Dietetic Internship

Program Mission:
To prepare confident, competent entry-level dietitians who can balance evidence-based practice with client-centered care.

The VT Internship provides the depth and exposure of experiences to prepare dietitians for a variety of professional practice settings. Based in two locations (8 positions in the Northern Virginia/Washington, DC area and 8 positions in the Blacksburg area), these two diverse settings share the resources of a large research based university and the many opportunities available in urban Washington, DC.

The program emphasis is Leadership and Professional Development. Each intern begins the program with unique past experiences and interests. Our goal is to build on interns’ leadership and professional experiences to enable graduates to enter the profession ready to influence–their workplace, their profession, and food and nutrition policy. Skill development is integrated throughout the program year, within rotations and classes.

The VT Internship is an established well-rounded program that provides solid preparation in all areas of dietetics. Our five-year, first-time pass rate on the RD exam is 95%. 

A few of the unique qualities of our program are:

• Flexibility allows for individual needs and interests to be met.
• Weekly meetings provide professional updates, sharing of experiences and field trips.
• Working with a variety of facilities and professionals allows interns to network and “try on” various professional roles (15 weeks of clinical experience, both in- and out-patient, followed by two full months of community rotations in two different practice settings, finishing with 6 weeks of food service management, and a 2-week intern-designed elective experience).
• A solid orientation prior to each component prepares interns for their rotations.
• A compact program (beginning in late August and ending in early Ma)y results in early job availability.
• Vacation breaks throughout the program (Thanksgiving, Winter, Spring) allow for personal regeneration.