Your undergraduate program and internship experiences will help you prepare for the RD (registered dietitian) exam. Shadowing dietitians in the internship will provide you with even more knowledge of the various types of medical nutrition therapy (MNT). Your internship should also include some food service experiences. The RD exam has both clinical and foodservice questions. So, be prepared for both!
RD Exam Study Tools
There are many study tools for the RD exam. I would encourage you to look through the available options and pick one that fits your learning style. There are books, audio programs, daily questions, and flash cards. Examples include RD in a Flash, which is 630 flash cards for $127. I used the RD in a Flash cards and studied course material from my internship. There is the Jean Inman review course, which is a 2-day review with printed materials for $385. I've had many colleagues use this program to review for the RD exam.
Many internships suggest a program. I encourage you to talk with your DI director about review material. Also, consider how you learn best.
**Update: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) now offers a study tool. It's called eatrightPREP for the RDN exam. It's about $250 for non-academy members and $200 for academy members for 90-day access. It can be renewed for longer if needed. I have not personally used this resource. It was not available when I took the RD exam. I wanted to make you aware of a variety of resources.
My advice is to invest in a study aide, make time to study, and set a date to take the exam fairly soon. This will give you a deadline and encourage you to make time to study. I encourage you to take the exam fairly close to graduate so all the information you absorbed during the DI will be fresh. Good luck!
Life After the RD Exam
Once you've passed the RD exam. You may decide to take one of three paths: finish your Master's degree as a full-time student, pursue a full-time career as a RD, or a mix of both by finishing your Master's degree as a part-time student while working as a RD. We'll talk about searching for a job as a RD and interviewing more in the near future. Stay tuned.
**Update: In 2024, students who complete their dietetic internship will now be required to earn their Master's degree before being eligible to sit for the RD exam. So, your path to become a RD looks like undergraduate degree --> dietetic internship --> Master's degree --> RD exam --> practice as a RD or RDN.
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