UMass Amherst Dietetic Internship Program Policies and Procedures Manual

The dietetic internship at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (henceforth referred to as UMass Amherst dietetic internship or DI) is a 10-month* program that provides the practical experiential learning necessary to prepare and qualify dietetic students (henceforth referred to as students) to take the nationally administered Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) credentialling examination (also referred to as the “RD exam”). Graduates of the program also meet the experience portion required to apply for state licensure in MA and other states. For more information visit “Pathway to RD/RDN and Licensure.”

Accommodating up to 10 students each year, the UMass Amherst DI program has two start dates. The fall program runs Sept-May; spring program runs Feb-Nov. The philosophy of the program is based on our recognition that there is a need for broadly trained dietitians, and most students benefit from exposure to a wide variety of practice settings before deciding where to specialize.

Our program strives to provide an opportunity for students to participate in a variety of supervised practice experiences that will form the broad basis for a career in any segment of the nutrition and dietetics field. *Program length may vary depending on prior learning credit, student’s progress, and/or desired experiences.

The UMass Amherst DI program is accredited through 2029 by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). ACEND is located at 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, Illinois, 60606-6995. To contact ACEND, call (312) 899-5400, email ACEND [at] eatright [dot] org or visit their website: https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend.

In accordance with the 2022 ACEND standards, students are required to complete 1000 hours of supervised practice, of which 700 hours must be conducted in a professional workplace setting and 300 hours may come from alternate supervised experiences including simulated case studies and role playing. The UMass Amherst DI provides students with over 1,000 supervised hours in a workplace setting and approximately 200 hours of alternate supervised practice hours.

Preceptors from healthcare facilities, school systems, and community organizations in western Massachusetts and beyond volunteer their time and attention to teaching UMass Amherst DI students about their respective areas of expertise. Collectively, they provide the supervised, professional experiences necessary to meet the competencies required by ACEND of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.