Credentialling by health professional organisations is primarily a process used to verify the qualifications and experience of health professionals to determine their ability to provide safe, high quality health care services. Credentialling has the potential to improve safety for consumers of health services by ensuring clinicians practice within the bounds of their training and competency, and engage in planned continuing professional education. It also enables recognition of advanced training and practice capacity. Health professional associations use 'credentialling' in different ways to address recognition issues related to an extension of the health professionals primary qualification. In 1986 the Australian Diabetes Educators Association commenced a national credentialling program for its members as a way of recognising those diabetes educators who had developed an advanced level of knowledge, skill and competency. The program at that time was based on the diabetes educator being able to demonstrate training and experience in diabetes education. Re-credentialling was based on demonstrating continuing professional development in various areas over a three-year cycle. In 2001, the program underwent a significant review. This review resulted in the applicant being required to complete a Post Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education, 1800 hours of diabetes education practice and a portfolio of continuing professional education in the year proceeding the application. In 2008, a mentoring program was added to the credentialing process. Mentoring aimed to further build rigor related in competency. An applicant now needs to be part of a mentoring relationship with a credentialed diabetes educator for a period of not less than 6 months. Re-credentialling remains on a 3 year cycle and continues to be based on demonstrating continuing professional education and professional contribution.