The Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship program participates in Prior Assessed Learning (PAL), recognized by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) to acknowledge applicants who have significant work experience. Applicants may be granted credit towards rotation-specific supervised practice hours if they demonstrate that their prior experience meets the competencies defined by ACEND for an entry-level RDN.

Eligibility: To be eligible to apply, the applicant must have been in each position for at least 12 months in a full-time role or the equivalent of >2,000 working hours.

Examples of Prior Experience

Examples of prior experiences may include but are not limited to:

  • NDTR in a hospital
  • WIC nutritionist
  • Certified health coach working at a corporate wellness company
  • Foodservice staff and/or director for a dining hall

Examples of prior experience that would not count as credit towards PAL may include but are not limited to:

  • Any undergraduate course-related practicum or experience
  • Food distribution volunteer at a food bank
  • Personal trainer at an athletic facility
  • Owning a nutrition coaching business

All experiences need to have been done in a supervised context. Self-employed experiences do not qualify for PAL. While credit is awarded in terms of supervised practice hours, it is assessed based on the competency attained, not the number of hours spent in the experience. Please contact bwsdi@bewellsolutions.com with any questions.

Policy

  • Be Well Solutions DI may grant up to 320 supervised practice hours as PAL.
  • There is no reduction in tuition if PAL credit is awarded.
  • Regardless of awarded PAL credit, the graduation date will not change, and the intern is required to attend all required program activities.
  • Applicants may apply for PAL credit in up to two rotations.

PAL Hours by Cohort

The maximum number of PAL hours available for each rotation based on the cohort in which the intern will begin The Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship.

Rotation Spring 2027 Cohort Fall 2027 & Later Cohorts
Foodservice Up to 80 hours Up to 120 hours
Community Up to 160 hours Up to 160 hours
Wellness Up to 160 hours Up to 120 hours
Clinical Up to 160 hours Up to 160 hours

To be eligible to apply to more than 1 rotation, the applicant must demonstrate that they have at least 12 months, or the equivalent of >2,000 working hours, of experience per rotation.

  • BWS DI will decide how many hours are awarded.
  • BWS DI does not charge a fee to review PAL applications.
  • BWS DI encourages applicants to submit their PAL application as soon as possible to allow adjustments in their rotation schedules if needed.

Application Instructions

The applicant must submit the following by email to bwsdi@bewellsolutions.com with the subject line PAL Application for [name]. Incomplete applications will not be evaluated.

1

BWS DI PAL Application

Select the PAL application that corresponds with the cohort in which you will begin the internship.

Spring 2027

Spring 2027 PAL Application

For applicants beginning the Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship with the Spring 2027 cohort.

Download Spring 2027 PAL Application
Fall 2027 & Later

Fall 2027 & Later PAL Application

For applicants beginning the Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship with the Fall 2027 cohort or later.

Download Fall 2027 & Later PAL Application
2

Completed and Signed Rotation Competency Form(s)

Select the Rotation Competency Assessment Form(s) for the rotation(s) in which you are requesting PAL credit.

PAL Rotation Competency Assessment Form – Clinical PAL Rotation Competency Assessment Form – Community PAL Rotation Competency Assessment Form – Foodservice PAL Rotation Competency Assessment Form – Wellness
3

Additional Materials

Any additional materials requested by the PAL committee. Additional materials must be submitted by the intern within 1 week of request.

The PAL committee will review the application and will provide a final decision as to how many (if any) supervised practice hours can be granted as PAL. Decisions will be provided within two weeks of application receipt.

The decision of the PAL committee is final.

PAL Application Deadlines

Spring Cohort PAL Application Deadline

November 25

PAL applications for Spring Cohort interns are due by November 25th.

Fall Cohort PAL Application Deadline

April 25

PAL applications for Fall Cohort interns are due by April 25th.