The Texas WIC Dietetic Internship (TX WIC DI) is designed to assist qualified nutritionists employed within the Texas WIC program, either by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) or WIC local agencies, to become registered dietitians.
Application
Important notice for 2013 potential applicants:
The application period for the Texas WIC Dietetic Internship is now open. We are now using the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application system ( DICAS). All applications must be completed online by June 15, 2012. The application can be accessed at https://portal.dicas.org (e-mail DICASinfo@DICAS.org). The fee is $40.
Please note that if you are going to apply for the 2013 class, you must log in to the DICAS system and start the application prior to April 1, 2012. You can finish your application until it is due on June 15, but you must open the application prior to April 1.
Accreditation Status
The Texas WIC Dietetic Internship is currently granted Initial Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of The American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040 ext. 5400.
Upon satisfactory completion of the program, interns will be eligible to become active members of The American Dietetic Association and to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians.
Program Description
The internship provides the opportunity for nutritionists employed within the Texas WIC program to become registered dietitians. The internship is based upon the Accreditation Standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of The American Dietetic Association (ADA) and provides the practitioner competencies essential to perform the specialized functions of a Registered Dietitian. The program concentration is nutrition education. This builds on the core professional competencies required to prepare dietetic practitioners for the breadth of dietetic practice including health promotion and disease prevention, nutrition therapy, and food service management.
The dietetic internship is a eight month program that begins in January and ends in August. It provides supervised practice experiences reflecting the breadth of dietetics practice. Interns will complete their internship rotations and requirements while remaining employed by DSHS or their respective local WIC agency. Interns will participate full time (40 hours per week) in the internship.
Upon successful completion of the internship, the intern will be eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians given by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Passing the registration examination is the third and final requirement to become a registered dietitian. In addition, interns must agree to work full time for at least 24 months, or the equivalent part time, within DSHS or their respective Texas WIC local agency after passing the registration exam.
After completion of the internship, interns are required to continue to work for their WIC agency for a minimum of 2 years.
The Texas WIC Dietetic Internship is able to sponsor a maximum of twelve students per year. In the selection of interns, consideration is given to applicant’s length of service in WIC programs and the need for registered dietitians in specific geographical areas of the state, in addition to standard application requirements.
The Texas WIC Dietetic Internship provides approximately 1225 hours of supervised practice, and over 300 hours of on-site seminar time, to achieve the core competencies and nutrition education competencies required for entry-level registered dietitians. Supervised practice experiences will be scheduled to include the following:
Food Service Management = 160
Medical Nutrition Therapy = 480
Community Nutrition/Nutrition Education = 464
Total = 1,224
Registered dietitians or other professionals under the direction of the Dietetic Internship Director supervise interns in these experiences. Sites for supervised practice will be individualized for each intern. If possible, supervised practice sites will be utilized in the area of the state where the intern is employee.
For information, contact:
Mary Van Eck, MS, RD, LD
Director, Texas WIC Dietetic Internship
512-341-4510
Mary.vaneck@dshs.state.tx.us