Certificate Vs. Certification

Program participants should be aware of the difference between certificate programming and certification. The following definitions are offered:

Certificate Program is a structured and systematic post-graduate continuing educational experience for pharmacists. They are generally smaller in magnitude and shorter in time than degree programs, and they impart knowledge, skills, attitudes and performance behaviors designed to meet specific pharmacy practice objectives. In comparison to other forms of continuing pharmaceutical education, Certificate Programs in Pharmacy are designed to instill, expand, or enhance practice competencies through the systematic acquisition of specified knowledge, skills, attitudes, and performance behaviors. A certificate of completion for such a program does not "certify" competence to practice in that designated field of practice.

Certification is intended to grant formal recognition to the certified individual as having met predetermined qualifications and to signify to the public that the certified individual is competent to practice in the designated area of certification. In its usual use in the health professions, certification is reserved for areas of practice designated by professional specialties. In pharmacy, the only organization employed to certify specialists in pharmacy is the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties of the American Pharmaceutical Association.

The program we are conducting is a certificate program. It does not certify you as a diabetes educator (CDE). However, it will provide you with knowledge and skills to better perform pharmaceutical care and can be used as preparation for the CDE examination. To become a CDE, however, you must take and pass a national examination conducted by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. To qualify for the examination, the AADE requires documentation of patient care/contact hours. We will address this issue during the program.