Bay Pines VA Healthcare System
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There is no application fee for the internship, and we do not charge tuition to participate in the program. The cost of living during the internship varies depending on your choice of housing arrangements. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide meals or housing. Interns may opt to share an apartment and lunch meals can be purchased at the Canteen or brought from home.
Stipend
The availability and amount of a stipend vary annually and are allocated by the Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA). For the 2025-2026 program year, the stipend rate for Bay Pines VA Healthcare System dietetic interns is approximately $24,360 pre-tax (equivalent to about $15.00 per hour) paid bi-weekly during the supervised practice portion of the program only.
Dietetic Internship Expenses
- Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) fee: $50 for the first designation; $25 for each additional designation
- Housing: Apartments in the Tampa Bay Area typically range from $1500 to $2000 per month. Listings can be found on Apartment Guide here or Tampa Bay Times online here.
- Health insurance: Eligible for VA health benefits (cost varies depending on the plan)
- Student professional liability insurance: Approximately $30
- Professional meeting registration and expenses: About $100
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics student membership dues: $58
- Optional Suncoast Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics student membership: $15
- Optional scrubs for clinical rotations (charcoal gray color): Approximately $50
- Transportation: Approximately $100-200 (excluding gas costs)
- Drug screening: Approximately $30 (if required by affiliation site)
- Registration Examination for Dietitians (post-graduation): $250
USF Graduate School Expenses (MPH/DI option)
- Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) fee: $150
- USF graduate school application fee: $30
- USF tuition: Estimated at approximately $18,000 (residents) or $37,000 (non-residents). Please visit USF's tuition and fee information site here for additional information.
- Textbooks and reference manuals: About $500 for all six semesters
Financial Resources
Interns enrolled in the MPH/DI option are eligible for financial aid and scholarship through the university here.
Scholarships
All applicants and interns are encouraged to apply for scholarships through The Academy in addition to their state and local dietetic associations.
Student Loans
We do not offer student loans for this program. If you currently have student loans, you may be eligible for loan forbearance during your time in the program. Please discuss this option with your loan institution for more information. If you are considering loan forbearance, contact the Dietetic Internship Director. Forbearance is often the best choice, but suitability depends on each individual loan agreement.
Transportation
Public transportation is limited in the Tampa Bay area, so it is necessary for interns to have a reliable form of transportation. Transportation to and from scheduled duty times at the medical center and affiliate sites is the responsibility of each intern. BPVAHCS and affiliate sites do not charge a fee for parking.
Note: Links above 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.
