The Dietetic Internship Program will not be accepting new students for the 2024-2025 program year. Please check back for information regarding the 2025-2026 academic year.

The Lamar University Dietetic Internship (DI) Program offers an accredited 12-month (August to August) program for up to 10 students.

The program began in 1995 with a commitment to provide an excellent, evidence-based supervised practice experience to all dietetic interns. The DI Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The most recent accreditation site visit and review occurred in May 2023. See below for more information on ACEND.

The program emphasizes nutrition education and counseling and requires you to complete a minimum of 1084 hours (at least 32 weeks) in supervised practice experiences within the Southeast Texas region along with the M.S. in nutrition degree at Lamar University. The program no longer offers a DI only option. Upon satisfactory completion of the internship and the master's program requirements, you become eligible to take the registration exam and become an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Additionally, once you are a qualified RDN, you are eligible to apply to become a Texas Licensed Dietitian. Regulations and requirements may vary from state-to-state.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requires a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website. 

In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited dietetic internship program at Lamar University are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. Find out more information about state licensure requirements.

Read more information about educational pathways to become a RDN.