- Complete the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) didactic requirements while completing a bachelor of science degree in Nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics at Mansfield University.
- Complete an (ACEND) accredited dietetic internship after completing your degree at Mansfield University.
The internship provides the student with the opportunity to apply their knowledge of clinical and community nutrition and food service management. The internship provides additional training in healthcare facilities, community agency, or food service organizations. This education experience allows the student to practice in the field under a Registered Dietitian prior to becoming a Registered Dietitian.
Internship programs may be as short as 6 months or as long as two years. Longer internships provide the student with the opportunity to complete graduate coursework. Students apply for dietetic internships during their senior year. Dietetic internships are highly competitive.
- Pass the Registration Examination for Dietitians. The Registration Examination is a national examination, which leads to the credential of Registered Dietitian.
Graduates who do not complete ACEND-approved dietetic internships after graduation are eligible to take the national dietetic technician, registered (DTR) exam and work as dietetic technicians in long-term care, community nutrition programs such as WIC, other health care settings, and food service managers in schools, health care institutions, and other settings. Graduates may also continue their education by attending graduate school.
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, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at Mansfield University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.
In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here.
For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN click here.