CDE Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CDE exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
CDE exam key facts
- The CDCES exam has 175 multiple-choice questions, 25 of which are unscored pretest items. Source
- Candidates have four hours to complete the CDCES certification exam. Source
- Passing the CDCES exam requires a scaled score of 70 on a scale of 0 to 99. Source
- The CDCES exam application fee is $350, or $200 for first-time applicants approved through the Unique Qualifications pathway. Source
- Candidates who fail the CDCES exam can reapply at any time as long as they still meet the eligibility requirements. Source
- CDCES certification is valid for five years and expires on December 31 of the last year of the cycle. Source
📋 CDE Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CDE Topics to Study (57)
✍️ Sample CDE Questions & Answers
1. A patient's blood glucose monitoring technique is being evaluated by a diabetes educator by having her do a test. Which of the following behaviors represents poor technique?
Milking or excessively squeezing the lanced finger to obtain a blood sample is considered poor technique. This action can dilute the blood sample with interstitial fluid, leading to an inaccurate, often falsely low, blood glucose reading. It is recommended to allow a natural drop of blood to form or apply gentle pressure from the base of the finger upwards, rather than squeezing the tip.
2. Peer support in diabetes education is effective primarily because it:
Peers with shared experiences normalize the challenges of living with diabetes and serve as credible role models, which Social Cognitive Theory identifies as vicarious learning.
3. Which theory of learning and health behavioral change holds that people learn from their own experiences as well as from watching how others behave and experience things?
Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) posits that learning occurs in a social context through dynamic interactions between a person, their environment, and their behavior. A key tenet of SCT is observational learning, where individuals learn from their own experiences as well as by observing the behaviors of others and the consequences that follow. This theory emphasizes self-efficacy and the role of social support in health behavior change.
4. What is the primary purpose of a 'suspend on low' feature on a sensor-augmented insulin pump?
The 'suspend on low' feature automatically pauses insulin delivery when CGM glucose falls below a programmed threshold to prevent or reduce hypoglycemia.
5. Problem-solving training in diabetes education typically follows which sequence?
Structured problem-solving follows a logical sequence: clearly define the problem, brainstorm solutions, evaluate them, then act and assess results.
6. Which behavioral model is used to assess a patient's readiness to make diabetes self-care changes?
The Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change) identifies where a patient falls on the spectrum from precontemplation to active maintenance of behavior change.
🎯 Free CDE Practice Tests
📖 CDE Guides & Articles
What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for CDE
An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:
- A timed, full-length CDE mock exam — 175 questions in 240 minutes with a 70% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
- A fixed CDE question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
- Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
- A printable CDE cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
- CDE flashcards built from the same question bank.
- Free CDE practice tests with the correct answer shown after each question.
How this page was made: written with AI tools. 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 dates, test delivery, exam format, passing score, registration, time limit, score validity, retake policy, score release, fees · verified Oct 2026