2026 Certification Examination for Diabetes Care and Education Specialists - Handbook - Certification Exam Information and Policies

Sep 21, 2026

2026 Certification Examination for Diabetes Care and Education Specialists handbook provides the framework for both initial certification and subsequent exam administration. It explains eligibility requirements, ethical conduct, confidentiality, nondiscrimination and disciplinary policies, and outlines the examination content and scoring. The handbook covers application fees and dates, scheduling, audits, accommodations, withdrawals and refunds, and appeal processes. It also details testing procedures at a center and via live remote proctoring, including identification, security, restrictions, misconduct, results, and rescheduling rules.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages51

Reading Time2 h 9 min

AccessFree to download

GENERAL

Important General Information

Examination Application Fees and Dates

Introduction

Definition of a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

Canons of Ethical Conduct

Statement of Nondiscrimination Policy

Confidentiality

Disciplinary Policy

INITIAL

Eligibility Requirements for Initial Certification

Definition of Diabetes Care and Education (DCE)

On the Other Hand

2025 Initial Certification Requirements Review

Examination Content Outline

Application Process

How to Apply for an Examination

Testing Window

Fees

Adherence to Published Policies

Audit Policy

Examination Administration

Requests for International Test Centers

Requests for Special Accommodations

Changes after the Application Is Submitted

Rejected Applications

Appeals – Policies – Eligibility

Withdrawals and Refunds

Scheduling an Examination

Holidays

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

Examination Construction and Scoring

Details

Testing of Advancements

Studying for the Examination

Practice Examination

FOLLOWING THE EXAMINATION

Scoring of the Exam

Re-Examination

Appeals – Policies – Testing Circumstances

Scores Cancelled by CBDCE or PSI

Duplicate Score Report

Certificates and Wallet Cards

Use of Certification Marks

TESTING AT A TEST CENTER

Testing at a Test Center

Exam Scheduling

Special Arrangements for Candidates with Disabilities

Examination Rescheduling and Transfer

Missed Appointments and Forfeitures

Inclement Weather, Emergency or Power Failure

On the Day of the Examination

Identification

Security

Personal Belongings

Examination Restrictions

Misconduct

TESTING BY LIVE REMOTE PROCTORING (LRP)

Brief Overview of LRP Testing Requirements

Exam Scheduling

Special Arrangements for Candidates with Disabilities

Examination Rescheduling and Transfer

Missed Appointments and Forfeitures

Inclement Weather, Emergency or Power Failure

Your LRP Testing Location

Identification

Allowable Items in LRP

Examination Restrictions

Misconduct

Practice Testing

Timed Examination

Candidate Comments

Examination Results

APPENDICES

Appendix I – Accrual Information for Initial/Expired or Renewal of Certification/Expired Certification

2026 CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION for Diabetes Care and Education Specialists Handbook 2026 Certification Examination for Diabetes Care and Education Specialists Table of Contents GENERAL Important General Information................................... ii Examination Application Fees and Dates ......................... 1 Introduction ..................................................... 1 Definition of a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.............................................. 1 Canons of Ethical Conduct ....................................... 1 Statement of Nondiscrimination Policy ........................... 1 Confidentiality ................................................... 1 Disciplinary Policy ............................................... 2 INITIAL Eligibility Requirements for Initial Certification.................... 3 Definition of Diabetes Care and Education (DCE) .................. 4 On the Other Hand................................................ 4 2025 Initial Certification Requirements† Review ................... 5 EXAMINATION CONTENT OUTLINE Examination Content Outline..................................... 6 APPLICATION/SCHEDULING Application Process .............................................. 8 How to Apply for an Examination................................. 8 Registratiion/Testing Reminders.................................. 8 Testing Window.................................................. 9 Fees ............................................................. 9 Adherence to Published Policies .................................. 9 Audit Policy...................................................... 9 Examination Administration...................................... 9 Copyrighted Examination Questions ............................. 9 Requests for International Test Centers (Outside United States) .......................................... 10 Requests for Special Accommodations .......................... 10 Changes after the Application Is Submitted...................... 10 Rejected Applications ........................................... 10 Appeals – Policies – Eligibility ................................... 10 Withdrawals and Refunds ....................................... 11 Scheduling an Examination ..................................... 11 Holidays ........................................................ 11 EXAMINATION INFORMATION Examination Construction and Scoring .......................... 12 Details .......................................................... 12 Testing of Advancements ....................................... 12 Studying for the Examination ................................... 13 Practice Examination............................................ 13 FOLLOWING THE EXAMINATION Scoring of the Exam ............................................. 14 Re-Examination ................................................. 14 Appeals – Policies – Testing Circumstances ...................... 14 Scores Cancelled by CBDCE or PSI ............................... 15 Duplicate Score Report.......................................... 15 Certificates and Wallet Cards .................................... 15 Use of Certification Marks ....................................... 15 TESTING AT A TEST CENTER Testing at a Test Center.......................................... 16 Exam Scheduling................................................ 16 Special Arrangements for Candidates with Disabilities ........... 16 Examination Rescheduling and Transfer ......................... 17 Missed Appointments and Forfeitures ........................... 17 Inclement Weather, Emergency or Power Failure ................. 17 Prior to Exam Day ............................................... 17 On the Day of the Examination .................................. 18 Identification ...........................................

FAQs

What ethical, confidentiality, and nondiscrimination policies apply to candidates?

The handbook includes canons of ethical conduct, a statement of nondiscrimination policy, confidentiality requirements, and a disciplinary policy that govern candidate conduct and obligations.

How are examinations scheduled and what are the key rules for test day?

It explains the application process, testing window, fees, adherence to published policies, and the procedures for scheduling. It also details identification, security, personal belongings, examination restrictions, and misconduct handling.

What procedures differ for testing with live remote proctoring (LRP) compared with an in-person test center?

The handbook provides LRP-specific requirements covering scheduling, special accommodations, rescheduling and transfers, identification, allowable items, examination restrictions, misconduct, practice testing, and timed examination rules.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Valentina