Program Description and Overview
The UMaine internship program (IP) is a two-year program that leads to a graduate degree. Graduates are prepared to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) and are eligible to sit for the National Registration Examination. Our graduates have a high passage rate for the National Registration Exam and are employed readily within the field of dietetics. Both master’s and doctoral programs are available. Beginning in 2024, the minimum degree requirement for entry-level RDNs will be a graduate degree (master’s or doctoral degree), so the UMaine DI Program fulfills these future requirements.
The graduate dietetic internship program is designed to be completed in 2 years. Both thesis research projects and non-thesis options are available. Supervised practice is a full-time 7-month internship (1072 total hours). Over the two years, interns may spend two semesters on campus completing coursework, two semesters in supervised practice, and then finish the final semester of coursework, graduating in May of the second year or may spend the first academic year, summer and second fall in coursework, followed by two semesters in supervised practice, graduating in August of the second year. Individual program length can vary due to requirements related to thesis research projects. Interns are expected to complete the program within 36 months (150% of planned program length). An intern may take courses in human nutrition and/or food science. Currently the program is approved to accept up to ten dietetic interns and two Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP) interns per year.*
*The ISPP option [Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)-verification statement for unmatched applicants] is closing as of 5-1-2024 and is not accepting further applications. The program will continue to offer an ISPP option for University of Maine doctoral students.
Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
The UMaine DI program is an ACEND-accredited* supervised practice program that provides the necessary education (graduate degree) and supervised practice experience that is needed to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Prior to applying to this program, all applicants must have completed an ACEND-accredited undergraduate Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), which is the first step toward becoming an RDN. The third and final step in becoming an RDN (after completing the supervised practice program) is to take the registration examination for dietitians. Exam requirements are set by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Information on the exam can be found at CDR’s website. Current registration by CDR entitles dietitians to apply for licensure in the State of Maine.
This program will prepare students to be eligible for licensure within the State of Maine. Visit the UMS State Authorization & Licensure page to learn more about the licensure requirements in other states and territories, in addition to the contact information needed to inquire further into the licensure requirements associated with this program. Further information on licensure statutes and information on dietetics regulation in each state can be found here.
While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND’s considered opinion that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state’s licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license. More information about state licensure and certification can be found at this link: State Licensure.
*Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (800) 877-1600, ext. 5400. https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend
For more information about the Dietetic Internship or ISPP, please contact mona.therrien@maine.edu.
Contact Us
Mona Therrien-Genest, DCN, RD, LD
University of Maine
mona.therrien@maine.edu
120 Hitchner Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5735
(207) 581-3130
FAX (207) 581-1636