Page 52 - CP D2.2.book

Dietetic Internships

To become a registered dietitian, you
must graduate from an accredited
program and participate in a Dietetic
Internship (DI), generally lasting from
8 months to two years after gradua-
tion. A DI requires 1200 hours in multiple areas of dietetic practice
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including clinical, community, and food service rotations. There are
many different options for completing a dietetic internship, includ-
ing part-time, full-time, distance programs with local rotations, com-
For Evaluation Only
pleting a graduate degree at the same time, or do an individualized
supervised practice. Internships may focus on different aspects of
the dietetic field, from general practice, to specialties in research,
wellness, sports nutrition, and clinical practice.

A DI is required to become a dietitian, and it is a very competitive
process. Twice a year, an electronic matching system connects stu-
dent applicants to available dietetic internship openings. In 2013
5,444 dietetic students applied for internships, with around 2,900
available spots. That is approximately a 50% match rate. It may take
a student several tries to get an internship match.

Start planning ahead for your DI at the beginning of your education.
Most internships require a minimum GPA of 3.0, so your academic
record is critical. You are also expected to show through your other
experiences just why you are the right match for a specific intern-
ship experience. Volunteer experiences, projects, presentations,
articles, letters of recommendation and your application letter are
critical to being chosen. You will use your career portfolio to docu-
ment and track all your experiences.

Gain Experience

With only 50% of new graduates getting a dietetic internship, you
should have other options available after graduation. Identify jobs

Step1: Know Your Skills & Plan Your Career 29