Dietetic Internship certificatE

Nutrition | Graduate Degrees | Dietetic Internship

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Overview

Our stand alone Dietetic Internship (DI) certificate is a Post Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC) program. It is a nationally accredited program that meets the supervised practice requirement for students to take the credentialing exam for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN).

The stand alone DI program is designed for students who already have a graduate degree and have completed an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), either at UNCG or elsewhere (if you do not have a graduate degree see our combined M.S./DI program).

The DI supervised practice requirement includes 1,000 hours of practical experience supervised by RDNs. This practice allows students to gain real-world experience and apply knowledge learned in the classroom of a variety of real-life work settings.

Apply though DICAS

program Benefits

  • Complete in 9 months
  • Includes minimum of 1000 supervised hours in clinical foodservice and community nutrition
  • Unique specializations in culinary and sports nutrition
  • If you do not have a graduate degree you can combine the DI with a M.S. and complete in 4 semesters
  • Interns placed in diverse settings: hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health departments, and K-12 schools

We also cover student costs for

Exam Review

The National Registration Exam
We provide students with a review course and a supplementary subscription to practice exams.

Nutrition Focused Physical Exam (NFPE)
We hire a certified Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics trainer to prepare students for this required core competency, which is needed to become an RDN

Equipment
  • Lab coats and aprons, embroidered with Department of Nutrition Logo
  • Name badges
  • Medical penlights
  • Micro-nutrient textbooks
  • Pocket guides
Clinical Fees
  • Professional liability insurance
  • Background checks
  • Drug screens
  • Internship onboarding
Conference

Registration for the annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo. Student travel and lodging costs are usually covered as well.

Application Fees

Students enrolled in the Dietetic Internship do not pay additional fees for applying to our graduate programs.

If you do not have a Graduate degree

For students who do not have a graduate degree, our combined M.S./DI program allows students to earn their M.S. and complete the Dietetic Internship in just two years.

Learn more about the M.S./DI program

Apply to Program

Our PBC/DI (stand-alone) program has filled all spots and is no longer accepting applications for the Spring 2026 cycle (for Fall 2026 admission).

Dietetic Interns do not apply to the Graduate School directly.

Early Decision Process

Spaces in the DI program are held for current students in the Human Nutrition and Dietetics Concentration program. These students are eligible for the no-fee Early Decision application process and do not have to apply though the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS).

Application Process through DICAS

Applicants must apply through the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS) following the instructions in the DICAS portal. Note that application instructions and deadlines vary from program to program, so please read carefully.

Our PBC/DI (stand-alone) program has filled all spots and is no longer accepting applications for the Spring 2026 cycle (for Fall 2026 admission).

Apply to DICAS

The DICAS Application requires:

  • A personal statement
  • Official transcripts from all schools attended
  • Confirmation from DPD director that you have a DPD Verification Statement or Declaration of Intent
  • Three letters of recommendation (at least one letter from a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist or dietetics program faculty member)
  • Professional resume
  • $65 application fee (follow instructions in DICAS portal for payment information)

Program Requirements

To be admitted, students must have:

  • A graduate degree (such as an M.S., M.A., M.Ed., or Ph.D.) from a college or university recognized by the US Department of Education
  • A signed DPD Verification Statement. The statement must be dated before the start date of the DI program.
  • A Cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.0
    • It is strongly preferred that your GPA calculated from relevant classes (such as nutrition, food science, foodservice management, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physiology) is also greater than or equal to 3.0
  • Applicants are evaluated based on academic performance, dietetics-related work/volunteer experience, letters of reference, and statement of professional goals
Dietetic Internship

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Resources

Plan of Study

Accreditation

The UNCG Dietetic Internship Program (MS/DI and PBC/DI) is currently granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

ACEND Contact Information:
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
Phone: 800.877.1600 (ext. 5400)
Email: acend@eatright.org

www.eatrightpro.org/acend

Babbi Hawkins

Babbi Hawkins, M.S., R.D.N., L.D.N.,
AP Professor
bshawkin@uncg.edu

Director of Dietetic
Internship Program

Estimated Financial Cost of DI Program, 2025-26

ItemIn-StateOut-of-State
Tuition & fees *$11,409$26,124
DI application fee$65
Professional Liability Insurance (required) $8 UNCG VALUE ADD: Cost is covered by program
Personal Health Insurance~$2,400
Auto Liability Insurance~$600
Housing (estimated monthly cost)~$750
Transportation and parking~$30-$50/wk
Uniform and Restaurant Approved Non-skid shoes for Food labs~$150
Lab coat, apron, chef’s hat$50 UNCG VALUE ADD: Cost is covered by program
Textbooks~$450
Laptop with camera and microphone and internet to access meetings from on- and off-campus locations ~$1,000
Intern membership in AND (must become a member/maintain membership for program completion)  $58
Vaccinations (TB and Hepatitis B)/physical exam/drug testing              ~ $75
Specified state meeting or national conference (Some funding may be available to attend FNCE.)             Up to $1,500
Criminal Background Check (required)             $19 UNCG VALUE ADD: Cost is covered by program
Urine drug screening (required)             $60 UNCG VALUE ADD: Cost is covered by program
RD Exam Review Course/Materials (recommended)            ~$750 UNCG VALUE ADD: Cost is covered by program
* Estimated graduate tuition and fees for Post-BS Certificate Program (18 student credit hours) including Tuition Differential of $200 per student credit hour. Applicants should verify UNCG fees and costs with appropriate UNCG office

PBC/DI Technological Competence Requirements

Although the majority of the coursework is face to face, students are expected to understand the basics of the learning management system, Canvas, and navigate its features.

Students should be able to:

  • Use a keyboard and mouse
  • Send and receive email
  • Use common software applications such as Microsoft Office
  • Record and upload video presentations
  • Use text editors, save files in various formats (.docx, .pdf, .pptx), and install/update software
  • Navigate the internet using web browsers (Chrome and Firefox are preferred and supported by Canvas)
  • Perform basic internet searches and locate web addresses

UNCG provides technology training opportunities for students, including online resources, workshops, and support for using classroom technologies.