Dietetic Internship

Virginia, Maryland, DC dietetic internship logo

The VA/MD/DC WIC Dietetic Internship is a fully accredited program whose mission is to offer a supervised experience program based on the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics Standards of Education and entry level program requirements which will produce highly competent community based registered dietitians who can work effectively in the changing healthcare environment.

The goals of the program are to prepare graduates to be competent entry level practitioners in the field of dietetics and to produce graduates who continue their careers within the Virginia, Maryland or Washington D.C. Community Nutrition field. Objectives of the program include:

  • At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 14.25 months (150% of planned program length
  • Of graduates who seek employment, at least 95% percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
  • At least 95% percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
  • The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
  • 95% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.

The program seeks to accomplish these goals through comprehensive education and preparation so that interns are able to successfully pass the CDR credentialing exam immediately after graduation and to provide interns ample and broad experience in the complex field of Community Nutrition in that they are capable and eager to continue their nutrition careers in the field of community nutrition.

  •  9.5 month part time internship
  •  Community Concentration Program
  •  1000 hours of Supervised Practice Hours
  •  Application Deadline June 15

Projected Schedule for 2023/2024 Class

Start Date: October 23, 2023

Week 1: (Oct 23-27): Orientation (40 hours)
Week 2-6: Foodservice Rotation (5 weeks at 40 hours/week)
Week 7-16: Public Health Rotation (10 weeks at 20 hours/week)
Week 17-25: Clinical Rotation (9 weeks at 40 hours/week)
Week 26-40: Public Health Rotation (15 weeks at 20 hours/week)
Week 41: Capstone, Exam Prep, Final Review, Finish all requirements for program completion.
Week 42: Graduation; Richmond, VA (8/9/2024)

Projected Schedule for 2024/205 Class

Week 1: (Oct 21-25): Orientation (40 hours)
Week 2-6: Foodservice Rotation (5 weeks at 40 hours/week)
Week 7-16: Public Health Rotation (10 weeks at 20 hours/week)
Week 17-25: Clinical Rotation (9 weeks at 40 hours/week)
Week 26-40: Public Health Rotation (15 weeks at 20 hours/week)
Week 41: Capstone, Exam Prep, Final Review, Finish all requirements for program completion.
Week 42: Graduation; Richmond, VA (8/8/2025)

Summary of Hours in Rotations

  • 440 hours in Public Health
  • 200 hours in Foodservice Systems Management
  • 360 hours in Clinical Nutrition

Interns accrue 1000 hours in supervised practice over 42 weeks.

The VA/MD/DC WIC Dietetic Internship is accredited as a Dietetic Internship (DI) through the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). For more information on accreditation, contact ACEND:

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995

Phone: 800/877-1600, ext. 5400
Fax: 312/899-4817
E-mail: ACEND@eatright.org
Web: www.eatrightpro.org/acend