Virginia Tech Internship in Nutrition and Dietetics

Our mission: Preparing confident and competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists who can balance evidence-based practice with client-centered care.

Program Highlights

Individualization of Experiences - Interns' experiences are tailored to their learning needs and interests. Program directors arrange all rotations for interns.

Flexibility with Living Location - Interns attend class meetings in either Blacksburg or Northern Virginia typically twice per month and complete rotations in the geographic area to which they have applied. Locations include Abingdon, Blacksburg, Leesburg, Martinsburg, WV, Richmond, Roanoke, Washington DC metro, Winchester, and others.

Leadership Skill Development - Interns explore and reflect on their own unique strengths. Graduates are prepared to be leaders in their worksites, communities, and within the dietetics profession.

Supportive Learning Environment - A combination of in-person and virtual meetings allow for networking with other professionals, exposure to unique practice areas, and shared learning among peers. 

Optional Graduate Degree Available

All applicants must earn a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement before the start of the internship. Interns have two options for completing our program

• Interns who already have a graduate degree: Complete the internship in 9 months or less, August - April.
• Interns who do not have a graduate degree: Complete the internship simultaneously with a VT graduate degree where half of the 30 graduate credits are earned through internship work. Complete both programs in as little as 15 months.  

Note: if you are in the process of pursuing a graduate degree from another program, you are also eligible to apply to our internship. You will need to demonstrate you have been accepted to that graduate program, you have an established plan of study that can be completed during the internship, and that you can complete the graduate program within three months of finishing the internship.

Individuals who do not have a DPD verification statement and are seeking the RD credential may want to consider Virginia Tech’s Master of Science Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Virginia Tech's Internship in Nutrition and Dietetics meets the supervised practice requirement for eligibility to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. 

Graduate Requirement

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). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR’s Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 a.m. Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement, visit CDR’s website. CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

Contact

Accreditation

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, 312-899-5400. ACEND Website.