College of the Ozarks

Beyond Graduation

Dietetics is a very challenging and diverse field. There’s a wide range of work opportunities in this ever-changing profession. As a dietitian, you will find an impressive array of options and exciting opportunities in a variety of venues. You might work in a health care position providing nutritional services for patients. You might work in the community, counseling individuals and groups on good nutrition practices to prevent disease and promote good health, or you might work in food systems management, supervising the planning, preparation and service of meals, along with other management tasks, in settings such as universities, schools, and hospitals.

The credentialing process:

If you chose to become a registered dietitian (RD), you will need to meet the requirements to take the entry-level registration examination for dietitians. Current requirements include academic preparation, supervised practice, and confirmation of academic and practice requirements by verification. These requirements are periodically reviewed and are subject to change. College of the Ozarks Didactic Program in Dietetics is accredited and upon successful completion of the program a BS in Dietetics and a verification statement will be granted. Students are eligible to apply to accredited supervised practice programs during their last semester with an intent to graduate verification statement from the director of the program.

An accredited dietetic internship program provides for the achievement of performance requirements for entry-level dietitians through a minimum of 900 hours of supervised practice. The program follows completion of the Didactic Program in Dietetics and a Baccalaureate degree. Some programs may be completed part-time with supervised practice at a minimum of 20 hours per week and completed within a two-year period. For more information and listing of accredited supervised practice program see http://www.eatright.org/Public/7782_13280.cfm.

“Most ADA Dietetic Internships select applicants for appointments through a computer matching process. This process occurs twice a year, in the Spring appointments are made in April and Fall appointments are made in November. A matching program serves as a clearinghouse to help applicants obtain supervised practice positions of their choice and to help DIs obtain applicants of their choice. It eliminates unfair pressures and premature appointment decisions by programs and acceptance or rejection of appointments by applicants. ADA has a contract with D&D Digital Systems to facilitate the coordinated matching process.” More information concerning eligibility requirements for dietitians see http://www.cdrnet.org/certifications/rddtr/pathwaysrd.htm.