Dietetic Internship Program

Program Information

 The Lexington VA Healthcare System Dietetic Internship Program is a 34-week program, scheduled from August through April. Our program has a clinical nutrition concentration focusing on medical nutrition therapy that will prepare graduates to work as an entry level dietitian. Interns will be eligible to take the Registered Examination for Dietitians upon completion of the internship. Supervised practice experiences in medical nutrition therapy, foodservice management and community nutrition comprise the program which is divided as follows:

One week of vacation will be granted for the winter holiday, in addition to other federal holidays.

Graduation and program completion requirements

To graduate from the Lexington VA Health Care System Dietetic Internship Program, interns must:

• Successfully complete all supervised practice rotations, assignments, classes and the research project.
• Successfully meet all ACEND competencies as defined in the program's learning assessment plan.
• Complete all supervised practice hours and the competency requirements.
• Completion is required within 12 months of starting the program.
• Maintain the professional and ethical code of conduct expected.
• Complete all required rotations, projects and assignments satisfactorily as assessed by the preceptors and/or Internship Director.
• Submit all evaluations of the program and other necessary documentation to the Internship Director.
• Interns who successfully complete the internship program will be issued a verification statement by the internship director. This form confirms the completion of the supervised practice requirements of the program and provides the student with eligibility to write the registration examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

Admission Requirements

LVAHCS DI offers acceptance to 3 interns per year. Admission requirements include the following:

• A baccalaureate degree granted by a U.S. accredited college/university or foreign equivalent.
• A master’s degree (or be enrolled in a master’s degree near completion) granted by a U.S. accredited college/university or foreign equivalent.
• A Verification Statement upon completing a didactic program in dietetics (DPD) from an ACEND-accredited program while pursuing either of the required undergraduate and/or graduate degrees.
• U.S. citizenship and Social Security Number.
• No credit is granted for prior learning experiences.

A strong candidate for admission to the Dietetic Internship will meet the following criteria (not required for application and admission):

• A master’s degree with an emphasis on health and/or nutrition.
• A cumulative graduate GPA of 3.2 or higher from the institution that issued their ACEND-accredited DPD.
• Previous employment or volunteer experiences that enhance capabilities as a registered dietitian and/or demonstrate an interest in the field of dietetics.
• Fluency in reading, writing, and speaking in English. 

Additional Requirements Upon Program Selection (required for onboarding):

• If selected, all trainees must be current on vaccinations for health care workers as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and VA. Human Resources will provide the necessary forms for documentation that are required.
• If selected, to be eligible for appointment, all trainees must pass a background check (paid for by the VA).
• If selected, male applicants over 18 must be registered with the Selective Service System. Enrollment and verification information found here:  Verify Registration | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov)
• If upon selection the trainee’s master’s degree is near completion, the degree must be obtained prior to the internship start date.

Applicants should be aware that no credit is granted for prior education or experience.

The Additional Requirements Upon Program Selection are not required for admission but must be completed prior to the program start date.

Steps to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN):

1. Earn an undergraduate and graduate degree from an ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). DPD coursework will include prerequisites necessary to be successful in a Dietetic Internship.
2. Complete a supervised practice requirement. Individuals must complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice with an ACEND accredited Dietetic Internship program. This step will require applying through DICAS.
3. Pass a national exam for RDNs. Once you complete your internship, you will take CDR's Registration Examination for Registered Dietitians to become credentialed as registered dietetics nutritionist.  Effective January 1, 2024, the CDR will require a minimum of a graduate degree to take the Dietetic Registration Exam. 
4. Meet requirements to practice in your state. Many states have licensure laws for food and nutrition practitioners. All states accept the RDN credential for state licensure purposes. Graduates will need to contact state licensing agency in the state where they intend to work to obtain information about licensure requirements.
5. Stay up to date in dietetics through continuing education. After successfully passing the national exam and earning the credential, RDNs maintain ongoing professional development in order to stay up to date on the latest research, recommendations and best practices.

State Licensure:

As a federal entity, VHA cannot require every dietitian to hold state licensure when not all states have licensure available for dietitians. Preceptors for the Community Rotation that are not employed by VA will be required to submit a copy of any registration or licensure that is required for their position. This information will be updated in the internship program files on an annual basis. For further information regarding other state licensures please visit State Licensure - Commission on Dietetic Registration (cdrnet.org).

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