Dietetic Internship

Nutrition | Graduate Degrees | Dietetic Internship | Mission and Goals

Mission and Goals

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. 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 Dietetic Internship program at UNCG are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. See here for more information about state licensure requirements. See here for more information about educational pathways to become a RDN.

Accreditation

The UNCG Dietetic Internship Program (M.S./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: 312/899-0040 (ext. 5400)
Email: [email protected]

www.eatrightpro.org/acend

Mission

The mission of the M.S./DI and P.B.C./DI program is to prepare competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists for positions in clinical, foodservice, and community nutrition to improve health and enhance quality of life of individuals, families and communities. Through a supervised practice curriculum, the program is structured to provide diverse learning opportunities that enable program graduates to further develop and apply their knowledge and skills in order to provide quality nutrition care in diverse practice settings. The learning environment emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, oral and written communication, problem solving, teamwork, life-long learning, service, and professional engagement.

Goals

Goal 1 – Program graduates will obtain employment in nutrition and dietetics or related fields.

Objectives

“At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 28.5 months (150% of planned program length)”. (RE 2.1.c.1.a) for M.S./DI
“At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 13.5 months (150% of planned program length)”. (RE 2.1.c.1.a) for P.B.C./DI
“Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80 percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation”. (RE 2.1.c.1.b ) for M.S./DI and P.B.C./DI
“At least 90 percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion”. (RE 2.1.c.1.c.1 ) for M.S./DI and P.B.C./DI
“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%”. (RE 2.1.c.1.c.2 ) for M.S./DI and P.B.C./DI
At least 75% of responding employers identified by program graduates will report program graduates’ preparation for entry-level practice as meeting or exceeding the rating of “Competent”. for M.S./DI and P.B.C./DI

Goal 2 – Program graduates will demonstrate a commitment to service and professional engagement.

Objectives

At least 30% of responding program graduates will report participating in one or more service and/or professional engagement activities by three years post-graduation. for M.S./DI and P.B.C./DI
At least 50% of responding program graduates will report serving as a preceptor for an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program by three years post-graduation for M.S./DI and P.B.C./DI