Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Dietetic Internship

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Dietetic Internship in Nutrition and Dietetics has been granted Candidacy for Accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL. 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040, ext. 5400.

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Dietetic Internship at Cal State LA provides students with the knowledge and skills required by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) to become an entry-level registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN). Upon completion of this program, students will be provided a verification statement allowing dietitians and nutritionists to register for the CDR credentialing exam.

Program Dates and Courses

Internship Rotations

Review Cal State LA's current academic calendar.

Interns will follow the academic schedule:

Fall 2026: August 24-December 19

Spring 2027: January 21-May 22

Summer 2027: June 1-August 11

Program Completion Requirements

To earn their certificate, students must do the following:

• Pass with Credit the required courses (NTRS 5400 and NTRS 5500);
• Successfully complete the supervised practice hours;
• Successfully complete a graduate degree (before admission);
• Earn a passing grade (80% or higher) on all CRDNs assessments.

Prior Assessed Learning

The program does not accept prior learning hours.

Sample Internship Rotations

The program identifies rotations and places students there. The intern does not have to locate their own internship sites.

California does not require state licensure. Please see here for information from the Commission on Dietetic Registration about state licensure.

Please read/download this information sheet on how to become an RDN.

Computer Requirements

You must have an up-to-date browser, operating system, and some additional software on your computer to take certain classes. Check the ITS Student Resources webpage for more information. Some of the documents in your courses will be available to you in PDF form; you must download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader software on your computer. You will also need access to Zoom, Microsoft Office applications such as Word and PowerPoint, and Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) to complete course assignments. Webcams and microphones may be required to hear and participate in Zoom class sessions. You might consider purchasing a headset that is compatible with your device. You will need consistent access to the internet. If additional technology requirements are needed, they will be located in the course syllabus or Canvas.

Technology Related Skills

You will need to be able to: access and/or send Cal State LA emails; use the Canvas LMS platform to retrieve and participate in course activities; use Zoom to participate in course sessions; use the online libraries or databases to search for pertinent information; use apps/manual to properly cite information; use various platforms to create presentations; and use these computer programs and networks to create and save files.

Applicants must meet the university requirements for admission, which include a baccalaureate and master’s degree from an accredited institution. To be admitted into the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Dietetic Internship, applicants must also meet or provide the following:

1. Apply to the University to be eligible for admission.

2. Have a DPD Verification Statement and a Master’s degree either completed or in progress* from a regionally accredited college or university. The college or university must be located in the U.S. or its territories and accredited in good standing by a U.S. institutional accrediting body for higher education recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE).

3. Two letters of recommendation, with one from an academic source.

4. Letter of professional and future goals. Specific directions will be available in the supplemental application.

5. Resume with relevant volunteer and work experience.

*Note: Students must have completed their master's degree before beginning the program.

The mission of the Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Dietetic Internship (PBCDI) is to provide planned supervised practice opportunities and cultivate career readiness that will prepare graduates for future careers as entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and to work among diverse communities.

Program Goal #1

The program will prepare graduates to become competent entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.

1. “At least 80% of Interns complete program requirements within 19.5 months (150% of planned program length)”.
2. “At least 75% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion”.
3. “The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%”.
4. At least 80% of employers who respond to a survey on intern preparedness for entry-level work will respond as being “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with preparation for practice.

Program Goal #2

The program will prepare graduates who demonstrate career readiness and use research evidence to work with diverse individuals and communities.

1. “Of graduates who seek employment, at least 75% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation”.
2. At least 80% of employers who respond to a survey on graduate career readiness and using research evidence in working with diverse individuals and communities will respond as being “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with preparation for practice.
3. At least 80% of graduates who respond to a survey on intern career readiness and using research evidence in working with diverse individuals and communities will respond as being “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with preparation for practice.

Program Outcomes are available upon request.

• At completion of the program, the Department of Nutrition and Food Science (DNFS) and PaGE will award students in the PBCDI a certificate of completion and a verification statement if they successfully complete all coursework (20 units), all competencies for registered dietitian nutritionists (CRDNs), and at least 1000 hours of supervised practice.

• Students must successfully pass all courses in the program (courses are credit/no credit). Students in the PBIDC will not earn a degree. The PBCDI director will issue students who successfully complete the coursework, competencies (CRDNs) for the program, and supervised practice hours a verification statement, after the certificate has been conferred by the university.

• Students are encouraged to complete the program in no more than 19.5 months from the date of enrollment, as the university does have a time limit for course completion. All coursework applied toward a post-baccalaureate certificate or graduate degree must have been completed within the seven years immediately preceding your graduation date.

The total program cost is $10,000. Additional fees include:

Tuition and other costs may fluctuate by academic year and depend on the credits taken per semester.

Students must pay to have their final certificate processed. The certificate fee is $25. Please see the Cal State LA Graduation website for deadlines and additional details.

Financial assistance will be available beginning in Fall 2026. Please email Lisette Hernandez.

The programs’ role and responsibility will assist the interns in identifying supervised practice sites and preceptors.

The program does not accept Prior Assessed Learning.

Current or former students will apply through Cal State Apply. For Cohort 1 (Fall 2026 admission), we are only accepting applications from Cal State LA alumni.

The application window for the Fall 2026 Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Dietetic Internship Program is May 13 to 31. However, applicants will need a code to apply.

Application Steps:

1. Apply via Cal State Apply (May 13 to 31, 2026)

2. Submit Transcripts (due June 19, 2026, if applicable)

• Applicants will not need to submit official transcripts unless they attended a different university since graduating from Cal State LA
• Apply to the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Dietetic Internship program.
• Watch a video about how to use Cal State Apply.

Electronically submit transcripts and required documents (if applicable, see above).

OR

Mail transcripts and other required documents to:

Office of Admissions and Recruitment

Cal State LA

5151 State University Drive

Los Angeles, CA 90032

Learn more about the transcript submission process.

4. Applicants selected for interviews will be notified in early June.

5. Final decisions (acceptance or waitlist) will be released by the second week of June.

6. Accepted applicants must confirm their spot by June 19, 2026. (Earlier confirmation is encouraged.)

Join our interest list to learn more about the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Dietetic Internship.

Registration for virtual information sessions is forthcoming.

To seek academic advisement, please email Victoria Buxton-Pacheco, MS, RDN.