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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 the urban Washington, DC area. The program is a generalist program with a focus on leadership and public policy skills.

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 96%. 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.
  • A solid orientation prior to each component prepares interns for their rotations.
  • 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 compact program beginning in late August and ending in early May results in early job availability.
  • Vacation breaks throughout the program (Thanksgiving, Winter, Spring) allow for personal regeneration.