Dietitian

All Commissioned Corps officers in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) must meet basic qualifications: you must be a U.S. citizen, be less than 44 years, 00 months, 00 days of age, and pass a physical examination and extensive background check. To be a dietitian officer you must meet these professional and academic training requirements.

A current, unrestricted, and valid registration by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA).

A dietetic candidate must possess one of the following to be considered for a commission as a dietitian officer in the USPHS

• A bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally-accredited college or university with a major in Foods and Nutrition, Dietetics, Institution Management, Public Health Nutrition, Food Science, Sports Nutrition, or Animal Nutrition.
• A master's degree (with no qualifying baccalaureate degree) from a U.S. regionally-accredited college or university with a major in Foods and Nutrition, Dietetics, Institution Management, Public Health Nutrition, Food Science, Sports Nutrition, or Animal Nutrition.
• A doctoral degree (with no qualifying baccalaureate degree) from a U.S. regionally-accredited college or university with a major in Foods and Nutrition, Dietetics, Institution Management, Public Health Nutrition, Food Science, Sports Nutrition, or Animal Nutrition.

Each candidate must also have successfully completed an ADA/Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) approved Didactic (academic) Programs in Dietetics (DPD) program. In addition to the academic requirements, a candidate must present verification of completion of one of these ADA accredited or approved pathways:

• Accredited Dietetic Internship Program;
• Accredited Coordinated Program;
• Approved Pre-professional Practice;
• Qualifying Experience with an Advanced Degree; or
• 3-Year Pre-Planned Experience Program.

If you are a dietetic student or a dietitian interested in the Commissioned Corps, take the next step! Call us at 800-279-1605 or e-mail us your questions. For additional information about USPHS student programs click here.