Qualifications

By | Nov 18, 2024
Refer to section 5.1 of the Examination Handbook. You must meet all of the criteria to be eligible. There are no exceptions. 5.1 For Initial Certification: Individuals who have not previously taken or passed the CDE® examination or whose CDE® designation have lapsed must meet ALL of the following requirements: Be licensed with a regulatory […]
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Qualifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I qualify to take the examination?

I will not have my 800 hours until I am ready to write the exam – is that OK?

I have diabetes, does the time looking after “me” count?

I am a health professional and I do not have any experience working with diabetes but my child has diabetes, can I use that time?

I meet all of the criteria, however, I do not work in a Diabetes Education Centre, is that OK?

I am a member of a Canadian Regulatory Body, and I have 800 hours of experience, but the experience was not in Canada, can I apply?

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

How do I calculate the time that I spend providing diabetes education? I have not logged it.

I am a community pharmacist, how do I track my diabetes education experience?

I provide diabetes education to those that are at risk of diabetes, does that contribute towards the 800 hours?

I provide diabetes education to health care professionals do I qualify to write the exam or do I have to provide diabetes education to people with diabetes?

I just graduated and I am an intern may I use the experience I have accumulated while an intern?

I live in a country other than Canada and I hold a Canadian licence to practice as a Canadian health care professional. Does the experience that I gained while working within that country utilizing my Canadian licence and my foreign licence contribute towards the 800 hours necessary.

I live in a country other than Canada and I do not hold a Canadian licence to practice as a Canadian health care professional.  May I use the experience that I have obtained while working within the licence of another country towards the 800 hours now that I have a Canadian licence.

In regards to the 800 hour requirement needed to write the exam, does my nursing practice over the years working in the community and now in the hospital count?

I have an immediate family member on a pump, diagnosed at 5 years of age, that would help me accumulate my time, wouldn’t it not?

I spend a lot of time with people with diabetes. Therefore, does that time contribute towards the 800 hours of experience?

Does the time I spend taking a course contribute towards the 800 hours of education experience?

I look after family members with diabetes, does that time contribute towards my diabetes education experience?

I am a Pharmacy Technician licensed in my Province with the College of Pharmacists. Am I eligible to write the CDECB exam?

I was looking into the CDE® certification as I have been working for several years in a Primary Care Network which involves a large amount of diabetes management. I see that the first requirement is to be registered with a regulatory body. As a Kinesiologist/Clinical Exercise Physiologist in Alberta, this poses a problem as the only province that has an associated college for this profession is Ontario.

I work in a Diabetes Education Centre for 40 hours a week. Can I count all 40 hours of that time as my experience?

I spend a lot of time reviewing products and medications available to those with diabetes. Is that considered part of diabetes education to contribute towards my 800 hours of diabetes education experience?

I am taking a course about diabetes from my local college. May I include that in my calculation of 800 hours of diabetes education experience?

I am moving from one province to another in Canada. What happens to my “CDE” designation when I change my licence from one College to another due to my physical relocation?

What time contributes towards my 800 hours for diabetes education experience?

A great deal of my practice is consulting. I provide information to or I consult with other health care professionals regarding their patients with diabetes. Is this considered diabetes education? These people are talking with me about their patients?

What is the examination fee?

Volunteering

Volunteers are an important part of the Canadian Diabetes Educator Certification Board. Their knowledge about Diabetes has enabled the Canadian Diabetes Educator Certification Board to be what it is. 

Learn More About Volunteering

Registration for the 2025 CDECB Exam and submission of Credit Portfolio is open. 

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