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Dietetic internship vs registered dietitian

The differences between dietetic interns and registered dietitians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a dietetic internship and a registered dietitian. Additionally, a dietetic internship has an average salary of $64,038, which is higher than the $58,227 average annual salary of a registered dietitian.

The top three skills for a dietetic internship include patients, diabetes education and medical nutrition therapy. The most important skills for a registered dietitian are patients, patient care, and home health.

Dietetic internship vs registered dietitian overview

Dietetic InternshipRegistered Dietitian
Yearly salary$64,038$58,227
Hourly rate$30.79$27.99
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs52,7656,144
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

What does a dietetic internship do?

In a dietetic internship, an intern primarily performs support tasks to gain industry insights and experience while under a dietitian's directives and supervision. Their duties typically include conducting research and analyses, gathering and analyzing data from previous projects and studies, participating in the development of new meal and nutritional plans, and assisting in food delivery operations. They also take part in assessing a patient's health and treatment plans, providing nutrition education as necessary. Additionally, an intern must produce regular reports and uphold the facility's policies.

What does a registered dietitian do?

A Registered Dietitian assesses the health of individual patients with medical conditions such as diabetes or renal failure. They work in hospitals, doctors' offices, nursing homes, or other care facilities.

Dietetic internship vs registered dietitian salary

Dietetic interns and registered dietitians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Dietetic InternshipRegistered Dietitian
Average salary$64,038$58,227
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $132,000Between $43,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City-Richmond, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-CVS Health
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between dietetic internship and registered dietitian education

There are a few differences between a dietetic internship and a registered dietitian in terms of educational background:

Dietetic InternshipRegistered Dietitian
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorDieteticsDietetics
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Dietetic internship vs registered dietitian demographics

Here are the differences between dietetic interns' and registered dietitians' demographics:

Dietetic InternshipRegistered Dietitian
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 10.2% Female, 89.8%Male, 7.9% Female, 92.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 9.8% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 9.3% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between dietetic internship and registered dietitian duties and responsibilities

Dietetic internship example responsibilities.

  • Collaborate with diabetes educator to achieve AADE accreditation for the diabetes education program and to provide education as an instructor.
  • Follow up with physician consults, educate patients on nutrition, and take part in IDT meetings and ICU rounds.
  • Complete clinical dietetic rotations which also include specialty rotations in pediatrics, kidney/liver transplant, oncology, and critical care.
  • Acquire excellent interdisciplinary communication skills through ICU and nursing rounds.
  • Communicate breastfeeding, proper infant feeding practices, and provide nutrition education to WIC participants.
  • Work alongside translators in culturally diverse environment to education patients on diabetes, hypertension and healthful eating.
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Registered dietitian example responsibilities.

  • Help patients maintain nutritional adequacy while managing food allergies.
  • Manage the anemia status of patients by reviewing necessary lab data and initiating or adjusting medication doses.
  • Manage the in-store dietitian program providing nutrition education, culinary workshops, food demonstrations, and nutritional assessments.
  • Develop and conduct weight loss programs; provide nutritional counseling for cardiac rehabilitation patients.
  • Diet education to nonsurgical patients on eating disorders, diabetes and other nutrition relate conditions.
  • Cover all topics ranging from weight management to oncology.
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Dietetic internship vs registered dietitian skills

Common dietetic internship skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Diabetes Education, 5%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%
  • Nutrition Assessments, 4%
  • Long-Term Care, 4%
Common registered dietitian skills
  • Patients, 33%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 6%
  • Culinary, 6%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%

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