What to Expect on CDE® Exam Day
It pays to be mentally prepared for what’s to come on exam day! Here, we outline what you can expect—from exam format to timing and everything in between.
About the CDE® Credential
Offered by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE), the CDE® credential was created for health professionals who educate patients about preventing and managing diabetes.
The exam is administered through PSI Services (PSI) and certification is valid for five years.
Exam Format, Questions, and Timing
The CDE® exam is computer-based and consists of 200 multiple-choice questions. The exam content outline is based on a 2018 job analysis, which surveyed practicing diabetes educators to ensure the questions reflect real-world responsibilities.
Of the 200 questions, 175 are scored while 25 are pretest questions used to validate future exam items. Because you won’t know which questions are unscored, treat every question as if it counts.
You’ll have four hours to complete the exam. Beforehand, you may take an optional practice exam that won’t count toward your time.
During the exam:
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You cannot ask questions.
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There is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question.
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Questions are presented one at a time.
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You can change answers or bookmark questions for review.
Content breakdown:
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Assessment of the Diabetes Continuum – 59 questions
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Interventions for the Diabetes Continuum – 88 questions
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Disease Management – 28 questions
👉 Review the full exam content outline here.
Exam Results
You’ll receive immediate results after completing the exam, along with an official score report in the mail.
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Raw Score: The total number of questions you answered correctly.
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Scaled Score: A converted score ranging from 0–99.
To pass, you’ll need a scaled score of at least 70.
Resources
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NCBDE. Examination Handbook: Certification Examination for Diabetes Educators. Handbook PDF
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NCBDE. Examination Content Outline: Effective Starting July 1, 2019. Content Outline PDF
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PSI. PSI Exams Online. Exam Portal
👉 Diabetes Educator Certification Overview
