Application & Requirements
The UW-Green Bay Dietetic Internship prepares you to take the credentialing exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Be sure to follow all directions carefully, as an incomplete application cannot be considered. Completed application and all supporting documents must be submitted by February 15, 2025, for the Fall 2025 admission. Applicants will be notified of acceptance on or before March 1, 2025.
NOTE: Starting January 1, 2024, if you want to become a registered dietitian nutritionist, you will need to have a master's degree. More Details
Requirements
For selection into the internship, you must have:
- A master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- A verification statement of completion from an ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics.
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and 3.0 for professional courses (4.0 basis); recommended science grades of a C or better.
- Good written and verbal communication skills in English.
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated ability (as evidenced by the letters of recommendations and personal statement):
- To work effectively as a member of a team, as well as team leader
- To be a self-directed and independent learner, and
- To be flexible and enthusiastic.
- Work and/or volunteer experience related to health care, community and/or food service encouraged.
How to Apply
- Complete the student application through Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS).
- For any questions concerning the DICAS application, please email dicasinfo@dicas.org.
- Pay the $50 DICAS application fee. There is a $25 fee for each additional internship application.
- Pay the $60 (non-refundable) UW-Green Bay Dietetic Internship application fee. Make check/money order payable to UW-Green Bay, and mail directly to UW-Green Bay, Dietetic Internship, 2420 Nicolet Drive LS 455, Green Bay, WI 54311. Please make sure your full name is included with the check/money order.
- Write a personal statement limited to 8,000 characters (approximately 1,000 words). In your personal statement, address a minimum of three of the following items in your statement:
- Why do you want to enter the dietetics profession?
- Discuss experiences that have helped prepare you for your career?
- What are your short-term and long-term goals?
- What are your strengths and areas needing improvement?
- What other information do you consider important for the selection process?
- Submit 3 letters of recommendation from faculty, academic advisors, employers or other individuals who have supervised your academic studies or work experience. At least one recommendation should come from an employer who supervised your volunteer or work experience and one from an instructor of a course you took within nutrition and dietetics.
- All recommendations will be submitted electronically through DICAS.
- Include the name and contact information (specifically an email address) for each of your 3 references. This will trigger an email message that requests completion of a reference form. The form will be completed electronically.
- If you submit more than one application, you'll need to use the same individuals as references for each application.
- Provide a verification statement: An official statement of Verification of Completion of the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPD) with original signatures, or Declaration of Intent to complete academic requirements, also with original signatures, is required. Once you submit the online DICAS application, the DPD will be notified, and a verification or declaration of intent will be automatically processed.
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended: When applying online, you will be asked to download and fill out a Transcript Request Form that you'll send to the Registrar of each institution. The Registrar will send the official transcript directly to DICAS. Note, this includes two-year colleges, online colleges and/or any academic institution from which you have received a post-secondary grade.
Requirements Upon Acceptance
Once you are accepted into the program, you'll need to complete several requirements to begin the internship.
Health Requirements
You must submit the following health records and information that must be current for the entire internship year (June 1 of the current year to June 1 of the next year, i.e. 6/1/25-6/1/26).
- A physician signed health/physical examination within 6 months prior to start of internship with official records and dates of all vaccinations and immunizations, including:
- 2 doses of the MMR vaccine to prove immunity to measles, mumps and rubella
- Proof of immunity to chicken pox (a titer is required if you have had chicken pox) or 2 vaccinations
- 2 Step TB Test which will be valid through the completion of the program (some rotations require additional)
- Tetanus immunization within the past 10 years.
- Flu shot for current season
- Drug Test - 10 panel
- Hepatitis B - 3 shot series. A titer is recommended to show immunity.
- COVID-19 vaccine is highly recommended but not mandatory.
Criminal Background Checks
State of Wisconsin law requires a stringent background check of people providing care for others. You must complete a detailed disclosure form and pay the processing fee of $25 to $65, if accepted to the dietetic internship program. It is also required to complete background checks in every state resided within the last 7 years. Please be aware that certain severe offenses found in the results of the background check may not allow you to participate in the internship, except through an appeals process. Some locations do require an additional background check. If this is the case for your rotation, you will be informed. The facility typically covers the cost.
Professional Liability Insurance
All interns are required to purchase $1,000,000 for occurrence, $5,000,000 aggregate in additional liability insurance. It is the responsibility of each intern. Approximate cost is $25 to $60.
CPR Certification
You are required to have a current valid American Heart Association Healthcare Provider (BLS) CPR certification THROUGHOUT internship year.
Learn the
Tricks of the Trade
"The preceptors are the undeniable highlight of the internship. The skills and knowledge imparted by each individual I interned under will stick with me for a lifetime. Any successes I find in my career I owe to the ‘tricks of the trade’ I was able to pick up from many passionate and skilled professionals I learned from."
Jane Doe '20 & '21
Human Biology Major, Nutrition & Dietetics Emphasis, Dietetic Internship Graduate | Registered Dietitian & Personal Trainer – Western Racquet & Fitness Club
Ask an Expert
If you have questions about applying to the dietetic internship program, get in touch with Heather Masters, Dietetic Internship Director.