Credentialing process to become a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN)
- A minimum of a Baccalaureate degree granted by a U.S. regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Successful completion of program will result in the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) issuing a verification statement for eligibility to complete a dietetic internship.
- Complete ACEND-accredited supervised practice program (Dietetic Internship, Coordinated Program or Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP). Typically, a program will run eight to 24 months in length. Successful completion of program will result in a Dietetic Internship (DI) verification statement which establishes eligibility to sit for the national standardized exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
- Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration's (CDR) dietetic registration national exam.
- Gain licensure in your state of practice, if applicable.
- Complete continuing professional education requirements to maintain registration.
"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 addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)".
Internship Features
- Community Nutrition / Public Health Concentration
- Six interns selected annually during Spring Match
- 10.5-month program (46 weeks)
- Wide variety of dietetic experiences and didactic opportunities
- Variety of learning opportunities through attending local conferences and dietetic association meetings
- Over 30 RDs on staff at Tri-County and many opportunities to network with local area RDN's.
- Caring preceptors to guide interns
- Graduates have a 97% first-time pass rate on RD exam, which meets ACEND requirements with commendation
∗ Outcome data on program objectives are available upon request
Application Deadline
Tri-County's internship participates in the Spring Match. Applications must be submitted via DICAS by February 15, 2021 (11:59 pm Central Time). The application fee of $70 must also be paid to Tri-County Health Department by February 15, 2021. The application fee can be paid for online or via check. For more information, please view our 2021-2022 Dietetic Internship Information Packet (PDF).
Tri-County's internship participates in the computer matching process through D&D Digital Systems. For more information, contact Dietetic Internship Director Michelle Harris at 720-200-1513 or follow us on Facebook.
This program is currently granted accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). ACEND is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. ACEND can be reached at 800-877-1600, ext. 5400, or in person at:
120 South Riverside Plaza
Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
Information Meetings
We will be hosting informational meetings virtually this fall and winter. Please pre-register by e-mailing Michelle Harris at mharris@tchd.org. A recorded version of an Informational Meeting will be posted on our main website after November 5, 2020.
Please contact Michelle Harris at mharris@tchd.org for further questions, or to schedule an individual virtual meeting.
