Becoming a Registered Dietitian

Many jobs in the nutrition field require the registered dietitian (R.D.) credential. A "registered dietitian" is a legally protected professional designation and means that you are credentialed by the American Dietetic Association (ADA).

A summary of dietetic career opportunities is posted by The American Dietetic Association at: Careers and Students. A more generic description pertaining to Nutritionists and Dietitians is posted in the U.S. Dept. of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook at: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos077.htm

Achieving the R.D. credential requires: 1) specific coursework, 2) completion of an ADA-accredited internship or 900-1200 hr supervised practicum experience, and 3) passing a national registration exam.  Nutrition & Kinesiology majors will have to take extra courses in addition to those on their NUKIN checklist - listed below. They are subject to change, so you should keep in contact with the DPD director for updates (currently Dr. Betsy Barrett, 107 Justin Hall, ebb@ksu.edu ).  Note that many of these courses are HRIMD courses, offered by the Department of Hotel, Institution Management, and Dietetics (a separate department from the Department of Human Nutrition).

Students who are interested in becoming R.D.s are encouraged to take HRIMD 130 (1) Careers in Nutrition and Dietetics as early as possible.   This course covers the requirements for the R.D. credential and career opportunities.  Most NUKIN majors who decide to pursue this credential add Dietetics as their 3rd B.S. degree (you also have the option of changing majors and just majoring in Dietetics as a single B.S. degree).  The requirements for this degree are posted at B.S. in Dietetics.

Adding Dietetics as your third degree makes it easier for you to complete the ADA academic (didactic) requirements.  It adds a Dietetics faculty member as your third advisor who will then have a copy of your student file and can answer questions most directly about the field of Dietetics.  You will also be given access to the Student Dietetics Website on K-State Online which has a lot of great information and forms specific for this degree. You can add Dietetics as your third major by going to the Human Ecology Deans Office (JU 119).  Before you add Dietetics be sure to look at the requirements in the bullet list below.

If you think you want to obtain this credential, you should also take HN 413 Science of Food fairly early in your program because it is a prerequisite for HRIMD 342.  Also try to make good grades (the higher the better) because most internships are competitive and grades are an important criterion.  Some internships do not accept applicants who have "D"s in specific courses or categories of courses.

After you have added DT as a major, the semester you take HRIMD 341 you will be asked to fill out an application for the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) (Program II).  Contact Dr. Betsy Barrett, DPD Program director, Justin 107 (tele:  532-2208); email: ebb@ksu.edu.  The program accepts a new class of students each semester.  Criteria for admission to the DPD program are the following:

  Have an overall minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.  No grade less than a C is allowed in science or professional studies courses.

  Submit portfolio that documents the completion of a minimum of 150 project hours as part of the application process.  These include: 70 hours of management experience, 50 hours of clinical/community, 30 continuous learning hours.  For updates and specifics refer to the Department of HRIMD Dietetics Student Handbook

  Complete an application packet that includes application for admission, copy of transcript, and documentation of work experience hours (portfolio).

Students who complete the required coursework and meet other requirements become eligible to apply for ADA-approved internships (the 900-1200 hour supervised practice experience required for becoming an R.D.).  Qualified students may apply for the supervised practice experience offered through the KSU Coordinated Program in Dietetics; or they may apply for over 250 internships or supervised practice programs throughout the U.S. (discussed later).

Many HN majors elect to apply for the supervised practice experience offered through KSU's Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP)(Program I).  The supervised practice experience part of this program currently consists of two semesters (a management semester and a clinical semester).

Students must formally apply for this CP supervised Practice Experience ahead of time and meet other admission requirements.  Students apply for admission during the semester immediately prior to the Management and Clinical Semesters.  Consult your Dietetics advisor about admission requirements. 

The admission process involves completion of the application form, submission of at least one recommendation form from a work experience supervisor to the Program Director, and a formal interview with the Program Director and/or other dietetic faculty members and faculty preceptors.  The purpose of the interview is to ascertain the applicant's knowledge and interest in dietetics.  The interview also allows the faculty to assess communication skills, maturity, and understanding of the rigors of an accelerated professional program.  Acceptance into the program is based on meeting the admission criteria, faculty assessment of student readiness for the program, and the availability of an adequate number of quality sites for supervised practice experiences.  Questions can be directed to: Mrs. Roni Schwarz, Director of Coordinated Program (Office: JU 108; Tele:  532-5576.  E-mail: rmschwar@humec.ksu.edu ).

Students may also apply for over 250 ADA-approved off-campus internships around the U.S.  For a descriptive listing of the 250 off-campus internships, see the "Applicant Guide to Supervised Practice Experience" (Author: The American Dietetic Association) which is on the Dietetics Advising website (you will be given access when you add DT as a major).   This website will tell you about specific rotation experiences, program cost/benefits, admission requirements and application evaluation criteria.  If you do not have access to the Dietetics Advising website contact Dr. Barrett, Mrs. Schwartz, or Dr. Grunewald.  You can also see a listing of ADA-approved Internships online.

You will also likely be calling the ADA at some point, and their toll-free number is 1-800-877-1600. The ADA web site describes member services, nutrition resources, and frequently asked questions.

Written and maintained by:  Kathy Grunewald, Ph.D., R.D.
Department of  Human Nutrition, KSU
Created:  May 25, 1999
Last Modified:  May 27, 2008