Dietetic Internship

Last revised: July 13, 2023

Fall 2023 Match cycle opens July 24, 2023, and will run through September 25, 2023. We will be matching for both our Masters Plus DI option (July 2025 supervised practice start date) and Dietetic Internship Only (January 2024 start date) options. Both start date options are for our MNT concentration only.

Our Dietetic Internship provides for three (3) options to allow applicants the best method to meeting their supervised practice needs. We offer a Dietetic Internship Only program (10.5-month), Master’s Degree Plus DI program (22 months), and an Individualized Supervised Practice Program for applicants who hold a doctoral degree. Our total yearly enrollment is 16 interns. One class of eight begins in early August and graduates in mid-June, and one class of eight begins in late January with an early December graduation. During the Spring Match cycle, applicants have the option to apply to the August start date, or the January start date, or both (ranked by preference). Therefore, all 16 Dietetic Intern positions may be filled during the Spring Match cycle. After the Spring Match, if positions are still available for the January start date, the program will participate in the Fall Match cycle to fill remaining openings. For each of the two program start dates, six applicants are selected to complete the Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) concentration and two are selected to complete the Food and Nutrition Management concentration.

Centralized Application Process: The internship at VCU Medical Center participates in DICAS (Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application Service). This requires that your application be submitted through a central application portal. The ACEND website provides additional information regarding the centralized application process. The deadline for application is February 15 for the Spring Match and September 25 for the Fall Match. Prospective applicants to our DI Only and Master's Degree Plus DI programs should refer to Application Information and Admission Information for important details.

Master’s Plus DI Option: This option is for DICAS applicants who wish to complete an online master’s degree and onsite dietetic internship. The VCUHS Dietetic Internship has partnered with the University of Wisconsin, Madison to allow for completion of the majority of the coursework for their Online Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition degree, prior to the internship start date. Those who are interested in this option should refer to Application Information and Admission Information for important details. Please also visit the University of Wisconsin, Madison website for more information about their Online MS in Clinical Nutrition.

Dietetic Internship Only Option: This option is for DICAS applicants who already have/will have earned a master's degree (any discipline) prior to the start of their internship experience. Please contact the Program Director prior to applying to discuss your course of study if you are currently enrolled in a master's degree program. You will be required to complete all master's degree requirements prior to the completion of your internship experience.

Pre-Select Option: Up to four of the 16 openings will be reserved for students who are in the process of completing the Master of Science in Human Nutrition DPD Plus Partner Dietetic Internship track at Drexel University. The pre-select option does not require participation in the DICAS centralized application process. Those who qualify for this option should refer to Application Information and Admission Information for important details. For more information, please visit the Drexel University website.

Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP) Option: This option is for applicants who hold a doctoral degree in Nutrition or related fields. A DPD verification Statement is not required. Interested applicants should reach out to the Program Director prior to applying to discuss your background qualifications to determine eligibility. Please refer to the Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP) page for pathway and application specific information.

After reviewing the remaining pages of the Dietetic Internship website, additional inquiries can be made by contacting the Program Director:

Stephanie Stockslager, MS, RD
Director, Dietetic Internship
stephanie.stockslager@vcuhealth.org

While this website provides the official and essential information regarding the program, you may also wish to view our Facebook page to see examples of recent activities and accomplishments of Dietetic Interns, program graduates, and preceptors.

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 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree.