About

Eligibility

  • Currently be employed by VA, MD or DC WIC VA Job Seekers | MD Job Seekers
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  • VA WIC requires 12 months of employment prior to application to the internship
  • MD WIC requires 12 months of employment prior to application to the internship
  • Requires the applicant to have earned a Graduate Degree and have completed all academic requirements of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
  • Requires Dietetic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Verification statement from ACEND accredited program
  • Virginia/Maryland/DC WIC internship does not participate in the “match” program

Internship

  • One internship class per year, 8 internship slots per class
  • Internship begins in October and ends in August the following year, consisting of 1000 hours of supervised practice
  • 42 weeks (9.5 months)
  • Two full time rotations: Clinical and Foodservice
  • Various part time community rotations, the remaining part time status will be working at your local WIC agency.
  • Full time VDH interns granted educational leave to participate in the program.
  • Full time VA and MD interns receive full salary and benefits during the internship
  • Being granted educational leave requires the VA/MD/DC Dietetic Internship graduate to:
    • Take the RD exam within 6 months of program completion
    • Pass the RD exam within 12 months of program completion
    • Internship graduates must continue employment upon successful completion of the RD exam. VA graduates must work 18 months full time, MD graduates must work 24 months full time
  • Interns complete rotations within their community or geographic region of Virginia or Maryland. However, interns will be expected to travel outside their regions to available rotations when necessary.
  • Internship Orientation is held in Richmond, VA

Estimate Costs to the Intern

Prior to/During the Internship:

Liability Insurance (Mandatory): up to $100
Resource Fee*:  $6550
Student Membership in AND: $65
Lab coat/uniforms as required: $50
Transportation/lodging: $600-$1400
Misc. such as fee for drug screen evaluation: $20-$50
RD Exam review course (optional):  $300-$450

Upon Completion of Internship:

Registration Exam Fee:  $200

Upon Passing the Registration Exam:

Annual Registration: $70
Licensure Fee (Maryland only):  $300
Dietetic Practice Group Fee (optional):  varies by group
Membership in AND (optional):  $285

*Resource Fee:  The internship program applies for an operational adjustment (OA) grant each year from USDA to cover the resource fee.  If the program does not receive the grant, each intern will be responsible for paying the resource fee (which can be paid in three installments).  Please contact the Internship Director regarding questions about the status of the grant.

Outcomes Data

Outcome data relating to intern graduation, exam results, and employment post-internship are available on request. Requests should be directed to the Internship Director and may take up to 30 days to be processed.

Prospective Interns

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR’s Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR’s website. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship at the VA/MD WIC Dietetic Internship Program are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN once a master’s degree is obtained.

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice (Virginia does not require licensure). For more information about state licensure requirements click here.

For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN click here.