Content

• Steps
• Warnings

The diabetic educator specializes in the treatment and education of diabetic patients in clinics or hospitals with an endocrinology department. Thus, as a dialer, you have a responsibility to help patients control blood sugar levels, teach insulin delivery, and advise on healthy foods. In addition, you carry out routine duties such as doing medical exams, checking vital signs, and explaining treatment options. Diabetes educators are usually nurses, nutritionists, or pharmacists, although there are several other medical professionals who can replace a certified dialectic educator.

Steps

1. 1 Get a nursing degree. You have 3 options.
   • You can complete an Associate Medical Specialist (MMS) course. The MMS program takes approximately 2 years and is available at the secondary and community college. Classes usually include nursing with some electives.
   • A nursing diploma will require about 3 years of study to complete a higher education. The diploma is available in hospitals.
   • The Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSO) is the third option. BSO will take approximately 4 years and is available at colleges and universities. You generally complete the required care, electives, and general education courses.
2. 2 Take the exam in front of members of the National Council of Medical Examiners (NSME).
   • Although the specific licensing requirements vary by state, you must have a diploma from an accredited nursing program to take this exam.
3. 3 Get a nursing experience.
   • Work in a hospital or clinic. Your first job as a nurse may not include caring for diabetes patients.
4. 4 Strive for nursing diabetes management. Work allows you to provide assistance to patients who are able to cope with their condition.
   • Look for a job as a dialer
5. 5 Get a certificate. A dialeducator does not need to be certified to work. However, certification can enhance your job opportunities.
   • Meet the certification requirements. The National Board of Certification for Diabetes Teachers (NCCDS) offers certification.
   • You must have approximately 2 years of experience in diabetes care.
   • Spend at least 1000 hours of work as a diabetes educator in a healthcare environment. In addition, you must work more than 32 hours a week educating patients about diabetes.
6. 6 Pass the NSSDU exam.
7. 7 Register for the exam. You must pay the registration fee.
8. 8 Take the exam. You will have about 4 hours for the test, which consists of 200 questions.

Warnings

• NSSD allows people from other medical professions such as doctors, nutritionists, pharmacists and orthopedists to become certified nurse educators. However, if you are in a different field, you must follow the same dialeducator requirements as registered nurses.Therefore, you must have a valid license in your field of activity, complete a full diabetic education course, and have at least 1000 hours of practice in diabetes care.
• NSSDU requires participation in 15 hour seminars or more over 2 years, which you plan to spend obtaining a certificate.
• If you choose to receive the NSSDU certification, you are required to re-certify and continue to receive diabetic education every 5 years.