Types of Dietetic Internships
What are the different types of internships (supervised practice) I can apply to?
Dietetic Internships (DI)
To apply to a DI, individuals must complete at least a bachelor's degree and ACEND-accredited coursework requirements (Didactic Program in Nutrition & Dietetics). Currently all DIs must provide at least 1200 hours of supervised practice. This is usually completed in 8-24 months depending on the availability of a part-time schedule or requirement of graduate credit. Individuals completing the program, who are verified by the program director, are eligible to take the RDN Exam.
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Stand-Alone DIs: are typically 8-12 months and can be at a university medical center, a university with contracts with local hospitals and sites, or a business with contracts with local hospitals and sites.
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Combined DI & Master's Degree: are typically 18-24 months and graduate courses are taken along with supervised practice.
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Distance DIs: can be any of the above but interns typically complete their supervised practice in their own area with the DI being based elsewhere. Most programs require applicants to find their own preceptors. A few programs place interns in their own sites.
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Individualized Supervised Practice Programs (ISPP): are typically 8-12 months and are only available if an applicant doesn't match with a DI program.
Appointments to DIs are awarded on a competitive basis and most use the national computer matching process. Some programs not participating in computer matching accept applications only from individuals employed by the sponsoring organization.
Prospective applicants should review program websites for the most up-to-date information, including application deadline dates.
Coordinated Programs in Dietetics (CP)
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CPs must provide the required dietetics coursework and at least 1200 hours of supervised practice within an academic program leading to a bachelor's or graduate degree.
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Successful graduates of Coordinated Programs, who are verified by the program director, are eligible to take the RDN exam.
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Prospective applicants should review program websites for the most up-to-date information, including application deadline dates.
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Who should consider a CP?
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Applicants who don't have an undergraduate degree from an accredited Didactic Program in Nutrition & Dietetics (DPD verification)
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Applicants who desire a graduate degree
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Most CPs accept DPD graduates
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Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways (ISPP)
ISPPs were developed, along with preceptor recruiting efforts, to give applicants more options for educational experiences that will make them eligible to take the CDR Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credentialing examination.
Who can apply to ISPPs?
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Graduates who did not match to a dietetic internship, but who possess a DPD verification statement,
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Individuals holding a doctoral degree without a DPD verification statement
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Doctoral degree holders must attend an ISPP that is approved to offer a track for individuals with a doctoral degree.
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ISPPs are offered by Dietetic Internships, Coordinated Programs, or Didactic Programs. Eligibility requirements and options may vary by program.
Applicants interested in applying to an ISPP should research the eligibility requirements of each program before applying.
Future Education Model Graduate Programs (FEMGPs)
All FEMGPs are offered at the graduate level and provide the required nutrition and dietetics coursework and supervised experiential learning to meet the competency requirements to be eligible to become a RDN. Programs are typically 18-24 months. Individuals completing the program, who are verified by the program director, are eligible to take the RDN Exam.