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The Dietetic Internship Program

About the Program

The Office of Food and Nutrition Management (FNM), located in the capital city of Tallahassee manages the Florida Department of Education’s Dietetic Internship Program.

The Dietetic Internship Program is a nine-month program (September – May) accepting two interns per year. The program is based upon the Standards of Education of the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and provides students with supervised practice and didactic experiences that meet ADA Core Competencies for Dietitians requirements. An emphasis for entry-level practitioners in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs, and School Food Service Management is provided through this internship program. Students who successfully complete this nine-month program are eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s (CDR) Registration Examination for Dietitians. Please see Admission Requirements to determine your eligibility for the program.

Employee applicants are eligible to apply after six months of employment in a team or team support position with the Office of Food and Nutrition Management. Eligible employee applicants applying for pre-select positions must submit their completed application materials by January 4. Pre-select applicants will be notified of their selection into the dietetic internship by January 18, and must notify the program director by 5 p.m. on January 20 of their acceptance of the position. If there are no eligible employee applicants, the program will notify non-employee applicants by February 2 of the number of positions available through the computer match.

Program Mission, Vision, and Goals

Mission
The mission of the Dietetic Internship Program is to provide quality supervised practice and didactic training with a focus in USDA Child Nutrition Programs and School Food Service Management.
Vision
Students will develop the expertise and skills necessary to apply the nutritional knowledge and theory of their didactic education to the work environment.
Program Goals
The goals of the Dietetic Internship Program are to:
  1. Prepare dietetic interns to positively impact the quality of food and nutrition services that are unique to children in a school setting
  2. Prepare dietetic interns for entry level positions in dietetics
  3. Prepare dietetic interns to perform the variety of tasks that are required for operating successful food service departments

Application Requirements

  • Official Verification Statement of completion of the ADA Dietetic Program requirements or a completed Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree and/or CADE Minimum Academic Requirements form available from your academic advisor
  • Letter describing the applicant's short and long term career goals
  • Official transcripts (applicant points for rankings begin at grade point averages of 2.75)
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Complete application form due by postmark deadline of February 16 (the internship program will follow deadlines established by CADE)
  • Select final applicants will be contacted for a telephone interview
  • A resume may be submitted

Admission Requirements

  • Proof of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nutrition and/or dietetics from an accredited college or university
  • Proof of earned degree may be provided by either final transcript or by letter from the registrar
  • Proof of current medical liability, health, and automobile insurance and a recent physical exam
  • A successfully completed Employment Screening and Security Background investigation conducted through FNM

Completion Requirements

Satisfactory performance on all required assignments, projects, curricula, rotation objectives, case studies, presentations, and exams and compliance with agency policies and procedures are required for the completion of the Dietetic Internship Program. In addition, interns must demonstrate behaviors consistent with the "Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics," and they must have good communication, customer service, and employability skills.

Program Related Expenses and Costs

Expenses
Related estimated program costs include:
  • Application and Enrollment Fee: None
  • Computer Matching Fee: $50, if applicable
  • Laboratory Coat for Clinical Rotations: $25-50
  • Liability Insurance: $25
  • Employment Screening and Security Background Investigation fee: None
  • Professional Association Membership Fees: $100
  • Housing, Transportation, Meals, and Health Insurance
Salary
The program provides a monthly pre-tax salary for selected students of approximately $1,568.00. This salary is provided to help offset living expenses. In addition, travel for out of town rotations and conferences will be provided as allowed by agency travel rules and regulations.

Interns should also consider applying for scholarships funded by the ADA and FDA. To see about eligibility and application requirements, visit the ADA and FDA web sites at http://www.eatright.org/ and http://www.eatrightflorida.org.

Program Schedule & Components

The program begins the day after Labor Day and concludes the Friday before Memorial Day.
  • Dietetic Internship requirements are satisfied in classroom (didactic), school and hospital food service, clinical and renal dialysis settings, cooperative extension service, county health department settings, and state agencies.
  • Interns must attend one or more Tallahassee Dietetic Association (TDA) meetings. www.eatrighttallahassee.org
Clinical Rotation – Thirteen Weeks - Facilities:
Food Service Rotation – Eight Weeks - Facilities:
Community Rotation – Sixteen Weeks - Facilities:

Accreditation Status

The Florida Department of Education's Dietetic Internship Program has been granted initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA).

For more information on CADE, please contact the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education, American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, by phone at 800-877-1600, Extension 5400, or on the World Wide Web at www.eatright.org/cade.