The Dietetic Internship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education and Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and has an emphasis on “Nutrition Throughout The Life Cycle.” The Dietetic Internship provides a wide variety of experiences in clinical nutrition, community nutrition and food service management in a variety of settings. The program requires registration for 15 graduate credits in Supervised Practice in Medical Nutrition Management via FN-865. Individuals completing the program who are verified by the program director are eligible to write the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) registration examination for dietitians.
The general goals of the Dietetic Internship are to:
1. Prepare graduates to be highly qualified entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists who can practice in a variety of settings.
2. Prepare Registered Dietitian Nutritionists with knowledge and skills in “Nutrition Throughout the Lifecycle”
Interns will complete a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised practice to include rotations in:
• Clinical Nutrition
• Food Service Management
• Community and Public Health
• Choice location and emphasis area
Please note: Internship participation is the equivalent of a full-time job and dietetic interns should not plan to cover expenses with paid employment during this time frame.
Admission
Admission requirements include a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited didactic program in dietetics. Acceptance to the DI is awarded on a competitive basis and uses a national computer matching process.
Primary Evaluation Processes
The primary processes used to evaluate interns are Preceptor and Director evaluations, grades on assignments, seminar presentations, and case studies, and an e-portfolio evaluation. Upon completion of the internship, candidates will receive a verification statement signifying they are eligible to sit for the national registration exam for dietitians.
Requirements
The requirements for this certification include: (a) completion of 15 semester credits through enrollment in FN 865 Supervised Practice in Medical Nutrition Management, which include attendance at monthly seminar (b) completion of a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised practice with satisfactory Director and Preceptor evaluations. Interns are responsible for arranging their own rotations to meet the 1000 hours of supervised practice (c) completion and approval of a comprehensive self-evaluation. While enrolled in the Dietetic Internship, interns are responsible for their own reliable transportation and housing costs and attending a dietetic-related professional conference of their choice. Prior to participating, interns are responsible for obtaining and providing proof of 1) health and professional liability insurance, 2) completion of a background check, 3) a physical exam conducted with a licensed healthcare professional, and 4) required immunizations.
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