Dietetic Internship Program
Meredith College’s Dietetic Internship program provides college graduates who have met the DPD requirements with the knowledge and supervised practice needed to enter this fast-growing field of nutrition. The dietetic internship prepares students for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist exam and, ultimately, a career as a Registered Dietitian. Meredith’s location is ideal for internship participants, who can work at some of the world’s top corporations and medical centers, as well as in local human services agencies and school systems. And, those completing the internship earn six credit hours toward the M.S. in Nutrition from Meredith
Indicators of Success
- 96% of program interns completed program/degree requirements within 16.5 months (150% of the program length) for Traditional Pathway and Site Preceptor Pathway cohort A & B or within 22.5 months (150% of the program length) for Site Preceptor Pathway cohort C or 36 months (150% of the program length) for the ISPP Pathway.
- 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 91%.
- Of graduates who seek employment, 100% were employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
We are accredited for one dietetic internship that has three distinct tracks/pathways:
Traditional Dietetic Internship Pathway: This program provides the student with all of their rotation sites and takes place in the Raleigh-Durham, NC area.
Site Preceptor Pathway Dietetic Internship (SPP): This program provides the student with a coveted Food Service Management and Clinical/MNT site.
Distance Pathway (DP): In this flexible rotation, the student locates and identifies all of their rotation sites at least 150 miles outside the Raleigh-Durham, NC area.
Meredith College Dietetic Internship is Step 2 in your journey to becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
Complete a bachelor’s degree and receive a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited program (Didactic Program in Dietetics).
Get matched to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice dietetic internship program. For students who do not match to an internship, applying to a Distance Pathway is an option.
Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s dietetic registration exam.
“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). For more information about this requirement, visit CDR’s website: https://www.cdrnet.
In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility, students must meet the following Completion Requirements:
Program Completion Requirements: To successfully complete the Meredith College Dietetic Internship Program and receive a signed program completion Verification Statement, students must meet all of the following criteria:
Students must:
- Pass all rotations and complete all competencies/Learning Outcomes for DIs.
- Complete all assignments
- Work all assigned hours
- Turn in all evaluation forms
- Turn in all End of Rotation E-Portfolio
- Complete an enrichment rotation
- Have an average of a “B” in the Graduate Classes
- Have earned a Graduate Degree (Master’s or Doctorate)
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 needed to obtain a dietetics license, including supervised practice and examinations. More information about state licensure and certification can be found at this link: State Licensure.
Meredith’s dietetic internship students participate in high-fidelity simulations to practice interacting with patients and other healthcare providers in a clinical setting.
Contact Information
Cathie Ostrowski
Martin Hall, Suite 122
(919) 760-8419
ostrowsk@meredith.edu
The Internship Program in Nutrition and Dietetics is currently granted accredited status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606 | (800) 877-1600, ext. 5400