Dietetic Internship Program

About the Program
The Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology offers a graduate Dietetics Internship (DI) program. The dietetics internship can be completed with the M.S. in Exercise Physiology (sports nutrition major) or M.S. in Nutrition and Food Science. Specializations are available in either clinical nutrition or sports nutrition, depending on the degree which is sought.
Successfully completing an accredited dietetics internship is required in order to take the examination for the Registered Dietitian (RD) credential with the Commission for Dietetics Registration.
To become a Registered Dietitian (RD)
For a student to become a credentialed RD, they must:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree with coursework or satisfactorily complete a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
- Complete an ACEND accredited post-baccalaureate dietetic internship (DI).
- Pass the national registration examination for dietitians.
A license to practice dietetics in the State of Florida is required by law and is regulated by the Division of Medical Quality Assurance of the Florida State Department of Health.
Admission Requirements
- Applicants must have completed or been in the process of completing an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).
- Applicants must be accepted into one of the MS programs in the department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences at Florida State University – you can apply through the FSU Admissions website.
- Additional information about the application process for the dietetics internship can be found on the page for prospective dietetic internship students.
Withdrawal from Program
For withdrawal and refund of tuition and fees information, please refer to the FSU policy: https://financialaid.fsu.edu/resources/financial-aid-processes/title-iv-withdrawal
Mission Statement
The mission of the Florida State University’s Internship in Dietetics which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) is to provide a post-baccalaureate route for students to complete the experiential requirements needed to write the national registry examination for certification as registered dietitians (RD’s). The program is designed for the preparation of entry-level registered dietitians through supervised practice in medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition and food service systems management to enhance their understanding of, and ability to apply principles of nutrition science and dietetics beyond the baccalaureate or DPD level.
The mission of the Internship in Dietetics is consistent with the mission of the University, which is to serve as a center for advanced graduate and professional studies. It is also consistent with the mission of the College of Human Sciences and the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences which is to enhance the well being of individuals and families through educational activities focused on research, health, the environment and technology. The philosophy of the program is to prepare graduate students who desire advanced academic and professional training to meet the need for registered dietitians, and to become professionals who can seek innovative solutions to the challenges of contemporary society.
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: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree.
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 MS-DI program at FSU are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.
Dietetics Internship Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: Graduates will become successful, competent registered dietitians in a timely manner.
- Objective 1: 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 registered dietitian nutritionists is least 80%.
- Objective 2: At least 90% of employers/supervisors who responded to the survey will express satisfaction with the performance of the FSU DI program graduates.
- Objective 3: At least 80% of program dietetics interns complete the program/degree requirements within thirty-six months (150% of the program length).
- Objective 4: At least 80% of the program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for registered dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of the program completion.
- Objective 5: At least 80% of program dietetics interns will agree that their dietetic internship experiences provided opportunities to practice core competencies expected of the entry level registered dietitian
Goal 2: Graduates will advance the dietetics profession through professional participation.
- Objective 1: Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
- Objective 2: Of graduates in the dietetics profession, at least 80% will participate in a professional organization at the local, state, or national level.
Outcome data available upon request.
Accreditation
The Florida State University DI Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
1-800-877-1600 (ext. 5500)
(website)
Lisa Trone, DHSc, RDN, LDN
Director, Dietetic Internship