Choosing a dietetic internship is a big decision, and having questions is not only normal but encouraged. Asking thoughtful questions helps you find a program that aligns with your goals, interests, and needs. No two dietetic internships are the same. Programs vary in rotation experiences, location flexibility, concentrations, level of outreach and placement support, scheduling options, and RD exam preparation.

The Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship (BWS DI) is an ACEND-accredited distance program designed to provide supervised practice experience, professional development, and meaningful support so interns feel confident entering the field as entry-level RDNs. With our distance format, interns can complete rotations anywhere in the United States while receiving guidance from experienced faculty, preceptors, and a collaborative program team. While interns are encouraged to take an active role in identifying potential sites, BWS DI provides comprehensive outreach assistance, including contacting facilities, supporting communication with potential preceptors, and helping secure placements.

Our website includes a full FAQ library, but this post dives deeper into ten of the most common questions we hear from prospective applicants.

1. What Is a Distance Dietetic Internship?

The BWS DI is an ACEND-accredited distance dietetic internship, which means interns complete their supervised practice hours in the geographic area of their choice. This model offers flexibility for interns from a wide range of backgrounds, including those who are rooted in their communities, balancing work or family responsibilities, or entering the field as second-career professionals. 

A distance format also allows interns to seek rotation sites that reflect their interests and long-term goals. This structure helps interns build meaningful professional relationships in the communities where they may want to live and work. Interns also have the option to complete rotations in multiple geographic locations, if desired.

Although interns are located across the U.S., they receive personalized, hands-on support from BWS DI faculty advisors, program leadership, and preceptors. This includes individualized guidance and assistance with site outreach and placement to help interns identify, connect with, and secure rotation sites.

Learn more about Distance Dietetic Internships. 

benefits of a distance dietetic internship with BWS DI

2. What Does the Wellness and Disease Prevention Concentration Include?

BWS DI is led by Be Well Solutions, a physician-owned worksite wellness company, and our wellness and disease prevention concentration is a signature feature of the program. This concentration centers on a 320-hour wellness rotation that provides hands-on experience in preventive health and wellness.

Common practice settings for the wellness rotation include:

  • Corporate wellness companies and employer-based wellness programs
  • Insurance or healthcare organizations with preventive care services
  • Fitness or performance centers
  • Hospital wellness programs
  • Campus wellness and student health services
  • Nutrition private practices offering corporate or group wellness services.
  • Collegiate and professional sports teams

Throughout this rotation, interns develop skills that prepare them for wellness-focused roles. They may:

  • Assess individual or group health needs and recommend interventions
  • Design, implement, and evaluate wellness programs and presentations
  • Create educational materials tailored to different audiences
  • Research current trends in nutrition and wellness
  • Support behavior change through counseling and coaching approaches.

Interns also participate in an educational corporate wellness session during orientation, attend a knowledge-building full-day Wellness Workshop, and complete a Wellness Capstone project to demonstrate their ability to design a wellness program from start to finish.

3. How Long Does the Program Take?

Interns can choose between two tracks to best match their scheduling needs:

Full-Time Track: 8 months
Ideal for those able to commit approximately 40 hours per week to supervised practice rotations.

Part-Time Track: 12 months
Interns on the part-time track have additional time to complete their supervised practice hours. While the minimum requirement is 20 hours per week, interns choose to complete between 20 and 40 hours per week, depending on their preferences and preceptor availability. Schedules may also vary from rotation to rotation based on what works best for both the intern and the site.

A few key points to know:

  • All interns complete the didactic curriculum in 8 months, regardless of track.
  • The primary difference between tracks is the pace of supervised practice hours.
  • The timelines are specific to the DI portion of the program. Individuals on an MS/DI pathway will have a longer timeline to complete their graduate degree.

Learn more about program tracks, pathways, and didactic curriculum.

4. How Does Rotation Site Placement and Outreach Work?

As a distance program, BWS DI encourages interns to take an active role in identifying and securing supervised practice sites and preceptors. This empowers interns to personalize their experiences by choosing locations and settings that align with their interests and long-term goals.

However, you’re not doing it alone. Our outreach manager provides personalized assistance to each intern throughout the site placement process. Additionally, our team’s administrative assistant handles site paperwork and helps interns with onboarding. Support may include:

  • Outreach to potential preceptors and facilities for placement opportunities 
  • Sharing established preceptor contacts
  • Maintaining a shared outreach tracking log
  • Coordinating paperwork once a site confirms placement
  • Offering updates as new opportunities or responses come in
  • Helping you stay organized with a rotation schedule template and regular check-ins.

This collaborative approach empowers interns to build communication and networking skills while providing structure and support along the way.

Bottom line: Don’t let building a rotation schedule scare you away from applying to the BWS distance dietetic internship program. You do not need a completed rotation schedule to be eligible to apply, just the willingness to begin the process, with our support alongside you.

5. What’s Included in Tuition?

Tuition for the BWS DI is $13,000, and the cost includes much more than program enrollment. The internship tuition is structured to be all-inclusive, providing interns with resources and tools that support success during the program and beyond.

Included in tuition:

  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics student membership (1 year)
  • Nutrition Care Manual subscription (1 year)
  • Professional liability insurance (1 year)
  • Background check
  • HIPAA and OSHA training
  • RD Exam preparation resources (Pocket Prep + Pass Class)
  • Orientation and Exit Class programming.

While the internship itself is not eligible for direct federal financial aid, students simultaneously enrolled in an MS program are usually able to access aid to cover the cost of the internship.

BWS DI offers early application and MS partner discounts, as well as interest-free payment plans with 2, 4, 10, or 12-month terms. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, DPGs, and many state affiliates offer scholarships for student and intern members. Many of our interns who have applied have been successful in receiving these scholarships.

Learn more about BWS DI tuition.

distance dietetic internship rotation site examples

6. Where Do Interns Complete Their Rotations?

Interns complete 1,040 total supervised practice hours across four required rotations, with the option to add a fifth elective rotation. This structure provides a well-rounded experience and allows room for customization.

Required Rotations:

  • Clinical Nutrition (320 hours): hospitals, medical centers, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics (partial rotation)
  • Foodservice (80 hours): hospital, school, or corporate dining operations
  • Community & Public Health (160 hours): WIC programs, public health departments, university cooperative extension programs, food banks, Meals on Wheels, and community-based organizations
  • Wellness (320 hours): corporate wellness companies, fitness or performance centers, campus dietitians, prevention-focused private or group practices serving corporate clients, sports teams
  • Elective Rotation (160 hours, optional): This rotation allows interns to explore a specialty of interest, such as pediatrics, sports nutrition, integrative or functional nutrition, eating disorders, oncology, policy, research, or others. Interns may also choose to expand a core rotation rather than adding an elective.

Note: These examples represent sites that could fit into the designated categories, but it is not an all-inclusive list. 

Remote Hours and In-Person Requirements:

  • At least 700 hours must be completed in person
  • A minimum of 160 clinical hours must be completed in person
  • Remote hours are able to be incorporated when appropriate and approved.

Learn more about roptions for rotation sites. 

7. What Kinds of Jobs Do BWS DI Alumni Get?

BWS DI alumni pursue careers across a wide range of practice areas. Alumni have accepted roles such as:

  • Clinical dietitians in hospitals and specialty care
  • Corporate wellness and employee health specialists
  • Community and public health dietitians
  • Nutrition entrepreneurs and private practice owners
  • Sports and performance nutrition professionals
  • Foodservice managers and educators
  • Researchers and program evaluators.

The program’s structure equips alumni to step confidently into a variety of entry-level roles.

Learn more about career options for dietitians and explore BWS DI alumni highlights.

bws distance dietetic internship alumni job titles

8. How Do You Support RD Exam Prep?

RD exam preparation is integrated into the internship experience from the start. We help interns build confidence through exposure to exam-focused tools, resources, and strategies.

BWS DI provides:

  • Pocket Prep & All Access Dietetics Pass Class: Trusted and comprehensive study platforms to support ongoing preparation
  • Practice RD Exam: All interns complete a full practice exam before finishing the internship. This is simply a tool to help interns see where they stand in each domain so they can approach RD Exam prep with confidence and direction.
  • RD Exam Resource List: Includes recommended podcasts, supplemental study materials, tutors, courses, and tools
  • Alumni Insights: Graduates share advice and strategies during Exit Class
  • Expert Exam Prep Session: Led by a prominent RD exam tutor
  • Peer Collaboration: Study groups or “study buddy” partnerships with fellow interns.

This combination of resources, guidance, and peer support helps interns feel confident as they approach the exam.

9. When Can I Apply?

BWS DI participates in both the Spring and Fall application cycles:

Spring Cycle

  • Application Deadline: February 15
  • Early Application Deadline: January 15 ($500 tuition discount)

Fall Cycle

  • Application Deadline: October 15
  • Early Application Deadline: September 15 ($500 tuition discount)

A quick way to determine when to apply:

  • Applying in the Fall? You may apply for either a spring start or a fall start the following year.
     Example: Apply in Fall 2026 → Start Spring 2027 or Fall 2027
  • Applying in the Spring? You may apply for either a fall start or a spring start the following year.
     Example: Apply in Spring 2026 → Start Fall 2026 or Spring 2027

Occasionally, BWS DI participates in open enrollment and accepts additional applications outside of these windows if space becomes available. These will always be announced on our website and email list, so be sure to stay in touch.

Learn more about how to apply.

10. Do You Accept Prior Assessed Learning (PAL)?

Yes. BWS DI accepts Prior Assessed Learning (PAL) for qualified experiences. PAL allows interns to receive credit for relevant, previously completed professional work that aligns with ACEND competencies. This option can be particularly helpful for individuals entering the internship with previous nutrition-related experience. 

Each PAL request is reviewed individually. To be considered, the experience must meet specific criteria demonstrating competency at the level expected of a dietetic intern. Eligible experiences generally require at least one year of full-time, nutrition-related professional work (or the part-time equivalent) that directly aligns with the competencies being assessed. If approved, PAL may reduce the number of supervised practice hours required in specific rotations while still ensuring all competencies are met.

Applicants may submit a PAL application at the same time they submit their DICAS application, or they may wait until after they are accepted into the program and apply at a later time.

Learn more about Prior Assessed Learning (PAL).

Ready to Learn More?

There are several ways to continue exploring whether the Be Well Solutions distance dietetic internship program is the right fit for you: