In order to sit for the BC-ADM examination, candidates must meet these basic requirements: Hold a current, active RN, RD, RPh/PharmD, PA or MD/DO license in a state or territory of the United States or the professional, legally-recognized equivalent in another country. The legally-recognized equivalent professional must be practicing in that country. The candidate must also hold a graduate degree from an accredited program, within 48 months prior to applying for this certification exam. A  MD, DO and PharmD qualify for the graduate level and do not need an additional graduate level degree. Finally the candidate must complete a minimum of 500 clinical practice hours in advanced diabetes management. For more information on each specific discipline please visit the BC-ADM Candidate Handbook.

The BC‐ADM skillfully manages complex patient needs and assists patients with therapeutic problem‐solving. Within their discipline's scope of practice, healthcare professionals who hold the BC‐ADM certification adjust medications, treat and monitor acute and chronic complications and other comorbidities, counsel patients on lifestyle modifications, address psychosocial issues, and participate in research and mentoring.

First time candidates for the exam will need the following clinical practice hours: within 48 months prior to applying for this certification exam, complete a minimum of 500 clinical practice hours in advanced diabetes management (after licensure).

Faculty can use hours of direct clinical supervision of students for clinical practice. The direct clinical supervision must be in the certification specialty.

You will be asked, on the application, to provide the Institution, Supervisor, Start/End date and Clinical practice hours for the 500 total clinical hours you are reporting. Only candidates selected for audit will be asked to provide supporting documentation to verify the information provided in the application.

The number one resource for the BC-ADM exam is your practice level. Candidates who qualify to sit for the BC-ADM are managing a person with diabetes. Some examples include: Medication adjustment, MNT, Exercise planning, Counseling for behavior management, Psychosocial issues, Treatment and monitoring of acute and chronic complications, Complex decision making which expands the traditional discipline specific practice, Research and Mentoring.

Licensure is frequently confused with certification or credentialing. The meanings of the terms are often interchanged. Licensure is signifies governmental authority to practice a profession, the difference between licensure and certification is essentially the difference between governmental regulation and self-regulation of a profession. Certification does not change your scope of practice and can come from different organizations. Licensure comes from a governmental authority.

BC-ADM: The BC-ADM certification validates a healthcare professional's specialized knowledge and expertise in the management of people with diabetes. Practicing within their discipline's scope of practice, healthcare professionals who hold the BC-ADM certification credential adjust medications, treat & monitor acute and chronic complications, provide medical nutrition therapy, help patients plan exercise regimens, counsel patients to manage behaviors and psychosocial issues, participate in research and mentor. The depth of knowledge and competence in advanced clinical practice and diabetes skills affords an increased complexity of decision making which contributes to better patient care.

CDCES: A Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist® (CDCES®) is a health professional who possesses comprehensive knowledge of and experience in prediabetes, diabetes prevention, and management. The CDCES® educates and supports people affected by diabetes to understand and manage the condition. A CDCES® promotes self-management to achieve individualized behavioral and treatment goals that optimize health outcomes. The CDCES is owned and managed by the CBDCE. Visit www.cbdce.org for more information.

You do not need to be a certified diabetes care and education specialist to sit for the BC-ADM exam.

Applications are accepted on a continual basis. The examination is offered during one‐month windows following the application’s approval. Please note that your application must be completed at least 30 days prior to the opening of the testing window. Late applications are accepted up to 15 days prior to the opening of the testing window for an additional fee of $50.

Deadlines – Candidates are strongly encouraged to complete their applications at least 60 days prior to their desired testing date. There are two testing windows per year – June and December.

If a candidate misses the deadline, their application is credited toward the next window.

Examination results will be mailed within 6 – 8 weeks from the close of the testing window. The exam in offered in June and December and the close of the testing window is the first day of the following month. In other words, the June test window closes on July 1st and the December test window closes on January 1st. Examination results will be released only in writing by mail, not by telephone or fax. In the case of an eligibility audit, examination scores will be held until the audit is complete. ADCES audits 10% of candidates after each test window. Audits time frames are dependent to the candidate’s response time.

Candidate eligibility will be valid for two consecutive testing windows, and candidates will be permitted one testing attempt per window.

Individuals who miss the scheduling deadline, or do not pass the certification examination may retest in the next testing window.

Candidates may not take the examination more than two times in any 12‐month period. Candidates who need to retest will receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS) 45 days before the next testing window.

During the scheduling process, candidates will be prompted to pay the retake fee ($220 for ADCES members and $340 for nonmembers). Candidates will not be officially scheduled for their retake exam until the retake fee has been paid at the end of the scheduling process.

Scantron offers help to our candidates and can be reached by emailing candidatesupport@scantron.com or simply by calling (919) 572-6880. If you have further questions, please email ADCES at bcadm@adces.org

The BC‐ADM skillfully manages complex patient needs and assists patients with therapeutic problem‐solving. Within their discipline's scope of practice, healthcare professionals who hold the BC‐ADM certification adjust medications, treat and monitor acute and chronic complications and other comorbidities, counsel patients on lifestyle modifications, address psychosocial issues, and participate in research and mentoring.

Renewal candidate must have a minimum of 1000 practice hours related to your role as an advanced diabetes manager and must be completed within the 5 years preceding the postmark on your renewal application submission.

Faculty can use hours of direct clinical supervision of students for clinical practice. The direct clinical supervision must be in the certification specialty.

You will be asked, on the application, to provide the Institution, Supervisor, Start/End date and Clinical practice hours for the 1000 total clinical hours you are reporting. Only candidates selected for audit will be asked to provide supporting documentation to verify the information provided in the application.

Licensure is frequently confused with certification or credentialing. The meanings of the terms are often interchanged. Licensure is signifies governmental authority to practice a profession, the difference between licensure and certification is essentially the difference between governmental regulation and self-regulation of a profession. Certification does not change your scope of practice and can come from different organizations. Licensure comes from a governmental authority.

BC-ADM: The BC-ADM certification validates a healthcare professional's specialized knowledge and expertise in the management of people with diabetes. Practicing within their discipline's scope of practice, healthcare professionals who hold the BC-ADM certification credential adjust medications, treat & monitor acute and chronic complications, provide medical nutrition therapy, help patients plan exercise regimens, counsel patients to manage behaviors and psychosocial issues, participate in research and mentor. The depth of knowledge and competence in advanced clinical practice and diabetes skills affords an increased complexity of decision making which contributes to better patient care.

CDCES: A Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist® (CDCES®) is a health professional who possesses comprehensive knowledge of and experience in prediabetes, diabetes prevention, and management. The CDCES® educates and supports people affected by diabetes to understand and manage the condition. A CDCES® promotes self-management to achieve individualized behavioral and treatment goals that optimize health outcomes. The CDCES is owned and managed by the CBDCE. Visit www.cbdce.org for more information.

You do not need to be a certified diabetes care and education specialist to sit for the BC-ADM exam.

Yes, if your certification is no more than 90 days expired. Scantron does charge a late fee of $50.00. In addition Scantron will send a request for approval to ADCES. After 90 days the candidate will need to reapply for the exam and meet all the criteria as a new candidate.

Scantron offers help to our candidates and can be reached by emailing candidatesupport@scantron.com or simply by calling (919) 572-6880. If you have further questions, please email ADCES at bcadm@adces.org

To retrieve your password click on "Returning Candidate (You’ve lost your password)" where you can recover your password.

If you have completed the renewal requirements when you start the application, the system will allow you to complete the renewal application earlier than your expiration time. Keep in mind that applications can be open for only 90 days. If not completed, the application will not be accepted and you will have to re-submit the application. 

For example, if your BC-ADM certification expires 12/31/2021, and you have completed all the renewal requirements stated in the BC-ADM handbook such as 1000 practice hours, etc. you can renew any time in 2021. The new certificate will be valid starting 12/31/2021 even if you complete the renewal early.

We advise candidates to apply up to 6 months in advance of their credential expiration and minimum of 30 days in advance, if possible.

Please update your contact information in the BC-ADM profile in Scantron database by contacting Scantron Customer Service's main support number: (919) 572-6880. 

Also, you will need to update your ADCES profile on the ADCES website.

Non-ADCES members can receive substantial savings by becoming an ADCES member. This will enable them to take advantage of savings on BC-ADM recertification fees ($500.00 for ADCES members versus $800.00 for non-ADCES members). Membership will enable you to access the ADCES Connect online community and connect with other diabetes care and education specialists and professional resources available only to members. Find out about the many membership benefits ADCES has to offer you.

The new Board Certified-Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM) Practice Discussion Group is now available on ADCES CONNECT (login required). All ADCES members are encouraged to participate in discussions related to the BC-ADM. The following tools can be used to help navigate the site:

• How to Subscribe to Forums
• How to Manage Your Subscriptions

The BC-ADM Practice Discussion Group online currently has blog articles posted that cover a wide spectrum of BC-ADM related topics from “How to prepare for the BC-ADM exam”, to advanced diabetes management topics.

For example, John Doe’s current cycle is from 12/31/2021 through 12/31/2026 ends. John decided to be proactive and complete the renewal process early, and not leave it to last minute. For example, John’s next/new cycle starts 12/31/2021 through 12/31/2026.

Interpretation: If John submits his completed application early months of 2026, such as 3/31/2026, John may include CE up to five-years prior – track CE’s back up to 3/31/2021. That said, John could not count the CE’s if they were reported in the previous five-year cycle (cannot “double dip” the CE’s). Thus, the CE must be completed within this timeframe.

A candidate may submit double the hours reported in the same category for categories 1-5. Category 6 Professional service cannot be doubled. For example:

Category 1 - Continuing Education Hours:         
75 hours
+
Category 1 - Continuing Education Hours:
75 hours
=
150 hours