The CORE Concepts^® Course is a high-quality, convenient program to sharpen your skills as a diabetes care and education specialist. Learn online in a collaborative group of like-minded professionals in this 9-week self-paced session.

You will learn the essentials of DSME with:

• Interactive online lessons
• Collaborative case study sessions
• Expert faculty support
• Group discussion boards
• Quizzes
• Integrated textbook readings

NEW FEATURE: This session will include access to weekly Monday-evening webcast discussions. Our experienced faculty will walk you through realistic case studies — with a chance to bounce around ideas, ask questions, and understand the how and why for managing each case. Participants will also have an opportunity to ask questions in a traditional office-hours format. Participation is strongly encouraged but will also be recorded in case you miss it.

Many of our learners have found the CORE Concepts Online Course to be a great way to help prepare for the CDCES credentialling exam.

Key goals of the ADCES Online CORE Concepts Course are to:

• Increase your knowledge of the diabetes disease state
• Sharpen your clinical management skills
• Highlight self-management education techniques and tools
• Assure successful outcomes to the ADCES7 Self-Care Behaviors^®

This 9-week online course is recommended for health care professionals who have at least 2 years' experience in diabetes care and education and who know that online learning is a suitable fit with your learning style.

Please note that diabetes care and education specialists should always adhere to their clinical scope of practice when providing patient care and DSMES. Participants, with the assistance of course facilitators, will explore the scientific basis for diabetes education and care, while artfully applying concepts to patient situations, through case studies and online discussion.

Continuing Education Credit: 30 hours CE 

Required Textbook

This course is an in-depth review of the concepts of diabetes self-management education. The Art and Science of Diabetes Care and Education is mandatory reading for this course. It is NOT included with course registration. If you currently do not have this book, please purchase the textbook separately.

The textbook is available for purchase in both printed and eBook formats.

Intended Audience

This learning is designed for diabetes care and education specialists, including nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, physicians, PAs, and other health care providers interested in staying up to date on current practices of care for people with diabetes and other related conditions.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Apply ADA Standards of Care to provide evidence-based care in education for people with diabetes (type1, type 2, and GDM) and for diabetes prevention.
• Utilize the ADCES7 framework to assess self-care behaviors to develop an individualized care and education plan for a person with diabetes as they transition through the lifecycle.
• Explain ways to advocate for individuals with diabetes by supporting initiatives and resources that improve access to care and education for diverse populations.
  

Nine modules will be covered over the 9-week period:

• Module 1: Disease Process and Approach to Treatment
• Module 2: Effective Interviewing, Coping, Prevention
• Module 3: Healthy Eating
• Module 4: Insulin, Diabetes in Children, and More
• Module 5: Risk reduction behaviors | Reducing risks for acute complications
• Module 6: Oral Medications | Being Active
• Module 7: Chronic Complications and Coexisting Conditions
• Module 8: Monitoring and Problem Solving
• Module 9: Advocacy and Care Delivery

Activity Type

This is an application-based learning activity.

2025 Dates

Session space is limited. Dates are subject to change.
Winter: January 22 - April 1, 2026
Spring: Dates TBA
Summer: Dates TBA
Fall: Dates TBA

How It Works

• You are required to purchase or currently have access to the textbook The Art and Science of Diabetes Care and Education, 6th edition.
• The nine-week course will include learning modules and readings, plus a final exam after the modules are completed. The modules include readings, online activities, and discussion board interactions based on case studies.
• Optional, live Zoom meetings will be held on select Mondays. Short case studies will be discussed, and learners can ask questions around the course content. Live sessions are 45 minutes long, starting at 5:15pm PT, 6:15pm MT, 7:15pm CT, 8:15pm ET.
• Registrants will receive course access one to two days before the official start of the session.
• Learners can expect to devote about 3-4 hours a week to complete all material.
• Each session will have small groups for discussion with other participants and experienced facilitators. Communication will occur within the online discussion boards (communication forums).
• Learners can work on the course at their own convenience. However, to ensure active discussions, discussion participation for each module must be completed within the one-week time frame designated for that module in the course syllabus.
• The final exam period will be the last week of the course session.
• Course is pass/fail.
  • Each participant will be expected to post a minimum of 3-4 messages on the discussion boards for each module.
  • Final exam must be passed with a minimum of 70% to pass. Three attempts are allowed.
  • Certificate of credit issued upon successful completion of the course and passing the Final Exam.
• We recommend that you stay on track with the syllabus each week, so you don't fall behind (e.g., you can work for one hour and then log off and come back three days later and work for another hour or two).

Joint Providership

None

Faculty

Amy Hertz, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES

Amy Hertz is a registered dietitian and CDCES who has been working solely in the diabetes field since 2009. Her professional priorities include working collaboratively to provide person-centered diabetes care and education, and introducing diabetes technology to improve quality of life for individuals with diabetes. She has facilitated the CORE Concepts course for the past five years, and she also teaches students at the undergraduate level.

David Miller, RN, BSN, MSEd, CDCES, FADCES

David Miller's professional experience includes inpatient educator, outpatient Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) program quality manager, Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) facilitator, and clinical trainer for insulin pump technology. David is committed to approaching diabetes education as most effective when it meets patients at their current level of understanding and readiness. He has authored various articles and book chapters, and is co-editor of The Art and Science of Diabetes Care and Education.

Evan M. Sisson, PharmD, MSHA, BCACP, CDCES, FADCES

Evan Sisson is a professor at VCU School of Pharmacy where he teaches interprofessional students in an NP/PharmD Complex Diabetes clinic. Dr. Sisson is a Master Trainer Select and has trained over 500 Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle coaches since 2019. He is a past member of the ADCES Board of Directors and a regular contributor to ADCES publications including: ADCES’s Quick Guide to Medications, and ADCES's Review Guide for the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist Exam.

Financial Support

None

Technical Requirements

•  It is recommended that you have a high-speed broadband (or better) internet connection.
•  Please be sure you close as many other open programs on your system as possible and have disabled your pop-up blocker.
•  We recommend using a desktop or laptop computer, however, many mobile devices also successfully access the course.
•  JavaScript must be enabled.

Compatible Browsers:
•  Windows: Microsoft Edge* (latest version), Google Chrome (latest version), Firefox (latest version)
•  Mac: Safari (latest version), Google Chrome (latest version), Firefox (latest version)
•  Mobile: Safari in Apple iOS/iPadOS (latest version), Google Chrome (latest version) in Apple iOS/iPadOS (latest version), Google Chrome (latest version) in Android OS 6 or later

Faculty Disclosures

In accordance with Joint Accreditation criteria and the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) must ensure that anyone in a position to control the content of the educational activity (planners and speakers/authors/discussants/moderators) has disclosed all relevant financial relationships with any ineligible companies for the past 24 months.

Joint Accreditation/ACCME also requires that ADCES mitigate any reported conflict and eliminate the potential for bias during the educational activity. The disclosure information is intended to identify any ineligible relationships and allow learners to form their own judgments. However, if you perceive a bias during an activity, please report it on the evaluation.

Relevant disclosures (or lack thereof) among educational activity planners and faculty are as follows:

Facilitators:
Amy Hertz, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES – No conflicts of interest
David Miller, RN, BSN, MSEd, CDCES, FADCES – Consults with Tandem as an insulin pump trainer
Evan Sisson, PharmD, MSHA, BCACP, CDCES, FADCES – No conflicts of interest

Planners:
Jodi Lavin-Tompkins, MSN, RN, CDCES, BC-ADM – No conflicts of interest
Natalie J. Bellini, DNP, FNP-BC, BC-ADM, CDCES – No conflicts of interest
Amy Carter, MA, RDN, LD, CDCES – No conflicts of interest
Amy Hertz, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES – No conflicts of interest
David Miller, RN, BSN, MSEd, CDCES, FADCES – Consults with Tandem as an insulin pump trainer
Dr. Nathan A. Painter, PharmD, FADCES, CDCES – No conflicts of interest
Evan Sisson, PharmD, MSHA, BCACP, CDCES, FADCES – No conflicts of interest
Anne Willmore, MEd – No conflicts of interest

Disclosure and Mitigation of Relevant Conflicts of Interest

All identified relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated.

The approval of this educational offering by the ADCES does not imply endorsement of specific therapies, treatments, or products discussed in the presentations.

Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

	Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) The Universal Activity Number is [TBA]. This knowledge-based activity has been approved for 30 contact hour(s). This statement contains information provided to NABP from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) via CPE Monitor®. ACPE policy states paper and/or electronic statements of credit may no longer be distributed directly to learners as proof of ACPE credit. The official record of credit may be located in the learner’s e-profile in CPE Monitor.
	American Medical Association (AMA) Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists designates this activity for a maximum of 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
	American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists designates this activity for a maximum of 30 ANCC contact hour(s). This activity discusses 2.75 contact hour(s) of pharmacotherapeutic content. The Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 10977, for 30 contact hour(s).
	American Academy of PAs (AAPA) The Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 30 AAPA Category 1 CME credit(s). PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive 30 Continuing Professional Education unit(s) (CPEU) for completion of this activity. Completion of this RD/DTR profession-specific or IPCE activity awards CPEUs (One IPCE credit = One CPEU). If the activity is dietetics-related but not targeted to RDs or DTRs, CPEUs may be claimed which are commensurate with participation in contact hours (One 60 minute hour = 1 CPEU. RDs and DTRs are to select activity type 102 in their Activity Log. Sphere and Competency selection is at the learner’s discretion.

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 30 continuing education credits.

Successful Completion

To receive a Statement of Credit you must participate in the full activity and complete an evaluation.

Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists

To satisfy the requirements for renewal of certification for the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE), continuing education activities must be diabetes related and approved by a provider on the CBDCE list of Approved Providers (www.cbdce.org). CBDCE does not approve continuing education. The Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists is on the CBDCE list of Approved Providers.

Board Certified Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM)

CBDCE is the administering body for the Advanced Diabetes Management credentials. Continuing education programs offered by ADCES can be used toward fulfilling BC-ADM Certification and recertification requirements.

Other Health Professionals

It is the responsibility of each participant to determine if the program meets the criteria for re-licensure or recertification for their discipline.

Pricing

Member price: $505.00
Nonmember price: $695.00

Not an ADCES member? Join today to get discounted member pricing on all events and products!

Before purchasing this course, please click on the above tabs and closely read the requirements to have a full understanding of what the 9-week course entails.

This course is an in-depth review of the concepts of diabetes self-management education. The Art and Science of Diabetes Care and Education is mandatory reading for this course. It is NOT included with course registration. If you currently do not have this book, please purchase the textbook separately.

The textbook is available for purchase in both printed and eBook formats.

Refund Policy

Rescheduling (postponing the use of paid registration to a future occurrence of the same program) is subject to availability and can only be requested one time before an administrative fee ($100) will be charged.

Requests must be received in writing (to ADCES Member Services - [email protected]) within 8 business days prior to the first day of the session. Requests received after this time may not be accepted, nor a refund provided.