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Frequently Asked Questions
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I heard it is extremely difficult to get into this internship. Should I apply?
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Which track should I apply for?
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What is the internship calendar like? How much time will I spend in supervised practice?
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Do all interns in the MVAHCS program have the same rotations and experiences? Do I have to find any of my own supervised practice sites?
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How does this program help me become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)?
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I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I still apply for your program?
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I am drawn in by the breadth of the internship experiences and the dedicated preceptors, but the Minneapolis area is cold and I'm not sure I want to live there. Why Minneapolis/St. Paul?
1. I heard it is extremely difficult to get into this internship. Should I apply?
Yes! The MVAHCS dietetic internship is no more difficult to get accepted into than other dietetic internships. Any U.S citizen with a Master's Degree (for DI only) or Bachelor's Degree in Dietetics and a DPD verification statement (for MPS/DI) who is interested in a comprehensive supervised practice experience with dedicated and engaged preceptors and director who work with you one-on-one, strong clinical and specialized experience, assistance in finding employment, and a $22,500 allocation, paid bi-weekly, should apply. We do have some application requirements, but within those, we evaluate our applicants equitably and holistically. See Application tab for more specifics.
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2. Which track should I apply for?
If you are a Bachelor's Student with a DPD verification statement
apply for the MPS/DI track:
Step 1) Apply for the early application deadline (12/1) for the MPS degree through the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
Step 2) Apply for the MVAHCS MPS/DI program through DICAS by 1/15 and, if available, include your acceptance letter in your application packet
Step 3) Interview
Step 4) Get selected and have both your graduate class and your internship spot reserved!
(If you applied spring of 2025, you would start graduate coursework in the fall of 2025 and your internship in the fall of 2026, to graduate spring of 2027).
If you are a Master's Student with a DPD verification statement
apply for the DI Only track:
Step 1) Go to the MVAHCS DICAS page and apply to the DI Only program by 1/15. Include your Master's and BS transcripts in your application (Master's Degree must be completed by the start of the internship).
Step 2) Interview
Step 3) Get selected and start your DI in the fall!
(If you applied spring of 2025, you would start your internship program in the fall of 2025, to graduate in spring of 2026).
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3. What is the internship calendar like? How much time will I spend in supervised practice?
Interns will spend 32-40 hours in rotation, or supervised practice, for a total of 42 weeks. There are didactic class days approximately once every other week, as well as paid time off and holidays. There is a one week break at either Christmas or New Year's, and 10 paid Federal Holidays off on Labor Day, Indigenous People's Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Birthday of MLK, Jr., Inauguration Day, Washington's Birthday, and Memorial Day. Additional time off is earned at the rate of 4 hours every 2 weeks for both sick time and vacation time. Interns are paid for all time off taken during the internship, as long as vacation requested doesn't exceed vacation time earned. The program starts the last week of August and ends on the Friday of the second week of June.
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4. Do all interns in the MVAHCS program have the same rotations and experiences? Do I have to find any of my own supervised practice sites?
All interns in the MVAHCS program have the same rotations and experiences that are all entirely coordinated by the internship director. We have found that having the opportunity to practice the Nutrition Care Process in a variety of clinical settings both inside and outside the VA prepares our graduates extremely well for entry-level practice in any setting, as well as the RD exam, and is one of the strengths of our program. You do not have to find any of your own supervised practice sites.
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5. How does this program help me become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)?
The steps for becoming a RDN include:
1. Completing a master's degree at a United States regionally accredited university or college or foreign equivalent, as well as a DPD verification statement, through an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), Future Education Model (FEM), Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP), Graduate Program (GP) or Coordinated Program (CP) in Dietetics.
- ISPPs have two audiences: individuals with a doctoral degree who want to complete 1000 hours of supervised practice to become and RDN or graduates of DPD program who did not match with a DI program. Refer to the ACEND program directory to identify these programs.
- CPs may be at the undergraduate or graduate level and meet both DPD supervised practice requirements.
- GPs may require a DPD verification statement or may simply have prerequisite course requirements for admission. These programs include a graduate degree and 1000 hours of supervised practice.
2. Completing at least 1000 hours of supervised practice through an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship, CP in Dietetics or an Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP) offered through an ACEND-accredited program. The MVAHCS MPS/DI program meets the requirements of obtaining a Master's Degree and completing the supervised practice experience (steps 1 and 2). The DI only program meets the requirements of step 2 only.
3. Passing a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
4. Obtaining licensure or certification*, if the state in which you will be working requires licensure or certification. At this time, if you work for the VA after graduation, you are licensed under the government to provide care, so do not have to seek additional state licensure or certification unless you wish to do so.
5. Completing continuing professional education requirements to maintain registration
*While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND's considered opinion that this program meets the educational requirements for dietetics
licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state's licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license. More information about state licensure and certification can be found at this link: State Licensure.
Graduates of our program are eligible to sit for the CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians, the third step required for becoming a RDN.
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6. I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I still apply for your program?
All applicants to the MVAHCS must be U.S. citizens at the time of application.
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7. I am drawn in by the breadth of the internship experiences and the dedicated preceptors, but the Minneapolis area is cold and I'm not sure I want to live there. Why Minneapolis/St. Paul?
We're not the only ones who think our Twin Cities are hidden gems in the Midwest. Minneapolis was recently named "happiest city in the United States" by the Institute for Quality of Life, as well as the "best city for college grads" by Zumper.
Minneapolis/St. Paul are two cities for the price of one! The metro area is a vibrant "big city small town" with warm, welcoming people. There is a great sense of community here and there is always something going on, even in the winter time. The downtown of each city is easily accessible. Minnesotans love their festivals and events, from the State Fair (gotta try the pickle pizza), to Winter Carnival, to all the sports (basketball, ice hockey, football, baseball, Ultimate, esports, and soccer). All four seasons are beautiful and unique in their own way. There is a lot of racial diversity here as well, with a strong Native American community, and the largest populations of Somalis and Hmong in the United States. This racial diversity fuels the food and shopping scenes, with James Beard award-winning restaurants like Owamni, chefs like Christina Nguyen (of Hai Hai), and local favorites like Afro Deli, Karmel Mall, or Midtown Global Market. The theater and arts communities are bustling as well, with opera, local and international music acts, musicals, and plays.
Overall, the cities are very active with a beautiful parks, trails, and lakes system, and are less than an hour away from some really majestic Northwoods forests and trails. Every single day of the year, you will see multiple people outside running, skijoring, biking, walking dogs, sledding, cross-country skiing, ice skating, or rollerblading. See the life in Minneapolis tab for more.
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