Certified diabetes expert nurse and nurse educators in Japan

The Japanese Certification Board for Diabetes Educator (JCBDE) was inaugurated on 29 February 2000 through the collaboration of the Japan Diabetes Society, Japan Society of Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition, and Japan Academy of Diabetes Education and Nursing. Certified Diabetes Educator of Japan (CDEJ) is a qualification awarded to a nurse, dietitian, pharmacist, clinical laboratory technician, or physiotherapist possessing wide specialist knowledge on diabetes. CDEJ have passed the required examinations and approved by the board. CDEJ have worked continuously for at least 2 years in medical institutions, and have engaged in duties related to education of diabetic patients for at least 1000 h. In Japan, a qualification similar to certified diabetes educator is the "Certified Expert Nurse (CEN) in diabetic nursing". A certified expert nurse is a qualification awarded by the Japanese Nursing Association. Nurses who have received 6 months training in an accredited training institution and passed certification examinations after graduating from the training are awarded the qualification of CEN. CEN have at least 5 years of practical nursing experience and at least 3 years experience in diabetic nursing. There are already 11,778 certified diabetes educators, 5753 of whom are nurses, and 87 certified expert nurses in Japan.