Dietetic Internship Program

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Dietetic Internship Program is a nine-month program that runs from September through May and accepts two students per year.

Mission

The mission of the Dietetic Internship Program is to educate and prepare future nutrition professionals to apply innovative approaches that improve the quality of school meals and impact the current and long-term nutritional status of children.

Goals and Objectives

• The program will prepare graduates to be competent for entry-level positions as registered dietitian nutritionists.
  • After completion of the registration exam for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, at least 75% of students report being prepared for the exam.
  • At least 80% of program interns complete program/degree requirements within 12.5 months (150% of planned program length).
  • Of graduates who seek employment, at least 70% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
  • At least 75% 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 percent.
  • 90% of employers will rate graduates as average or above average on employer surveys.
• The program will prepare graduates to have a positive impact on child nutrition and enhance the quality of school food service programs.
  • Of graduates who are employed within nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation, 70% are employed in the field of child nutrition.

Accreditation Status

The Dietetic Internship Program has been granted full accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Visit the ACEND website.

For more information on ACEND, please contact:

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 S. Riverside Plaza, Ste. 2000
Chicago, IL 60605-6995
1-800-877-1600, ext. 5400

How to Apply

Application Requirements

Required application documents include:

• An official Verification of Completion of the Academy Didactic Program requirements or a completed Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree and/or Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics Approved Minimum Academic Requirements form, available from your academic adviser;
• A letter of intent describing your career goals and how they relate to the internship’s emphasis in School Food Service/Child Nutrition Programs and program goals;
• Official transcript(s); and
• A minimum of three letters of recommendation.

Application Submission

Applications will be accepted through Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS).

Watch the video to learn how to submit your application through DICAS:

Application Deadline

You must submit your application by 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time on February 15.

Other Steps in the Application Process

All applicants must contact D&D Digital Systems and complete the computer match of intern/internship selection process. The deadline for entering the spring computer match is February 15.

Selected final applicants will be contacted for a telephone interview.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the Dietetic Internship Program, you must:

• Submit proof of a minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Provide a final transcript or letter from the registrar indicating that the degree has been conferred.
• Submit proof of current medical liability, health and automobile insurance, and a recent physical exam.
• Successfully complete an employment screening and security background investigation conducted through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
• *Future Education Requirements: January 1, 2024, Graduate Degree Registration Eligibility Requirement FAQ.

Requirements for Completing the Internship

To successfully complete the Dietetic Internship Program, you must:

• Perform satisfactorily on all required assignments, projects, curricula, rotation objectives, case studies, presentations and exams; 
• Comply with agency policies and procedures; 
• Demonstrate behaviors consistent with the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics; and
• Demonstrate good communication, customer service and employability skills.

The Dietetic Internship Program does not grant credit or supervised practice hours based on an assessment of prior learning or competence. The Dietetic Internship Program does not have a policy for assessing prior learning or competence.

Schedule and Components

The Dietetic Internship Program begins the day after Labor Day and ends the Friday before Memorial Day.

Clinical Rotations (12 Weeks)

Food Service Rotations (8 Weeks)

Community Rotations (19 Weeks)

Costs and Monetary Requirements

There are no application or enrollment fees, but students will need to plan for the following expenses:

• DI Centralized Application Services (DICAS) fee: first designation $50, each additional designation $25
• D&D Digital computer matching fee: $50
• Laboratory coat for clinical rotations: $50
• Nonslip, closed toed shoes for food service rotations: $50
• Physical exam including TB test and titers: $100-$200
• Two background check clearances and drug screen: $100-$150
• Professional liability insurance: $25-$40
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics membership fees: $62
• RDN Pocket Prep Phone App: $25
• For out-of-town rotations, estimated cost of housing, food and transportation: $5,000-$7,000.

Students are responsible for housing, food, transportation and any additional expenses.

Students must have a car for travel to rotation sites.

• Students are paid a monthly pre-taxed stipend of approximately $1,250 (paid biweekly). Discounted covered parking is provided while at the state agency office. Most all rotation sites provide free parking and some will provided free or discounted meals.
• The program does not provide any additional financial aid but will assist with any paperwork for student loan deferment requests.

Students are encouraged to apply for any nutrition/dietetics related scholarships from the Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the national Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that might be available.

Program Outcomes

The Dietetic Internship Program prepares graduates to be competent for entry-level positions as registered dietitian nutritionists. Graduates are also prepared with the skills and knowledge to have a positive impact on child nutrition programs and enhance the quality of school food service programs.

To date, all students have completed the internship program. Most graduates have been employed in dietetic positions within six months of program completion, with a large percentage of graduates employed in school food service positions, including school food service directors and nutrition educators. Graduates and their employers positively rank the program’s ability to prepare students for entry-level practice.

Outcome measures for the program include program completion rates, first-time pass rate on the Registration Examination for Dietitians/Nutritionists, students’ rates of employment in dietetics, and responses on graduate and employer surveys.

Program outcomes data are available on request.

Graduates of an accredited undergraduate or graduate university program who successfully complete an accredited dietetic internship program are eligible to take the CDR exam for Dietitian Nutritionists. State licensure can also be obtained by those who have passed the registration examination. Learn more about dietetics and nutrition licensing in Florida.

Intern-Created Nutrition Educational Materials/Resources

As part of Dietetic Internship Program, interns create and develop a variety of materials, including menus, nutrition education lesson plans, and health and wellness news articles. FDACS wants to share these educational materials with others and hopes they will assist in promoting health and wellness in schools and communities across Florida. View a list of materials [ 10.8 kB ] . 

If you have any questions, contact Rick Parks at Richard.Parks@FDACS.gov.