Their quality of life will depend on how they take care of their disease. That's the message we try to get across. A licensed dietitian, a pharmacist, a physician, a podiatrist, or a physical or occupational therapist can become a diabetes educator. There are guidelines you need to follow before you're allowed to take the certification exam, which is repeated every five years. For the first time, you have to be practicing in direct diabetes and self-management education in a hospital or clinic for two years or at least 1,000 hours.
Every hospital is different.
Because of my certification and community involvement, I was able to be a level-four nurse, which, at the time, was as high as you can go without being a manager. I know of another hospital where, if you're certified, they start you out at master's degree pay. Every hospital is a little different. They don't pay for your certification, but once you have it, you can go places with it. I love to be able to talk with them for a few minutes, get to know where they're coming from and what their fears and concerns are, so I can focus in on their lives and individualize my message to the patient.