Dietetic Internship Non-Degree

  • Internship
UNC Extended Campus Center with University of Northern Colorado sign on building.
Format
  • Online
Location
  • Online
Estimated Completion Time

8-14 Months

Start Date

Summer Term (June)

Tuition Rate

$446/Credit

Credits

24

Area of Study
Apply

Distance Dietetic Internship

Are you ready to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)? Our online / distance Dietetic Internship lets you complete your internship in your area. It is a supervised practice experience designed to prepare you for entry-level practice and successful completion of the Registered Dietitian Examination.

This stand-alone Dietetic Internship program is for students who have (or are close to finishing) a graduate degree. You also need to have completed an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) or a Foreign Dietitian Education (FDE) program. If you do not have a graduate degree, you can choose our Dietetics MS with Dietetic Internship.


Overview of the UNC Dietetic Internship and Master of Science with Dietetic Internship programs.

How The Dietetic Internship Works

You’ll complete all of your coursework online, but your internship hours will be completed mostly in person.

  • Help design your internship. You’ll help choose the locations for your internship and plan your rotation hours.
  • Gain a variety of hands-on experience. You will complete clinical, community and food service rotations. Plus you will choose another concentration: nutrition education and counseling, management or ICU.

ACEND Accredited

The program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

Mission

The University of Northern Colorado Dietetic Internship program mission is to prepare graduates to become entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists who have the acquired knowledge to enrich the community through professional practice under the professional code of ethics and remain life-long learners that is supported by evidence-based research and leadership activity.

Why Choose UNC for your Dietetic Internship?

1st

Distance Dietetic Internship

We were the 1st Distance Dietetic Internship, starting in 1995.

Quality Meets Affordability

Access a high-quality, innovative program at an affordable price.

Paid Rotations Allowed

We are one of the few internships that allow paid rotation sites.

Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Many of our students find RDN jobs after they finish the internship, often with one of their internship facilities.

Eligibility for the RDN Exam

If you successfully complete this program and hold a graduate degree, you will earn a Dietetic Internship Verification Statement. This statement allows you to sit for the national standardized RDN exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Successful completion of the CDR RDN exam means:

Entry Level Requirements Update

Beginning January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) has changed the degree requirement for dietitian registration eligibility from a Bachelor’s degree to a Master’s degree (in any field) in addition to the current requirement of a verification statement from an ACEND accredited dietetics program. More information:

Graduate Degree Registration Eligibility Requirement Frequently Asked Questions

Graduate Degree Registration Eligibility Requirement Student Option Scenarios

Course of Study

The UNC stand-alone DI program is a 24-credit online program that provides distance supervision of your internship experiences.

The program starts each June and accepts up to 30 students a year. Choose from:

  • Part Time: Can be completed in up to 14 months. Part-time interns complete 20-31 hours per week, ending by the second week of July the following year.
  • Full Time: Can be completed in 8 to 10 months. Full-time interns complete 32-40 hours per week, ending by the second week of April the following year.

View Required Courses

See the Student Handbook for complete details about the program, rotation hours, APL details, etc.

Online orientation: June 15–17, 2026

Earliest date to begin internship rotations: June 22, 2026

Latest date to begin internship rotations: July 13, 2026

Internship completion deadline:

  • Full-time DI students: 2nd week of April
  • Part-time DI students: 2nd week of July

Holiday schedule: Your schedule will depend on the holidays recognized by your sponsoring facility or facilities.

Complete the Following Requirements

  • Attend the online internship orientation.
  • Successfully complete all DI coursework. Please see the Online Learning page to review technology requirements for taking online courses.
  • Complete a minimum 1,000 hours of supervised practice.
  • Successfully complete all competencies (score of 3 or higher).
  • Uphold the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice.
  • Complete an exit survey.

Securing Your Rotations

You are responsible for identifying and securing your supervised practice sites and preceptors. But we are here to help you! The DI director, internship faculty and staff are always working to find new preceptors and maintain relationships with veteran preceptors. We may have contact information for preceptors in your area. If not, we may be able to help you establish new relationships. Please email dietetic.internship@unco.edu for our extensive list of preceptors.

Internship Hour Requirements

You will complete at least 1,000 internship hours.

  • Clinical: at least 300 hours (max 400 hours). The clinical preceptor(s) must be an RDN. At least one hospital must be JCAHO or DNV approved with 80 or more beds. A majority of your clinical hours should be completed at these facilities. Rotation experiences should prepare you for professional practice with patients/clients with various conditions, including but not limited to: overweight and obesity; endocrine disorders; cancer; malnutrition; and cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and renal diseases.
  • Foodservice: at least 300 hours (max 400 hours). Examples of foodservice facilities are hospitals, school nutrition programs, non-profit organizations, LTC facilities and educational institutions.
  • Community: at least 300 hours (max 400 hours). Examples of community facilities are WIC, Head Start, Public Health Department, Senior Nutrition programs, corporate/employee wellness, etc.
  • Concentration: at least 100 hours (max 200 hours). Concentration options: Nutrition Education & Counseling, Management or ICU.
  • Long-Term Care (LTC): at least 40 hours (max 80 hours) as part of your clinical hours OR foodservice hours.

Additional Rotation Policies

  • You can complete your rotations in any order, based on site availability and feedback from the DI Director.
  • You must complete your supervised practice hours in the United States, U.S. Territories or military bases.
  • Up to 220 hours can be completed remotely (not including orientation). You must complete your remaining hours in-person.

APL Available

Our Dietetic Internship program participates in the Assessment of Prior Learning (APL) recognized by ACEND. If you have previous experience in dietetics or a related field, you may apply to reduce the number of hours completed in the foodservice or community rotations.  APL does not reduce the required credit hours or lessen tuition costs, but it can reduce the number of required internship hours by up to 220 hours.

After admission, please contact dietetic.internship@unco.edu or review the student handbook for APL application instructions.

Deadline: April 20th

Combine the Internship with a Master's Degree

Have Questions? Get in Touch!

Tuition Rate

Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate

You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.

$446

Per Credit

Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*

No Student / Technology Fees

Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.

*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.

Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.

Other Internship Expenses

Application Fee (General Admission DICAS Applicants Only)

General admission students apply through DICAS.

  • DICAS fee: $50 for first program; $25 for additional programs
  • UNC application fee: none

For Other Fees and Related Expenses: see the Student Handbook.

 

Scholarships and Financial Aid

  • Limited scholarship funds are available for UNC Dietetic Interns.
  • The federal government only awards financial aid for courses that count toward completion of a UNC degree, so federal aid is not available for this stand-alone internship.
  • Scholarships may be available through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation.
  • If you will need non-federal loans, several major banking institutions provide student loans. You can also contact UNC Office of Financial Aid for information.
  • UNC also offers a monthly payment option.

Program Eligibility

  • You must currently have (or will have by the time you start the internship program) a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) or Foreign Dietitian Education (FDE) Verification Statement.
  • You must have already completed a bachelor’s degree (in any field).
  • ACEND requires that students in stand-alone internship programs have already completed a graduate degree (in any field) OR are completing a graduate degree at the time they apply. If you are still completing your graduate degree, you should have no more than two semesters remaining as you begin the stand-alone internship program. Proof of academic standing will be part of your application process. If you do not have a master’s degree, we offer a combined Dietetics MS with Dietetic Internship.
  • Your bachelor’s and graduate degrees need to be from institutionally accredited U.S. colleges or universities, or equivalent foreign degrees.
  • Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate and graduate courses combined. Note: If your GPA is equal to or below a 3.0, you will have a short required application essay.
  • You are responsible for securing your own internship sites. You, your sponsoring facilities and your preceptors must all meet certain requirements. Together you are evaluated for potential success. Details for preceptor and facility requirements are available in the DICAS application instructions.
  • Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for this program.

Eligibility for Out-of-State Students

Eligibility by State

UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.

Licensure Eligibility by State

The U.S. Department of Education requires UNC to ensure its professional licensure programs meet the educational requirements for licensure in the state a student is located at the time of initial enrollment.  Please review the UNC Licensure page to determine the states in which the UNC Dietetic Internship program meets the licensure requirements.

Please note: UNC cannot guarantee all state requirements will be met through the stand-alone DI program as some state licensure requirements include coursework, which is not included in the stand-alone DI program. Please refer the ACEND Licensure webpage for more information.

International Student Eligibility

This program requires rotations to be completed in the United States.

No student visa: F-1 and J-1 student visas are not available for this program. However, if you are a non-U.S. citizen who will be in the U.S. under another visa category, you may be able to enroll in this program. Before you apply, please check for enrollment or employment restrictions for your visa category.

If you do apply to this program, you will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:

  • Minimum English language requirements
  • Applying as an international student

Meet with an Enrollment Counselor

Speak with an Enrollment Counselor by phone or video.

Meet with Enrollment Counselor

Faces of our four Enrollment Counselors and a UNC logo

Visit the Academic Department

Are You Ready to Apply?

Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.

Program Eligibility

See the Program Eligibility section above.

Licensure Eligibility by State

This program is related to a state licensure, endorsement or other credential. If you intend to pursue a credential outside of Colorado, please check the Licensure Eligibility by State section above.

International Applicants

Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.

Application Dates and Deadlines

DICAS application open: the UNC Dietetic Internship application opens around August each year. Students start the program each June.

Early admission deadline for UNC Students and Alumni: Dec. 15, 5 p.m. Mountain time. After this date, you will need to apply through DICAS. If applying for early admission, please see the Early Admission information below.

Early Admission Applicants will be notified of admission decision by mid-January. Applicants are required to notify the program via email of their decision to accept or deny their position by March 15.

DICAS DI application deadline: You must submit your completed application through DICAS by 11:59 p.m. Central time on Feb. 1 to receive full consideration. We reserve the right to extend the application deadline. You are strongly encouraged to submit by the Feb. 1 deadline.

We review applications on a rolling basis. If you submit your application before the Feb. 1 deadline, you may receive a decision at any time before the deadline. Only complete applications will be reviewed. After review, you will either be invited for an interview or notified of denial.

Notification Day (DICAS): We will inform you whether you have been admitted, denied or waitlisted by March 1 or sooner.

Applicant Decision Day (DICAS): March 15 deadline to notify programs of your intent to accept or decline admittance. Early notification is preferred.

Application Process Details

Early Admission for UNC Students and Alumni

UNC students and alumni are eligible for early admission.

  • Please email dietetic.internship@unco.edu for instructions on how to apply for Early Admission.
  • If you receive early admission, you will also need to pass a later review of your final transcripts with DPD grades, confirm your degree and submit your DPD Verification Statement.

General Admission (DICAS)

The UNC DI program uses the DICAS platform for all applications, except early admission.

Applying via DICAS

Related Programs Offered Through Extended Campus

Additional Dietetic Internship Program Option

Other Dietetics Programs