Dietetic Internship

Achieving Excellence in Public Health Nutrition

The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County Dietetic Internship is accepting applicants during the second round of the Spring Dietetic Internship Match.  Please see the document titled Dietetic Internship Match Admission and Application Information in the Important Documents table below for detailed information.

We are looking to fill seats in the following regions:

• Duval: 3 seats available
• Escambia: 2 seats available
• Miami: 2 seats available
• Palm Beach: 3 seats available
• Pasco: 1 seats available

We are accepting applications through DICAS starting April 10th at 12:00pm ET.

Internship Overview

The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County is a 9-month internship that provides a minimum of 1,000 supervised practice hours in community (360 hours), food service/management (320 hours), and clinical rotations (320 hours) and a minimum of 168 hours of didactic education. Interns are assigned to one of our five regional locations (Duval County, Escambia County, Pasco County, Palm Beach County, Miami-Dade County). In their region, interns complete their supervised practice rotations in a variety of settings. Interns will be scheduled at least one specialty rotation in each area of nutrition and dietetics in addition to their main rotation in each area. Click on "Regional Supervised practice Facilities" under "Important Documents" for more information on the facilities interns may be placed in. 

The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County Dietetic Internship has recently been approved as a graduate level dietetic internship.  Starting with the Class of 2024, interns need to have a graduate degree to complete program requirements and receive their Dietetic Internship Verification Statement.  Through a partnership with the University of North Florida (UNF), interns entering the internship without a graduate degree must apply to the Master of Science (MS) Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics online program at UNF.  The MS online program starts in June prior to the internship which starts in August and ends in June after the internship which ends in May. Click on "UNF MS Degree Information Sheet" under "Important Documents" for more information on the graduate program.

The internship provides nutrition employees from WIC agencies in Florida an opportunity for pre-selection into the internship. Pre-selection applications are accepted from the first Monday in August to the first Monday in October each year. Any spots not filled through pre-selection will be filled through the Spring Dietetic Internship Match. Admission and Application information is found under "Important Documents" including information specific to the "Dietetic Internship Match Admission and Application" Information. 

Internship Mission

To prepare entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists for leadership roles in the profession of Dietetics committed to improving the health status of the community.

Internship "Mission, Goals, and Objectives" can be found under "Important Documents." Outcomes are monitored annually for program effectiveness. Currently, the internship is meeting all its objectives. Outcome data will be made available upon request.  

Important Notices

Unless applicants already have a graduate degree, participation in the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics program offered through our partnership with the University of North Florida is mandatory for acceptance into the Class of 2024. To earn a Dietetic Internship Verification Statement of completion, interns in the Class of 2024 must complete the graduate program and provide proof of successful completion. Click on "Program Completion Requirements and Requirements for the RDN and LDN Credential" under "Important Documents" for more information.

Pre-selection applications for the Class of 2025 (sponsored WIC employees only) will be accepted from August 7, 2023 through October 2, 2023. Applications postmarked after October 2, 2023 will not be considered for pre-selection. Forms needed for this application process are located under "Important Documents."

For the Spring Dietetic Internship Match,the internship will start accepting applications for the Class of 2025 through DICAS on December 4, 2023 through February 15, 2024. Forms needed for this application process are in the DICAS system.

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. 

In addition to degree requirements, CDR requires individuals to complete coursework and supervised practice in programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Florida Department of Health in Pasco County Dietetic Internship program are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN. 

In most states, including Florida, graduates must also obtain licensure or certification to practice.  For more information about state licensure requirements: https://www.cdrnet.org/licensure

For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN: https://www.cdrnet.org/RDNeligibility   

Important Documents 

Dietetic Internship Handbook:

The "Dietetic Internship Handbook" under "Important Documents" contains policies and procedures applicable to interns after acceptance into the program.  Policies include + insurance requirements + liability for safety in travel + injury or illness while in a practice facility + drug testing and criminal background checks + requirement that interns are not used to replace employees + paid compensation during WIC weeks for sponsored interns + process for filing and handling complaints + process for submission of written complaints to ACEND + procedure for evaluating and awarding prior experience for Licensed Dietitians entering the internship + process for intern assessment + retention and remediation procedures + disciplinary and termination procedures + program completion requirements + verification statement requirements + distance education requirements + withdrawal and refund of tuition and fees + program schedule + protection of privacy + intern access to their files + intern access to support services.

Accreditation

The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County Dietetic Internship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, USA; (800) 877-1600 ext. 5400; ACEND@eatright.org; https://www.eatrightpro.org/ACEND 

2023 Internship Class