In order to become a military dietitian, one must become a Registered Dietitian, registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration. If you are a military-trained dietitian/nutritionist; or you are a dietitian/nutritionist or nutritionist who is licensed in another state and the spouse of an active-duty member of the military, you may be exempt from paying initial licensure fees (however, you will be responsible for the background check fee and annual renewal fees). Please review NC General Statute § 93B-15.1. If you believe you qualify for this fee exemption, contact our office directly for required documents and further instruction: info@ncbdn.org or 919-388-1931.
As a Registered Dietitian in good standing, one is qualified to apply for licensure under North Carolina General Statute § 90-357.5(a)(2). Thus, upon completing the military’s requirements to become a military dietitian, one will have satisfied all of the training requirements necessary to apply for dietetics and/or nutrition licensure in North Carolina. Click here to access the application page. For a summary page of the ways to qualify for a North Carolina license, please view our summary PDF.
The information below regarding becoming a military dietitian is provided by Baylor University’s Graduate Program in Nutrition and Internship program, the military’s standard route to becoming a military dietitian. Occasionally, individuals who are already Registered Dietitians can enter the military as a direct commission.
Routes to Become a Military Dietitian
Combined Masters’ Degree and Dietetic Internship
The Graduate Program of Nutrition is a two-phased, degree-producing program. Phase 1, the didactic portion, is approximately 9 months of graduate level coursework and is completed at the Army Medical Department Center and School (AMEDD C&S), Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Phase 2, the internship and research portion, is approximately 12 months long and is completed at one of three locations for Army students: Brooke Army Medical Center or BAMC (TX), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center or WRNMMC (MD), or Madigan Army Medical Center or MAMC. Air Force students will complete their phase 2 training at BAMC. Students who successfully complete the program will be awarded a Master of Science Degree in Nutrition from Baylor University and will be eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians.
For further information, please refer to Baylor University’s section Learn How to Apply or Program FAQs.
Direct Commission
A limited number of seats are usually available each year for licensed, Registered Dietitians to join the Army through the master’s component portion of GPN. This route includes the graduate coursework and research requirements, but excludes the dietetic internship component. Prior to beginning the graduate program, the student would be required to complete the nine-week Officer Basic Leadership Course at Fort Sam Houston, TX. Because the availability varies year to year, contact the SP healthcare recruiter to learn more about opportunities. ***Currently this option is not available to Air Force candidates.
Routes to Become a Military Dietitian, BAYLOR, (August 27, 2014, 4:48 PM)
