Career Preparation and Opportunities

Typical Setting: Public Health, Schools

Provides Nutrition Education and Develops Community Programs.

Typical Setting: Nonprofits, Clinics, Governments

Delivers Health and Nutrition Education to groups and individuals

Typical Setting: Healthcare, Long-term Care

Manages Dietary Services and supervises Food Service Staff

Typical Setting: Wellness Centers, Private Practice

Provides General Nutrition Advice and Wellness Coaching

Typical Setting: Community Orgs, WIC, Schools

Assists with Program Support and Client Education

Typical Setting: Food Industry, Regulatory Bodies

Inspects Food Service Operations for Safety and Compliance

Typical Setting: Food Manufacturing, R&D

Develops and tests Food Products for quality and nutrition

Typical Setting: Media, Companies, online

Creates Educational Content and Articles on Nutrition Topics

Typical Setting: Hospitals, Clinics, Outpatient Centers

Provides Medical nutrition Therapy, manages patient diets, and collaborates with healthcare teams.

Typical Setting: Sports Teams, Athletic Departments, Fitness Centers

Specializes in Nutrition for Athletic Performance, Recovery, and Injury Prevention.

Typical Setting: Hospitals, Healthcare Systems

Oversees Clinical Nutrition programs, supervise staff, and ensures regulatory compliance.

Typical Setting: Public Health, Community Organizations, WIC

Designs and implements Nutrition Programs for Populations, Provides Education and Outreach.

Typical Setting: Private Practice, Telehealth

Offers Individualized Nutrition Counseling, may specialize in areas like weight management or sports nutrition.

Typical Setting: Businesses, Wellness Companies

Develops and Manages employee wellness and nutrition programs.

Typical Setting: Universities, Research Institutions, Industry

Conducts Nutrition Research, Clinical Trials, and Data Analysis;

may publish.

Typical Setting: Consulting Firms, Self-Employed

Provides Expert Advice to Organizations, Food Companies, or Individuals on nutrition-related matters.

Direct client impact, flexible/remote work, autonomy, meaningful outcomes

Creative Work, Public Education, Flexible/Self -Directed, High Visibility

Specialized, Challenging, Highly Impactful, Strong Professional Community

Innovative, Tech-Driven, Remote Opportunities, Content Creation

Leadership, Impact on patient care, Team Management, High Autonomy

Corporate Environment, Program Development, Flexible Schedule, Direct Impact on Employee Health

• Identify accredited DI programs that match your interests, goals, location, and eligibility.

• Consider cost, paid/unpaid status, length, specialty, prerequisites, acceptance rates, and graduate degree requirements.

• Gather all necessary documents, which typically include:
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • DPD (Didactic Program in Dietetics) Verification Statement or Declaration of Intent (from your DPD director)
  • Resume or curriculum vitae
  • Personal statement(s) tailored to each program
  • Letters of recommendation (usually three, from professors, supervisors, or other professional contacts)

• The Dietetic Inclusive Centralized Application Service (DICAS) is the primary online portal for applying to most DI programs

• Set Up Account: Enter your personal, academic, and professional info.

• Apply to Multiple Programs: One application for many programs, but customize sections like personal statements for each.

• Transcripts: Have official transcripts sent directly to DICAS.

• Recommendations: Enter recommenders’ info in DICAS to trigger reference requests.

Personal Statement: Write a tailored statement for each program, highlighting your motivation, experiences, goals, strengths, and why you are interested in that specific program.

• Double-check all sections for accuracy and completeness.
• Ensure all required documents, transcripts, and recommendations have been submitted or are in progress.

• Submit your application(s) through DICAS before the deadline.
• Pay the DICAS application fees (typically $45–$50 for the first program, and $20–$25 for each additional program

• Most DI programs require applicants to register with D&D Digital, the matching service, and rank their program preferences. This is a separate step from the DICAS application and involves an additional fee.

• Some programs may require supplemental applications, processing fees, or interviews as part of their pre-match process.

MSU Denver Nutrition and Dietetics graduates are eligible to take the Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) exam to earn the DTR credential.  Once you have graduated and received your DPD Verification Statement from MSU Denver, you may apply to take the exam.

Please provide the following to the DPD Director:

1. Complete the NDTRE and DTRE Misuse form and return the signed and dated document to your program director.
2. Please submit your official transcripts showing the degree has been completed. Your program director must have your original degree transcripts before they are able to submit your name for registration eligibility.
3. Verification Statement (no submission needed – on file with the DPD Director) – You will receive a minimum of five or six original Verification Statements (VS) upon completion of your program. These original VS forms are for you to provide, upon request, to prospective employers, the licensure board and to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for membership.

For more information you can also review the Commission on Dietetic Registration Instructions for applying for the DTR Exam.

Allocate adequate time to study.  Students are often surprised by the number of test questions focused on food service and food service management (~50% of the exam).  Our program is not designed to prepare you for this exam; it is designed to prepare you for the internship and RD exam.

Other graduates have recommended the following study resources: the “secrets” guide to the DTR by the company Mometrix and flashcards online via cram.com. The program has a copy of the Academy’s 6th Edition of the Study Guide for the Registration Examination for Dietetic Technicians (2011). You may review this guide, including a practice examination, in our office.

Also, it’s always helpful to check in with past graduates who have passed the exam through the Auraria Campus Student Dietetic Association Facebook page.