Graduate Certificate in Nutrition & Dietetics (Dietetic Internship)

Program Description 

The Dietetic Internship at Andrews University is a supervised practice experience with a plant-based emphasis. It is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). This internship is considered by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to be a Distance Dietetic Internship; the program works with designated facilities to complete each rotation. 

The internship is a full-time program involving 32 hours per week, and in some instances, may require multiple locations. Our internship program has a Medical Nutrition Therapy emphasis as 64% of our program is spent in clinical nutrition.

Our program also has a special focus on vegetarian and plant-based nutrition.  Interns will have opportunities to practice imlementing vegetarian nutrition principles in several projects throughout the internship.

Specialty rotations are also available in the following areas: eating disorders, pediatrics, diabetes, private practice, culinary medicine and more!

As part of the internship program interns are required to apply for the Graduate Certificate of Nutrition & Dietetics which will confer a total of 12 graduate credits from Andrews University.  This facilitates interns' eligibility for student loans. The 12 graduate credits can also be used for the MS in Nutrition and Wellness.

We were featured at All Access Dietetics during their program expo with a video on our program description. Please click here to watch our program overview for more details.

Graduate Requirement and Licensure:

Effective January 1, 2024, the CDR will require a minimum of a master’s degree and ACEND® DI verification statement to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become an RDN. 

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. Michigan will start requiring licensure early 2025. “While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND's considered opinion that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state's licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license.” 

For more information about state licensure requirements click here. 

Accreditation

Mission, Goals and Objectives

Our mission is to prepare highly qualified, entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists who are competent in MNT and plant-based, vegetarian nutrition and promote a balanced lifestyle for generous service in the workplace.

The primary goals of the Andrews University Dietetic Internship are twofold: to provide the intern with meaningful rotational experiences that will allow for successful completion of the registration examination for dietitians, and to provide the opportunity to develop the skills needed to obtain employment as an entry-level dietitian.

Program Goal #1:  Graduates will be prepared as practitioners who are competent as entry level dietitians.

Objectives*:

• At least 80% of interns enrolled in the DI program will complete all program/degree requirements within 150% (13.5 months) of the program length.
• Of the graduates who seek employment, at least 70% are employed in a nutrition and dietetics related fields within 12 months of graduation.
• The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionist is at least 80%.
• 90% of the program graduates first employers will rate the graduate as satisfactory or above for entry level practice.
• At least 80% of program graduates will take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.

Program Goal #2: Graduates will be prepared as dietetics practitioners who are competent in incorporating MNT principles into a balanced lifestyle.

    Objectives*:

• 20% of the program graduates will work in an Adventist institution where a balanced lifestyle is promoted.
• 25% of the program graduates will engage in service in areas that they can practice and promote a balanced lifestyle (Example: Participate in the Vegetarian DPG or other, write articles on the balanced lifestyle including vegetarianism,  give health promotion lectures to the community, etc.) 
• 75% of the program graduates survey will rate satisfactory or above for vegetarian nutrition knowledge.                             

*Program outcomes data are available upon request

Statement of Equal Opportunity

Admission to Andrews University and the Dietetic Internship is granted irrespective of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, weight, height, marital status or handicap.  The University is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.  These students, however, must meet the admission requirements of the Dietetic Internship.  Admission to the Dietetic Internship does not guarantee admission to the MPH in Nutrition and Wellness or to any other program, department or school within the University.

Transfer privileges are not available to dietetic interns.  An intern who is admitted to the eight month Dietetic Internship must meet all competencies within that time frame and at the assigned facility. Interns may elect to repeat the Dietetic Internship at the discretion of the Internship faculty and the Program Director.  In the event the intern is approved to repeat the Dietetic Internship, the intern would then pay the required amount and register for an additional Dietetic Internship experience at the original facility or at another of the University’s selected facilities.

Program Composition

The 9 month program start mid August and ends at the end of April.  Program breakdown is as follows:

3 days of orientation at Andrews University.  All interns accepted into our Dietetic Internship program are expected to attend this orientation session. It is usually held during the 2nd or 3rd week of August.
    1 month of Community Nutrition.
    2 months of Food Service Administration.
    5 months of Clinical Dietetics.* 

   Scheduled holidays: Labor day, 3 days at Thanksgiving, 7 days at Christmas.

  *All rotations are held within approximately a one hour driving radius of the main clinical health system sites*

2024-2025 Draft Dietetic Internship Program Calendar

2024-2025 Academic Calendar

 Five year academic calendar

Program Cost

See our Program Costs page for cost breakdowns and estimates.

Locations

See our Hospital Information page for site location options.

Entrance Exam

• A multiple-choice comprehensive test of 100 questions will be administered during the orientation week. 
• The minimum required passing score is 70%
• In the event that interns do not pass the test, they will be given one more opportunity to take the test at the end of the orientation week. 
• Passing this test is a requirement for continuing in the Dietetic Internship Program
• The students that do not pass the second time are eligible for 100% tuition refund (Travel expenses for the orientation are not reimbursable)

 

Online Tests

During the internship there will be four online tests (http://learninghub.andrews.edu) which each intern must complete. The first three tests follow the Food Service, Community Nutrition, and Clinical Dietetics rotations respectively. The passing score is 80% for each test. At the conclusion of the Dietetic Internship each intern will take a 100- question RD-like exam on learning hub. The passing score for this comprehensive exam is also 80%. All four tests must be passed successfully for the intern to have their name forwarded to the CDR for permission to take the RD exam. Failure in any one of these tests will mean that the intern must complete a review course and pass the CDR practice test, with a passing score of 70%, before successful completion of the internship can be verified to CDR. The intern is responsible for the cost of the RD review. Please check for current prices via the links below.

The options available for this review course are:

• Inmans Review Course  
           Website: http://www.inmanassoc.com/review.htm
• Breeding and Associates 
           Website:  https://www.breedingandassociates.com
• eatrightprep.org
            Website:  https://www.eatrightprep.org/rdn-exam
• Pocket Prep

                    Website: https://www.pocketprep.com/exams/cdr-rd/

• All Access Dietetics

                    Website:  https://www.allaccessdietetics.com/

• Other review courses upon approval

For More Information Please Contact

Sherri Isaak	Dietetic Internship Director	isaak@andrews.edu or (269)471.3372
	School of Population Health, Nutrition & Wellness	diprogram@andrews.edu or (269)471.3370

 

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