About Us

The internship is administered through the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. Interns are admitted to Iowa State University as graduate students seeking a Graduate Certificate in Dietetics Internship which will be indicated on the final transcript.

The Iowa State University Dietetics Internship (DI) began as an AP4 program in 1989. It meets the performance requirements for supervised practice hours for students who have completed the academic requirements of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered dietitians or dietetic technicians, registered.

The academic requirements for the registered dietitian are:

• a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree with a valid DPD Verification Statement and
• completion of at least 1200 supervised practice hours as completed in a dietetic internship.

Eligibility for exam and RD credential

Successful completion of this program will result in the receipt of the DI Verification Statement which establishes eligibility to sit for the national standardized exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Successful completion of the exam results in the registered dietitian (RD) credential. Once RD credential is obtained, state licensure may be applied for where applicable.

The interns who participate in our program have an excellent pass rate, with the most recent at 93%. Historically, 95% or more interns successfully complete the program.

Time commitment

Success as a registered dietitian means lifelong learning with a substantial and regular time commitment. Successful completion of this accelerated dietetics internship requires a high level of motivation and commitment and significant portion of the intern’s time. Work and volunteer commitments outside of the internship are not recommended.