Applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

  • Master's Degree (or higher): Applicants must complete a minimum of a master's degree from a a college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), or foreign equivalent, before the start dates of the internship program. Applicants with degrees earned outside the United States must provide a foreign degree evaluation from a Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) approved evaluation agency verifying equivalency to a U.S. master's degree or higher.  
  • Recency of Coursework: The academic coursework for a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) or a graduate nutrition degree (master's or doctoral level) must have been completed within three years of entrance into the internship program.
  • Accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics: Applicants must have completed, or be in the process of completing, an ACEND accredited DPD or a Foreign Dietitian Education (FDE) program. A Verification Statement or Declaration of Intent to Complete must be submitted through Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) at the time of application.
  • DPD Verification Statement: Applicants must complete all DPD requirements and provide and official DPD Verification Statement before the start date of the internship. 
  • Minimum DPD GPA: Applicants must have a minimum DPD GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 
  • Documentation of Graduate Degree Completion: Documentation verifying completion of the graduate degree must be provided before the start date of the internship. Acceptable documentation may include an official transcript showing degree conferral or official written verification from the degree-conferring institution confirming completion of all degree requirements and pending degree conferral. Refer to Application Procedures for additional documentation requirements. 

Human Resources Requirements

Upon acceptance to the UC Davis Health Dietetic Internship program accepted applicants must meet all of the following:

  • Criminal Background Check: Accepted applicants must successfully complete a criminal background check. Admission to the program is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the background check. The background check is coordinated by UC Davis Health at no cost to the intern. 
  • Health Clearance: Interns must obtain health clearance through UC Davis Health Employee Services (EHS) prior to the start of the internship. The clearance includes verification of required immunizations and/or antibody titers, as well as TB screening. Interns are required to complete and employee health questionnaire before their EHS appointment. Health clearance is provided at no cost to the intern. Incoming interns are encouraged to arrive in the area at least three weeks before the internship start date to allow for sufficient time to complete the health clearance process. 
  • Proof of Visa Status for Non U.S. Citizens: Non-U.S. citizens must provide proof of appropriate visa status. Non-U.S. citizens must be approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to complete a dietetic internship. It is the student's responsibility to coordinate the OPT application with their DPD program and/or graduate degree program. The UC Davis Health Dietetic Internship Program does not sponsor visas. 
  • Proof of employment eligibility: Interns must complete an I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form prior to the start of the internship to document verification of identity and employment authorization. Interns must bring appropriate documents that establish identity and authorization to work in the United States with them to the initial HR appointment in August. Please utilize the following link to view the Department of Homeland Security's list of acceptable unexpired documentation that may be used to complete the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form.
  • Substance abuse screening: All dietetic interns are subject to UC Davis Health's substance abuse screening to ensure the continuing safety of our workforce, patients, constituencies and community members, and the security of University resources. The substance abuse screening will be at no cost to the intern. Candidates must pass in order to enter the Dietetic Internship.

International Students

Applicants with degrees earned outside if the United States and its territories should review the ACEND requirements for international applicants. Additional information regarding educational and credentialing requirements for individuals with foreign degrees is available on the ACEND website.

Applicants with degrees earned outside of the United States must meet all admission requirements outlined above, including the foreign degree evaluation requirements described under the Master's Degree (or higher) admission requirement. 

Non-U.S. citizens mist provide proof of appropriate visa status. Non-U.S. citizens must be approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to complete a dietetic internship. It is the students responsibility to coordinate the OPT application with their DPD program and/or graduate degree program. 

The UC Davis Health Dietetic Internship Program does not sponsor visas.