Certification Board For Diabetes Care And Education

What Certification Board For Diabetes Care And Education does

Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) is an independent, autonomous nonprofit certification body founded in 1985 and headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois. It administers two principal credentials: the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), a practice-based certification for licensed health professionals (RNs, RD/RDNs, pharmacists, physicians, PAs, and others) delivering diabetes prevention, prediabetes, and diabetes management services, and the Board Certified-Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM), an advanced certification for clinicians who manage complex diabetes and cardiometabolic care with prescribing authority. BC-ADM ownership transitioned from the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) to CBDCE in 2025, consolidating both diabetes credentials under one governing body. Supporting products include a public "Locate a CDCES" directory, a CDCES verification system, optional practice exams for both credentials, scholarship programs, and CDCES-Recognized Preparation Pathways (CRPPs).

CBDCE generates revenue through a diversified fee-based model: one-time CDCES and BC-ADM application fees (the latter administered via Meazure Learning), recurring renewal fees (BC-ADM renewal is $500 per 3-5 year cycle), exam transfer fees ($100 CDCES), retake fees ($220 BC-ADM), late application fees ($50), hard-copy verification fees, mailing list rentals for advertising to certified professionals, merchandise sales, and practice exam fees. Exam delivery runs through PSI for CDCES (test centers plus Live Remote Proctoring) and Meazure Learning for BC-ADM (domestic and international test centers plus remote proctoring). Go-to-market relies on the cbdce.org portal, social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube), a bi-annual newsletter, an Ambassador Program, Champions of Diabetes Care content series, CEO-led outreach to employers and universities, and strategic partnerships with ADCES, ADA, The Diabetes Link, and Diabetes Care Academy.

Name

Certification Board For Diabetes Care And Education

Legal name

Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education

Website

https://cbdce.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CBDCE is an independent nonprofit certification body, founded 1985, that administers the CDCES and BC-ADM credentials for U.S. healthcare professionals specializing in diabetes care, education, and advanced management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Certifications (EDAAANAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE) (EDAGANAJ)

Keywords

• Diabetes care certification
• Professional credentialing programs
• Healthcare professional certification
• Diabetes education credentials
• Advanced diabetes management

Headquarters

HQ city

Schaumburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Application Fees: Fees charged for initial certification applications for CDCES and BC-ADM credentials. CDCES applications submitted through CBDCE portal; BC-ADM applications through Meazure Learning.
2. Certification Renewal Fees: Recurring fees for renewal of CDCES and BC-ADM certifications. BC-ADM renewal fee is $500. Renewal occurs every 5 years (transitioning to 3 years for BC-ADM).
3. Verification Services: Third-party verification of certification status. Hard copy verification available for a fee.
4. Product Sales: Sale of CDCES merchandise including lapel pins, badge holders, beverage tumblers. Also duplicate certificates and wallet cards for a fee.
5. Practice Exams: Optional practice examinations for CDCES (through PSI) and BC-ADM (through Meazure Learning) candidates for a small fee.
6. Exam Transfer Fees: Transfer fees for extending exam eligibility windows. CDCES transfer fee is $100. BC-ADM rescheduling fees also apply.
7. Mailing List Rental: Organizations may rent CDCES mailing lists for advertising conferences, products, and services to certified professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

CBDCE administers two professional certification programs for healthcare professionals: the CDCES (Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist) credential, validating specialized expertise in diabetes prevention, prediabetes, and diabetes management, and the BC-ADM (Board Certified-Advanced Diabetes Management) credential, validating advanced clinical expertise for managing complex diabetes and cardiometabolic care including prescribing authority. The organization develops and maintains exam content, sets eligibility and renewal requirements, and provides a public verification system and directory of certified specialists.

Product overview

CBDCE offers two distinct certification programs: the CDCES (Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist) credential for health professionals providing diabetes care and education, and the BC-ADM (Board Certified-Advanced Diabetes Management) credential for advanced practitioners managing complex diabetes care. Supporting products include a public directory (Locate a CDCES), optional practice exams for both certifications, scholarship programs, and a verification system. The organization also endorses preparation pathways (CRPPs) for exam candidates. These offerings work together as a comprehensive certification management ecosystem for diabetes care professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CDCES: Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist credential - the primary certification offered by CBDCE for health professionals specializing in diabetes prevention, prediabetes, and diabetes management.
• BC-ADM

Products and services

• CDCES Certification (Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist) The CDCES credential recognizes health professionals with specialized expertise in diabetes prevention, prediabetes, and diabetes management. CDCES professionals educate, support, and advocate for people living with diabetes, helping individuals navigate every stage of their journey and improve overall health outcomes.
• BC-ADM Certification (Board Certified-Advanced Diabetes Management) The BC-ADM certification is designed for advanced practitioners who manage complex patient needs and deliver high-level diabetes and cardiometabolic care. Within their scope of practice and licensure, professionals with this credential may adjust or prescribe medications, treat and monitor complications and comorbidities, and support lifestyle and psychosocial needs.
• CDCES Practice Exam Optional online practice examination offered through the PSI platform with sample questions similar to those on the actual CDCES certification exam. The practice exam allows candidates to practice using the allotted time, understand question structure, and familiarize themselves with the exam interface.
• BC-ADM Practice Exam Online practice examination composed of 72 multiple-choice questions offered through the Meazure Learning platform, intended to allow BC-ADM candidates to practice using the allotted time, understand question structure and formatting, and see how the exam will appear on screen.
• Locate a CDCES Public Directory A searchable online directory that allows people with diabetes to find Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists in their area, with filters for populations served, focus areas, and languages spoken.
• CDCES Online Verification System Online verification tool allowing employers, healthcare providers, and consumers to verify a CDCES certification status by certificate number or name. Hard copy verifications are also available for a fee.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19,500+ certified CDCESs nationwide

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PSI (Psychological Services Incorporated)coreTechnology or IntegrationPSI serves as the testing agency for CDCES certification examinations, providing test center locations, Live Remote Proctoring services, and score reporting. CBDCE develops exam content with PSI's technical assistance for psychometric validation.
• Meazure LearningcoreTechnology or IntegrationMeazure Learning manages the BC-ADM certification examination process including application processing, payment collection, test scheduling, test center operations, and score reporting. Partnership transitioned from ADCES to CBDCE in 2025.
• The Diabetes LinkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly College Diabetes Network, The Diabetes Link created a resource hub for young adults with diabetes sponsored by CBDCE. CBDCE/CDN video highlights personal stories from young people on the value of seeing a CDCES.
• Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeparate autonomous organization from CBDCE. ADCES has no role in CBDCE's certification program. BC-ADM certification ownership transitioned from ADCES to CBDCE starting in 2025. ADCES offers CDCES preparation courses (CORE Concepts) recognized as CBDCE-Recognized Preparation Pathways.
• Diabetes Care AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of BC-ADM Certification Exam Prep Course & Practice Exam Bundle, recognized as a CBDCE-Recognized Preparation Pathway (CRPP).
• American Diabetes Association (ADA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADA Standards of Care in Diabetes referenced extensively in exam preparation materials. CBDCE recognitions include recipients of ADA awards such as Outstanding Educator in Diabetes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA): NCCPA certifies PAs via the PANCE and PANRE exams and is one of the recognized certifying bodies for PA practice, similar to how CBDCE credentials advanced clinicians (e.g., advanced practice providers are a major BC-ADM candidate pool). Comparable nonprofit certification governance and recurring renewal model.
• Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS): BPS administers board-certified pharmacist specialty credentials (BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM in pharmacy) with psychometrically validated exams and recurring CE-driven renewals. Pharmacists are explicitly eligible for CDCES and BC-ADM, making BPS a direct peer in the pharmacist-specialty credentialing space.
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC): NBRC credentials respiratory therapists (CRT, RRT) using a similar model of autonomous nonprofit governance, PSI-style testing partnerships, and recurring credential maintenance — closely comparable in structure and scale to CBDCE.
• Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR): CDR is the credentialing body for Registered Dietitians / Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, a primary CDCES candidate population. Operates under the same autonomous nonprofit, psychometric-exam, recurring-renewal model as CBDCE.
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): ANCC is the primary U.S. nursing credentialing body, administering specialty certifications analogous to CBDCE's CDCES for nurses in defined practice areas. It is the closest functional peer in healthcare professional certification model, governance, and psychometric exam delivery.
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB): PTCB administers the PTCB-certified pharmacy technician credential, the largest U.S. pharmacy tech certification, using psychometric exams with PSI and recurring CE renewal — a close structural analogue to CBDCE for technician-level credentialing.
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT): ARRT is the credentialing body for radiologic technologists, operating as an independent nonprofit with annual/periodic credential renewal and CE requirements — directly comparable in lifecycle revenue model to CBDCE's CDCES program.

Broad incumbents

• Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES): ADCES is the professional membership association that previously owned BC-ADM and remains the leading provider of diabetes prep content (CORE Concepts) used by CBDES candidates. It is a structural adjacent incumbent — overlapping mission in diabetes education but no longer a certification competitor.
• American Diabetes Association (ADA): ADA is the largest U.S. diabetes advocacy and research organization and sets the Standards of Care that CBDCE exams reference. While not a certification body, ADA is the dominant diabetes-content authority and awards that elevate CDCES brand visibility (e.g., Outstanding Educator in Diabetes).

Others

• PSI (Psychological Services Incorporated): PSI is CBDCE's core testing partner for CDCES, providing test centers and Live Remote Proctoring. It is included as an infrastructure/ecosystem peer rather than a competitor, because it executes the exam delivery layer that CBDCE's certification model depends on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHqcoc_PtD22oMet5crFVGA
• Facebookfacebook.com/CertifiedDiabetesEducators
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/certificationboard-for-diabetes-care-and-education
• Instagraminstagram.com/cbdce_cert

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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