Dietetic Internship Program

VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System

Thank you for your interest in the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System Dietetic Internship (VA ECHCS DI) Program in Aurora, Colorado! Our program offers both a comprehensive Master of Science/Dietetic Internship (MS/DI track) and a Dietetic Internship (DI) only track. The MS/DI track is offered in partnership with the University of Alabama (UA), allowing interns to simultaneously complete a 30-credit hour Master of Science in Human Nutrition over 14 or 18 months and a 39-week supervised practice experience. For applicants who already hold a Master of Science in Nutrition (or a related field, subject to approval), we provide an option to complete the 39-week supervised practice component alone through the DI only track.

Our 39-week internship program encompasses supervised practice hours and alternate practice experiences in clinical dietetics, food service management, and community nutrition. It also includes tours, field trips, and vacation/federal holidays. Once the supervised practice rotations and the Master of Science degree are successfully completed, dietetics interns receive their ACEND Verification Statement (VS), enabling them to sit for the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) examination to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). For those with a completed master’s degree, the VS is awarded upon the completion of the supervised practice portion of the internship.

The mission of the VA ECHCS DI Program is to develop entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists who can assume roles in the dietetics field and commit to evidence-based practice to improve the health outcomes of our nation’s growing diverse Veteran and civilian population.

Because the VA is a federal agency, applicants must be a U.S. citizen to apply for and participate in our dietetic internship program. See the Application Information page for more information about program requirements and selection criteria.

Open House: We also encourage prospective applicants to attend our Open House sessions for a comprehensive overview of our program. These sessions offer the opportunity to learn about the VA ECHCS DI, the Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, and meet key people involved in the program, including preceptors, staff, and current interns. If you are interested in attending a virtual open house, please email Shannon.Casas@va.gov or RSVP HERE.

Virtual Open House Dates:
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
11:00am-12:00pm MST

Monday, December 8, 2025
10:00am-11:00am MST

The VA ECHCS Dietetic Internship offers two tracks:

1. Dietetic Internship Only Track (10 months):

Applicants who already hold a Master of Science in Nutrition (or a related field, subject to approval) can complete the 39-week supervised practice portion of the program without the additional coursework at UA. Degree confirmation and submission of transcripts must occur prior to the program start date.

2. The University of Alabama MS/DI Combined Track (14 or 18 months)

The MS/DI Track is designed to be completed in 14 or 18 months in partnership with the University of Alabama (UA). Interns in this track will concurrently be enrolled in the fully online, 30-credit hour Master of Science in Human Nutrition degree program while completing supervised practice rotations at ECHCS. The program is creatively designed to provide foundational knowledge before starting coursework, integrate class assignments with experiences in the internship, and assure advanced knowledge in the field of nutrition and dietetics. Internship Directors work directly with the university faculty to align coursework. All courses are offered fully online, and out-of-state fees are waived. You can learn more about the program here: MS in Human Nutrition | The University of Alabama*. For more information, contact the Human Nutrition program director, Tiffany Hylton, PhD, RDN, LD at tmhylton@ches.ua.edu.

Graduate School Application Due Date: January 15th
To allow the UA graduate and ECHCS DI Program adequate time to review applications, MS/DI track applicants must apply to the UA graduate program by January 15^th.

Overview of required curriculum for MS degree program including an 18-month or 14-month pathway:

Course Titles:

POPH 522                   Biostatistics
NHM 509                     Research Methods
NHM 573                     Advanced Vitamin and Mineral Metabolism
NHM 572                     Metabolism of Energy Nutrients
NHM 566                     Advanced Clinical Nutrition
NHM 567                     Nutrition Support of the Critically Ill
NHM 585                     Clinical Nutrition Management*
NHM 587                     Integrated Food Systems Management
NHM 588                     Advanced Food Service Systems Management*
NHM 597                     MS Capstone Course
*Integrated with Supervised Practice – interns will need to be in rotations to take these courses (bolded in options above)


Accreditation
The VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System Dietetic Internship Program has been granted candidate status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
Phone: (312) 899-0040, x5400 or 800-877-1600, x5400
https://www.eatrightPRO.org/ACEND

 

Current Credentialing Process to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN):

1. Beginning in 2024, eligiblity requirements to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist require a Master's degree and a verification statement from one of the following types of ACEND-accredited programs: Dietetic Internship (DI), an Individualized Supervised Practice Program (ISPP), a Coordinated Program (CP) or Graduate Program (GP), all of which provide the required 1000 hours of supervised practice.

• Dietetic Internships require a DPD verification statement from an ACEND-accredited DPD program for admission. DIs may require completion of a Master's degree prior to admission, or may allow the Master's to be in progress during the DI. VA ECHCS DI offers both track options for applicants (DI only or MS/DI affiliated with the University of Alabama).
• ISPPs are geared towards individuals with a doctoral degree who want to complete 1000 hours of supervised practice to become an RDN or graduated of DPD programs who did not match with a DI program. Please refer to the ACEND Program Directory to identify these programs.
• CPs may be at the undergraduate or graduate level and meet both DPD and supervised practice requirements.
• GPs may require a DPD verification statement or may have prerequisite course requirements for admission. These programs include a graduate degree and 1000 hours of supervised practice.

2. Pass the Registration Examination for Dietitians, a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information rgarding the examination, refer to CDR's website at cdrnet.org.*  Graduates who successfully complete the VA ECHCS DI (including successful completion of Master's degree, as applicable) are eligible to sit for this examination.
3. Obtain state licensure if required. Licensure is not required in the state of Colorado.
4. Complete continuing professional educational requirementsto maintain your RDN credential.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master's degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). To be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor's degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12pm midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree*.

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*.

 

If you have any questions unanswered by our website, you may contact the Internship Director:

Shannon Casas, MS, RD, CNSC VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System Nutrition and Food Service (NFS) 1700 N. Wheeling Street Aurora, CO 80045 Email: Shannon.Casas@va.gov Office phone: (720) 723-7696

 

*Link will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs Website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites. The link will open in a new window.