Program Timeline

Supervised Practice Hours/Program Rotations

The University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program will provide a 45-week supervised practice experience beginning in August and concluding in June of the following year.

Examination for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists diagram

Program Rotation Overview

Dietetic Internship Orientation (clinical, food service, community) 2 weeks
Clinical – Medical/Surgical 8 weeks
Foodservice 6 weeks
Community 2 weeks
Women’s Health 1 week
Management 1 week
Pediatrics 3 weeks
Adult Outpatient 2 weeks
VA (Renal/Skilled/LTC) 1 week
Traditional or Specialty/Pathway Rotations 9 weeks
Optional 2 weeks
Staff Relief 4 weeks
Thanksgiving Break 1 week
Winter Break 3 weeks

Sample Program Calendar (2025-26)

Date Details
August 11 - August 22 First Day/Orientation Begins at UHCMC
Mondays are included as onsite for orientation weeks
August 26 Begin Supervised Practice
September 1 OFF for Labor Day Holiday
November 24 - 28 OFF for Thanksgiving Holiday Break
December 19 - January 9 OFF for Winter Break
January 12 Pediatric Lectures at UHCMC (at UH this Monday)
January 13 Begin Supervised Practice
January 19 Oncology Lectures at UHCMC (at UH on this Monday)
March 24 - 27 National Nutrition Month Outreach Week
May 25 OFF for Memorial Day Holiday
May 26 - June 19 Staff Relief – In rotations Mondays through Fridays
June 19 Completion of Supervised Practice/Graduation Ceremony

Requirements for Program Completion

In order for the dietetic intern to receive the Dietetic Internship (DI) Verification Statement, each UHCMC dietetic intern must meet the following requirements:

  • Completion of all required supervised practice hours (at least 1,000 supervised practice hours required)
  • Demonstrate competency in all required ACEND competencies for entry-level practice
  • Successfully complete all dietetic internship program rotations, assignments, projects, case studies, evaluations, and program specific requirements.
  • Meet all minimum performance standards for program rotation evaluations.
  • Completion of graduate degree reflected by official transcripts with conferred degree date from an accredited college or university.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Exam

To qualify to sit for the Examination for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), candidates must have fulfilled all requirements noted above as indicated by issuance of the Dietetic Internship Verification Statement.