice experience during the five year period that the CDE credential is valid ( Details on the practice requirement).

Is the practice requirement the same for all recertifying options?

Yes.

Is there a list of professional practice experiences accepted for recertification?

Yes ( Details on the practice requirement).

Is there an option for recertifying if a CDE cannot meet the eligibility requirement for diabetes self-management education professional practice?

Beginning in 2010 when the practice requirement for certification becomes effective, if certification has not lapsed, the applicant may take and pass the Certification Examination and submit a list of 75 continuing education hours by the published deadline dates.

When will I hear about the status of my application for the Examination?

See Examination Application Status page

When will I hear about the status of my application for renewal by continuing education?

See Post-Application Information page

Is there a provision for phasing in the new 2010 NCBDE practice requirement for recertification? If I am scheduled to recertify in 2011, do I need 1000 hrs in the past 5 years or 200 hrs for the year 2010-2011? What happens if I choose to take the last year (2010-2011) of my 5 year cycle off?

This new requirement was originally published in the Spring 2005 edition of NCBDE News and was added to our website at the same time. Since 2005, we have also regularly included the information in annual editions of the NCBDE News. Finally, we routinely include this information in communications with diabetes educators who achieve initial or renew certification.

Given this advance notification process, we will not “phase in” the requirement. Rather, CDE®s who renew in 2010 and later, will need to attest to having accumulated 1000 hours of practice during any period of their 5-year certification period, beginning in January following the year of their certification or recertification. For example, if you will recertify in 2010, you may accrue practice hours beginning January 1, 2006. Similarly, an individual that will recertify in 2011 may accrue hours beginning January 1, 2007.


What documentation do I need to provide to show I have accumulated at least 1000 hours of practice?

It is always prudent to keep detailed information for your personal records. In fact, if you plan to have someone verify your practice hours (if you are audited), you should check with them to see what would satisfy their need for detail.

The good news, however, is that we no longer require you to document these hours in detail in the application for renewal. You will be asked to sign a statement that attests to meeting all of the current eligibility requirements, including the 1000 hour practice requirement. If an application is chosen for audit, you will need to have a supervisor (or for those in private practice, another health care professional) sign a similar statement that confirms you have fulfilled the practice requirement. Of course, if you are renewing by the continuing education pathway, you will need to maintain copies of your continuing education credits/certificates in the event they need to be submitted as part of an audit.


Must the minimum of 1000 practice hours relate only to specific patient diabetes education services?

We recognize that CDE®s may be working in many settings, for different types of employers and may involve work that no longer directly relates to patient-focused DSME services. For purposes of renewing certification, NCBDE defines professional practice as “actively employed for compensation, providing a direct or indirect professional contribution to the care and self-management education of people with diabetes.” This includes “program development, program management, public health/community surveillance, diabetes related research, clinical roles in diabetes industry, case management, professional education, consultant roles to industry or other providers, or others.”

We do not recognize “employment in the manufacture, direct sales, or distribution of diabetes-related products or services in pharmaceutical or other diabetes-related industries, public health screenings, jobs unrelated to diabetes. . . “In addition, “participation in diabetes camp will not meet the practice requirement, nor will preceptorship/mentor or other volunteer hours of any kind.”