How do I calculate the time that I provide diabetes education, and what part of my job is diabetes education?

When determining if the experience you are accumulating is diabetes education, ask yourself these questions:
– Am I providing diabetes education within the scope of practice of my professional discipline?
– Does the diabetes education I provide fall within the competencies as set out by the Canadian Diabetes Educator Certification Board? (see Appendix A)
If you are able to answer the above two questions affirmatively consider the amount of time that you actually spend providing diabetes education. As an example, if you work within a diabetes education centre, would you educate people 100% of your working day? In all probability the answer is “no”, but the percentage of time you provide diabetes education, as set out above, would be greater than the percentage of time that of the health care provider who works within a cardiology education centre would be. Remember, if you are that health care provider in a centre outside of diabetes you may provide diabetes education.
It is also important to remember, when calculating your diabetes education experience must fall within the competencies as established by the Canadian Diabetes Educator Certification Board. Activities such as charting, staff meetings, breaks, and lunch do not contribute to your 800 hours.