Dietetic Internship Requirements

Program Overview

This 24 credit-hour program prepares graduates to work as a Registered Dietitian in a variety of settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, foodservice, schools, community health programs, food companies and wellness centers.

This program is exclusively for students who have completed a master's degree or are currently enrolled in a master's degree program and hold a DPD verification statement from a U.S. college or university or a foreign equivalent accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). For admission requirements, please contact Traci Wessel, Dietetic Internship Director or visit https://www.harpercollege.edu/academics/health/dietetic/index.php.

Graduates of this certificate program receive a verification statement and are eligible to take the registration examination for dietitians to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

Program Requirements

Program Requirements (Hours required: 24)
Number	Course Title	Credits
Required
NTR 296	Dietetic Internship Preparation I	6
NTR 297	Dietetic Internship Preparation II	6
NTR 298	Dietetic Internship Rotation I	6
NTR 299	Dietetic Internship Rotation II	6
Total Hours		24

Graduation Requirements

Each class or rotation must be passed with a “B” grade or above.
All ACEND® competencies must be met satisfactorily to receive the verification statement.
Dietetic interns must complete at least 1035 supervised practice hours.
Dietetic interns must provide transcripts of a completed master’s degree.

Once you successfully meet the Harper College Dietetic Internship graduation requirements, you will receive a verification statement. This allows you to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians. Licensure is dependent on the state in which you work. Illinois requires licensure of all registered dietitian nutritionists. Review the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Licensure Map for licensure statutes and board information by state.

While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND's considered opinion that the 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.

Program Completion Timeline

The length of the internship will depend on the track the intern chooses. The Harper College timeline for completing a certificate is a maximum of 10 years. However, interns in the Dietetic Internship program are expected to complete the program in the following timeframe below:

If the intern is in Track A, the intern is expected to complete the internship in 9 months but may take up to 13.5 months to complete the program.
If the intern is in Track B, the intern is expected to complete the internship in 12 months but may take up to 18 months to complete the program.
If the intern is in Track C, the intern is expected to complete the internship in 24 months but may take up to 36 months to complete the program. The internship does not take place during the summer months. This must be considered when extending the length of the internship.

All interns will complete their rotations in a consecutive 9 months. The extended length of the internship for tracks B and C is for completion of a master’s degree. The internship rotations do not take place during the summer months. This must be considered when extending the length of the internship.

Distance Education and Technology Requirements

The program requires distance education for very few educational experiences. When distance education is required, the intern must have their web camera on during distance instruction to verify their identity.

The Dietetic Internship requires basic computer skills to be successful. This includes creating and saving documents, organizing files and folders on storage devices, performing Internet searches, sending email messages, and using word processing programs. The College uses Blackboard, and training can be provided if needed. In addition to those skills, an intern in the program will need the following:

Desktop or laptop computer
Reliable internet access
Webcam and mic

Visit Semester Loan Technology for information on access to Chromebooks, graphing calculators, and more.

Interns needing assistance with technology can contact the Student Service Desk.