Dietetic Internship Preceptor Resources

Dietetic Internship

The Dietetic Internship Program prepares graduates for careers as entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Interns develop the knowledge and skills needed to provide ethical, professional nutrition care while serving their communities. The program also emphasizes lifelong learning, evidence-based practice, and leadership.

Join us for the next preceptor meeting! Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 12pm Mountain Time

You’re invited to join a meaningful conversation on body size bias. Approved for 2 CPEUs for RDNs to satisfy the health equity requirement.

Email dietetic.internship@unco.edu for registration information.

Why Be a Preceptor?

Exceptional Preceptor Satisfaction Rates

97% of preceptors are satisfied with being a preceptor at UNC

Earn Continuing Professional Education Units Through Precepting

Attend free CPEUs offered to UNC preceptors, and receive CPEUs just for precepting!

Internship Rotations as Pathways to Employment

Many interns ultimately seek employment at one of their rotations.

Rotation Timeline and Scheduling

Interns begin rotations each year in mid to late June and must complete their internship by the following year in April for full-time interns or July for part-time interns

Within this timeframe, interns have flexibility to schedule rotations during periods that work best for both them and their preceptors.

Completing Rotation Hours

Rotation hours may be completed consecutively or distributed throughout the 8–14-month internship.

To support a well-rounded learning experience, interns are encouraged to work with multiple preceptors and facilities, allowing them to gain a broader range of experiences and perspectives.

Required Rotations  

Clinical (Majority spent at a large, acute care hospital): 300 hours 

Community: 300 hours 

Foodservice: 300 hours 

Concentration (Management, Nutrition Education & Counseling, or ICU): 100 hours 

*If your site requires a greater number of hours than what the program requires, please reach out to the program. 

Preceptor Requirements

  • Must have 2 years’ experience 
  • Clinical preceptors must be an RDN 

Before your rotation, please review the list of competencies and associated learning activities. This document also includes suggested rotations where each competency is typically addressed. 

If a competency is listed for your rotation and you feel it may not be achievable during that time, please let your intern and/or the Program Director know. We will work with you to identify another opportunity where the competency can be completed. 

For some rotations, the program requires the intern to provide staff relief. If this applies to your site, you will be provided with further details regarding this process.

 

Please review the following requirements for forms to complete during and after the rotation. These forms will be sent to you by the program. 

  • Mid-Rotation Progress Report: For rotations >80 hours in length, complete halfway through the rotation. Not required for rotations <80 hours.  
  • End-Rotation Progress Report: Complete on the last day or soon after.  
  • Competency and Learning Activity Evaluation: Will be sent to you by the director toward the end of the rotation. Complete on the last day or soon after. 

Resources for Working with Our Interns

Two student cooking in test kitchen. Click to play the video

Welcome and Thank You for Precepting at UNC

Resources for Preceptors

Claiming Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs):

A maximum of 3 CPEUs per year or a total of 15 CPEUs per 5-year reporting period can be awarded to RDNs or RDs, and NDTRs or DTRs for this activity. Please send your completed Preceptor Verification Form to your program contact or to dietetic.internship@unco.edu for a signature.

Goals and Objectives

The program will prepare graduates to serve as competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists in various employment positions.  

 

Objective 1.1: Full Time: “At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 12 months (150% of planned program length)”. (RE 2.1.c.1.a) 

Part time: “At least 80% of interns complete the program requirements within 21 months (150% of planned program length)”. (RE 2.1.c.1.a) 

MS/DI: ” At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 54 months (150% of planned program length)”. (RE 2.1.c.1.a)  

Objective 1.2: “Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation”. (RE 2.1.c.1.b)   

Objective 1.3: “At least 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion”. (RE 2.1.c.1.c.1)   

Objective 1.4: “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%.” (RE 2.1.c.1.c.2)   

Objective 1.5: Ninety-five percent of responding employers will agree (yes/no) that the graduate exhibited the knowledge and skills to perform as a competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionist at the time of employment.  

Graduates of the UNC DI program will adhere to the professional code of ethics, integrate evidence-based research in practice, be lifelong learners, and exhibit leadership qualities.   

 

Objective 2.1: At least 50% of graduates will report participating in at least one leadership activity and/or professional workshop/conference within a year after completion. 

 

ACEND standards: 2022 Standards and Templates 

 

Not currently a preceptor, but interested in becoming one? Email dietetic.internship@unco.edu