Current Illinois State Students
Professional Practice / Internships
If you are a dietitian trained in another country you may be eligible for reciprocity with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Information about reciprocity is found at the Fact Sheet for Individuals with Foreign Degrees available on the American Dietetic Association web site
International students who are not eligible for reciprocity with the Commission on Dietetic Registration and want to become a R.D. must complete the five steps to becoming a registered dietitian to become a R.D. and practice dietetics in the United States. An excellent resource describing the requirements is the Fact Sheet for Individuals with Foreign Degrees available on the American Dietetic Association web site. Specific considerations for international students include:
The first requirement to becoming a R.D. in the United States is the Bachelor’s degree, and you can complete an equivalent degree in another country. Transcripts from foreign universities must be evaluated by one of the evaluation services for verification of degrees and courses from outside the United States. A five-year college degree in some countries is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in the United States.
A Verification Statement of DPD Program Completion from the director of an accredited DPD Program is the second requirement. All DPD programs must meet the national standards of education and have established a DPD curriculum that meets each requirement. A DPD director must evaluate your previous coursework and determine what requirements you have met or not met within the DPD curriculum. DPD curriculums must meet many education standards so that graduates have the foundation knowledge and skills needed for success in a dietetic internship. DPD curriculums generally require eight semesters (four years) or courses to meet all of the standards. The DPD director determines what course work you must complete to meet the requirements of the program curriculum within the policies established for issuing Verification Statements by their department. Receiving this Verification Statement may require retaking courses in the United States to learn the unique aspects of food, nutrition, and dietetics as practiced in the United States. The practice of dietetics involves working with people in an educational and management role and requires knowing all aspects of food, differing food customs of people throughout the United States, food purchasing and preparation, and the role of food and nutrition in health and disease. Through the issuing of a Verification Statement by the DPD Director, the DPD director is verifying that you meet the national education standards needed to begin and perform successfully in a DI.
As a dietetic intern, and later as a R.D., you must be able to successfully communicate, interact and provide quality nutrition care to all clients and patients. The practice of dietetics can differ in the United States compared to other countries. Registered dietitians are also qualified to assume management roles related to food service through their undergraduate course requirements and internship experiences. There are regional and cultural differences in food, food preparation, and menu planning in the United States. Labor laws, and food and sanitation standards and laws can also differ. Nutrition programs exist at the national, state, county, and city levels with unique program benefits and eligibility requirements. Hospitals are highly regulated, legally sensitive environments where professionals provide healthcare and the job performance of healthcare professionals is evaluated against benchmarks to measure the quality of the care they deliver. The content and experiences of courses taken outside the United States do not necessarily provide the foundation knowledge and skills, and adequate understanding of the full scope of dietetics necessary to be successful in a dietetic internship in the United States. The practice of dietetics as performed by R.D.s in the United States can differ from the responsibilities of dietitians in other countries. Not receiving an adequate education in a DPD Program can lessen your chances of being matched by an internship, hinder successful completion of your internship and R.D. exam, and limit your future employment and career success.
The matching of DI applicants to a DI is a highly competitive process with typically about 60-80% of applicants being matched to an internship each year. Completion of a DPD Program is not a guarantee of being matched to a dietetic internship. Grades in dietetics-related courses and work related experience are two key criteria considered by internship committees in ranking their applications. Volunteer experience is also considered and important if work is not possible, perhaps due to visa restrictions. Internships are rigorous training programs where you learn on the job by working with individual preceptors who trains you to do their job. Work or volunteer experience, helps the internship committee determine if applicants understand dietetics and would be successful in their DI.
