How do I become a Diabetes Nurse Educator?

I have taken the quote below directly from NBCDE.org, the certifying body for certified diabetes educators. When I sat for this exam, the two years I had spent as a bedside nurse on a floor that specialized in diabetes DID NOT COUNT as diabetes education, because my job description was not primarily described as "diabetes self-management education" (even though I did that every day!), I was an inpatient staff nurse on a floor with endocrine and also other med/surg diagnoses.

Hope this helps!

I was qualified to sit for the exam only after I had completed 1000 hours in the role of a diabetes educator specifically. I did that by transferring to the diabetes center at the same hospital. Further, I had to be in that role for 2 years exactly before I could apply for the exam (see below). The exam is offered 2 times per year. At the time I took the exam, the cutoff for the application date was ONE WEEK before my 2 year anniversary in the job, and I had to wait another 6 months to apply for the next exam!
The diabetes center where I work hires nurses who desire to be CDEs. They are trained by us and work in the role, exactly as a CDE, but don't qualify to sit for the exam until their 1000 hours/2 years criteria are met.

"Professional Practice Experience
All professional practice experience is defined as employment for compensation as a diabetes educator in the United States or its territories within the past five years. Employment for compensation means to hold a job in which one is actively engaged in diabetes self-management education and for which paid income is comparable to other diabetes educators in the same area or region of the country. Only experience occurring AFTER completing the Discipline requirement can be counted toward the Professional Practice Experience requirement.
After meeting the Discipline requirement and before applying for the Examination, all (A through C) of the following requirements must be met:

A minimum of two years (to the day) of professional practice experience in diabetes self-management education.
AND

A minimum of 1,000 hours of diabetes self-management education experience.
AND

Current employment in a defined diabetes educator role providing diabetes self-management education a minimum of four hours per week, or its equivalent, at the time of application."

I came across a site today that offered a study booklet. I was googling to find any info pos. on CDE. That was not what I wanted at this point so do not recall the site. I am just trying to fingure out the path to take to become a CDE. Can I ask how you went about getting your 2 yrs experience in?

Your two years and 1000 hours have to be earned in a paid position with the title of diabetes educator. Hours worked on the floor educating patients, don't count unfortunately. Through the grace of God I met someone who was the director of a diabetes center and she hired me as an educator. I would say look for diabetes centers in your area, or go to ADA and find recognized programs in your area (not that the program that you earn hours in has to be recognized, but that site is a good place to find lots of programs) and look at AADE's page with job listings. You can sometimes find agencies that are looking for educators with the stipulation that you will sit for the exam in two years.

I took the exam on Saturday. They let you know if you passed or not within six weeks.

Check out the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Truly, if you have any interest at all in diabetes education, this is the place to start. To study for the CDE exam I used the CORE CURRICULUM published by AADE. You can order it from their website. The AADE also has live courses that you can take- and the schedule and locations are listsed on their website. The "CORE" comes in a 4-volume set, and I started with the areas I was weakest in. Each chapter has sample questions from the exam to help you test what you've learned.

In response to those wanting to become a diabetes nurse educator- I truly encourage you, it is a wonderful specialty,but be forewarned that there are not alot of positions available, in general. Hospital programs are shutting down left and right due to budget cuts- the reimbursement for Diabetes education is just so poor, that it's a big money-loser for hospitals. In many, if not most places, the educators are constantly on the battle-ground to keep their programs open. There are DM educators working out of larger physician offices, but again, the owners have to be willing to put up the $ to offer the service, for which they recover relatively little in reimbursement. The need is great, but our health care system is not geared toward a chronic care model. We pay to patch up the complications, but not for the education needed to prevent them. Sad, but true.

When they say they'll let you know in six weeks, they mean 6 weeks and not a day sooner. It's a harrowing wait, but be patient. They will probably take at least the FULL 6 weeks to get your results out.

Hi there

I do not have any nursing skills or experience taught by text books. I have been a type 1 diabetic for 14 years, i have always wanted to be a diabetes nurse. I am not afraid of needles and i know how the feelings and symptoms feel not how they look, i have done everything apart from drugs and i really want to give something back.

At the moment i am a top account manager but i have always wanted to be a diabetes nurse, and i am a people person and have always wanted to do this but thought that i have not got any medical training apart from looking after this desease and now i am going to give it a shot as i am now 28 and want to do something with my life. And feel that this is something i could do and also give something back. I understand insulin right down to its fat storage hormones and have helped other diabetic that i know personally with regards to eating disorders, alcohol addictions and other minor issues uis diabetics can get, especially if we see a shotcut. can anyone give me any advice, i notice most of you have years experience as a nurse and i need to know where to start any info will be greatley appreciated.

To be a diabetes nurse educator you have to become an RN. (although there are other practices RD, Pharmacy...that can get their CDE as well.) As much as I knew about diabetes going into nursing school, I didn't understand how diabetes interacted with other organ systems. So I worked Med/Surg for a year before I took a diabetes ed job. At the time I didn't want to, but now I am glad I did. It really helped me to understand all I was taught in nursing school. The new guidlines for taking the CDE exam require 2 years of nursing and 1000 hours of pt education, with at least 400 of those being in the year leading up to the exam. So it's kind of a catch 22, you have to get the job to get the certification, but you need the certification to get the job.

That was a fantastic idea. It really sounds like the way to go if you can talk your hospital into it. If not, I don't see how you can get those 1000 hours you need in any timely fashion. Way to go for a great idea. I am very interested in diabetes management. My husband has diabetes and we have both been on a diabetic diet for the most part. I have never felt better in my life plus my cholesterol went down and I lost some weight. I am interested in being an educator, I knew that, just not what part of nursing. I never thought about diabetes but that sounds like it would be something that I would really be interested in, just hard to do.

I am 40 and starting my second career. I was interested in doing something advanced right after my BSN instead of working a few years in Med/surg but it seems as though I might have to.

Thanks for your great idea.

Lisa

which core curriculum did you study from. I can find one book by marion franz and another by martha funnell. I plan to take the test in november. Also, did you attend the core conference?