Eligibility and Credential Process Flashcards
7 cards from real CDCES practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Eligibility and Credential Process flashcards as text
A registered dietitian has 1,000 total DSMES hours over the past 4 years, but only 250 were accrued in the 12 months before applying. What is the eligibility status?
Answer: Not yet eligible, because at least 40% (400 hours) must be accrued in the most recent year
CBDCE requires at least 40% of the 1,000 DSMES hours to be accrued within the year before applying.
Within what maximum time frame before applying must the 1,000 hours of DSMES professional practice experience be accrued?
Answer: 5 years
The 1,000 DSMES hours must be accrued within no more than 5 years before the application.
A pharmacist applying for initial CDCES certification must complete how many clock hours of diabetes-related continuing education, and within what period?
Answer: 15 hours within 2 years before applying
Initial candidates need 15 clock hours of diabetes-related CE from approved providers within 2 years before applying.
A nurse was licensed 18 months ago and already has 1,200 DSMES hours. Why might she still be ineligible?
Answer: She has not met the minimum of 2 years of practice in her discipline after licensure
Candidates need at least 2 years of professional practice in their discipline after initial licensure or registration.
Which organization grants the CDCES credential?
Answer: Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE)
CBDCE, formerly NCBDE, is the independent board that grants and maintains the CDCES credential.
In 2020 the CDE credential was renamed. Which statement about current CDE holders is correct?
Answer: They automatically became CDCES and may use the new designation
Existing CDE holders were transitioned to the CDCES designation without retesting.
Which activity would MOST likely count toward the DSMES professional practice hours?
Answer: Teaching a patient insulin self-titration and hypoglycemia management
Qualifying hours come from directly providing diabetes care and education services, not from attending education or doing clerical work.
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- cbdce.org — Test delivery, eligibility, fees, exam format, passing score, registration, retake fee, retake policy, score release, test dates · verified Oct 2026