Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways at CSULB (CSULB-ISPP)
Professional Development Course
Please note: Only admitted interns are able to register for the ISPP program. If you have not yet been admitted, please learn how to apply and follow the admissions process before attempting to register.
The Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways (ISPP) at California State University Long Beach (CSULB) is a student-centered dietetic internship which maximizes a dietetic intern’s freedom in fulfilling supervised practice hours needed for eligibility to take and pass the CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians. The CSULB-ISPP program will provide the 1,000 hours of supervised practice necessary to earn a verification statement, which allows the graduate to register for the CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians.
Interns are immersed in a learning environment designed to produce competent and productive entry-level registered dietitians who can think critically, communicate effectively, embrace diversity, demonstrate knowledge and practical skills, and proactively pursue professional activity within their local communities.
The CSULB-ISPP program is an approved program under the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), within the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, but is administered by the College of Professional and Continuing Education.
Those interested in entry-level careers as registered dietitians.
Those who wish to complete an internship in California which maximizes the freedom they have in completing their supervised practice.
Those who need to fulfill supervised practice hours required to take and pass the CDR Registration Exam for Dietitians, but were turned down by DICAS.
The Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways Program at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB-ISPP) is an approved track within an already ACEND-accredited DPD program.
California State University, Long Beach’s Didactic Program in Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606, (312)899-0040, extension 5400.
Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight (Central Time) on December 31, 2023.
In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited DPD with an approved Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway program at California State University, Long Beach are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.
California State University programs for professions that require licensure or certification are intended to prepare the student for California licensure and certification requirements. Admission into programs for professions that require licensure and certification does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certificate. Click here for more information about Accreditation and State Authorization.
How to Apply
Eligibility considerations for applicants:
Must be a DPD graduate within the past 5 years, with verification statements and nutrition-related work experience, and were not matched by DICAS on one occasion after having submitted a competitive application.
Applications from CSULB DPD graduates are given special consideration.
Interns must reside in California for the duration of all rotations.
Though not required, it is highly recommended that you apply through DICAS
Applicants must meet criteria for one of the following options
Option #1 – Applicant must possess a graduate degree* and provide a copy of the official transcript from the institution where the graduate degree was awarded.
Option #2 – Applicant must be currently pursuing a graduate degree* that will be earned within 1 month of starting ISPP rotations. Applicants must provide the following:
A signed, official letter from a graduate advisor that includes the following:
Name of applicant and program of study
Expected date for degree to be awarded
A statement confirming the applicant has completed least 50% of the graduate program and is making satisfactory progress to completing the degree no later than September 30.
An unofficial transcript showing 50% completion of the graduate degree program
A brief statement from the applicant explaining the graduate curriculum that remains to be completed. Upon acceptance, applications must provide a copy of an official transcript from the institution where the graduate degree was awarded within 30 days of the start of ISPP demonstrating earned graduate degree.
* The graduate degree may be in any discipline that will support success as a registered dietitian (i.e., MS, MPH, MBA, etc.) and must be granted by a U.S. Department of Education-accredited institution (university or college).
*Personal Statement: Address the following in 1000 words or fewer:
Why do you want to enter the dietetics profession?
Discuss experiences that have helped you prepare for your career.
What are your short- and long-term goals?
What other information do you find important for the selection decision?
What do you believe you will contribute to the CSULB-ISPP?
**Details for these documents below
***If the date on the DPD VS is greater than 5 years prior to the start of the internship, the applicant must demonstrate current proficiency in the field by completing a minimum of three courses equivalent to the following CSULB Department of Family and Consumer Sciences courses: NUTR 436 Advanced Nutrition, NUTR 438A Medical Nutrition Therapy I, and NUTR 438B Medical Nutrition Therapy II. Documentation of these requirements must be provided with the application materials.
^Students who were matched through DICAS, but do not accept the match are NOT ELIGIBLE.
Official Transcripts
Official transcripts showing Bachelor/DPD; if required, students must provide transcripts from both DPD school and school granting bachelor’s degree.
Proof of DICAS Non-Match
Proof of DICAS non-match may include a copy of the official letter or e-mail communication of the non-match.
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation should be accessible to the Program Coordinator through DICAS. If not applying through DICAS, letters in sealed envelopes should be sent directly to the Program Coordinator.
One letter must be from an academic faculty instructor. The second must be from a supervisor for paid or volunteer nutrition experience. The third is your choice.
Completion of Preceptor Assessment Report
See instructions on PAR form for how to complete.
April 2nd, 2023 – Notification Day
April 3rd, 2023 – Appointment Day
April 5th, 2023 – Beginning of 2nd round matching and first day of CSULB-ISPP application submissions. Contact Coordinator if questions arise regarding submission. We encourage timely submissions, as we review and contact applicants as we receive submissions.
April 14th, 2023 – Application deadline for CSULB-ISPP
Postmarked or Timestamped no later than April 13th, 2023
April 10th – April 17th, 2023 – Phone/Zoom interviews for candidates
April 19th, 2023 – Notification to applicants of admission decisions
April 24th, 2023 – Deadline for applicants to confirm acceptance into CSULB-ISPP Program
Late July/Early August – Orientation week (hosted by CSULB)
Make sure your application is complete, and submitted in a timely manner. Late or missing components may jeopardize the application’s consideration. Please contact the Program Coordinator for any questions.
Mail all required application materials in one envelope to:
Dustin Moore, MS, RD CSULB-ISPP Program Coordinator Department of Family & Consumer Sciences California State University, Long Beach 1250 Bellflower Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90840-0501
Instructors
An Assistant Professor of Nutrition & Dietetics, Dr. Rachel Blaine (MPH, PhD) is a registered dietitian. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Nutrition from UC Davis, a MPH from UCLA, and a doctorate in Public Health Nutrition from Harvard. Described by students as passionate, engaging, and inspiring, she enjoys serving as the Director of the Nutrition Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD/ISPP). She is active on campus as an Autism Ally, and received the Early Academic Career Excellence award from CSULB in 2019 for outstanding achievements in research, teaching, and service.
Rachel Blaine, Assistant Professor of Nutrition & Dietetics
Dustin Moore holds a BS in Dietetics from Brigham Young University, and an MS in Nutritional Science from CSULB. He is currently completing a doctorate in public health. His research covers health habits, behavior modification, and food-related U.S. public policy. As the current CSULB-ISPP Coordinator, he assists students in their final steps before becoming dietitians. In 2017, he became a professional contributor for IntroWellness.com, producing informational videos on nutrition topics for people with minimal scientific knowledge.
Dustin Moore, CSULB-ISPP Coordinator
Frequently Asked Questions
This number fluctuates according to the number of DICAS applications in a year, but usually between 30 and 40.
Up to 25 interns may be accepted each year. 13 spots are available for P1, and 12 spots open for P2. In the case of fewer than expected doctoral applicants, additional spots for highly qualified P1 applicants may be added.
We will assign an extra "point" value for applicants who completed the DPD at CSULB.
The CSULB ISPP considers a variety of factors including grades, work or volunteer experience, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Strong applicants will be flexible, motivated, proactive, self-directed, and will demonstrate leadership skills, ingenuity, adaptive problem solving, and teamwork. Please contact the Program Coordinator Dustin Moore for a more detailed answer.
Assessment of prior learning must be approved by the Coordinator of the CSULB ISPP.
It is the responsibility of the student to submit an ISPP Assessment of Prior Learning Request Form to:
Dustin Moore, MS, RD
Director, Individualized Specialized Pathway Practice
The ISPP Director has the authority to grant credit towards supervised practice hours from prior learning and/or work experience for those individuals who have acquired learning and professional competency that fulfills ACEND competencies for dietitians.
Approval will be granted for documented learning only.
Undergraduate coursework and practicum hours do not apply.
The documented learning must be clearly and directly related to the competency statements required by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics for completion of the ISPP.
While the Director can provide guidance and assistance, it is the sole responsibility of each student to provide documentation. The application and portfolio will be thoroughly reviewed by the Director(s).
The amount of supervised practice hours to be credited will be dependent upon the number of rotation competencies that the student is able to demonstrate competency.
You may need to travel to campus during your ISPP for Orientation, meetings, and GLADIC.
Yes, but care should be taken to ensure that you are not performing your regular work duties on ISPP time. They must be kept separate and the ISPP activities must be above and beyond your normal tasks. ISPP activities are tracked in a weekly journal or weekly learning log.
Students interested in applying to an ISPP Pathway I program can contact Program Coordinator Dustin Moore at dustin.moore@csulb.edu or (562) 985-4626. The College of Professional and Continuing Education can also be contacted at (562) 985-4486 for more information.
Once the following items are satisfied, a Verification Statement will be issued to the dietetic intern:
Satisfactorily complete 1,000 rotation hours within expected rotation hours.
Meet performance standards and receive passing grades from all preceptors and on all module requirements and curriculum.
Maintain professional and ethical standards as outlined in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Code of Ethics.
Pass the Exit Interview.
Pay $15 processing fee.
To allow dietetic interns the maximum freedom in tailoring their educational experiences, the CSULB-ISPP does not schedule any rotations. However, the Program maintains a database of many different preceptors throughout the state of California, which is made accessible to students once they are accepted into the program. Through use of these resources, as well as the assistance of Program staff, interns take charge in coordinating with their preceptors to establish rotations. Students looking to apply to the Program are highly encouraged to seek out contacts which may serve as preceptors, pending acceptance into the CSULB-ISPP.
ACEND states that up to 300 hours of supervised practice may be conducted outside of the United States and its territories. For this reason, interns of the CSULB-ISPP may elect to complete an international rotation, which must be approved by the Program Coordinator, two months prior to departure. For additional details, please contact the Coordinator.
Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways at CSULB (CSULB-ISPP)
Offerings of this program have either started or are under development. Please check back for information on the next offering or email cpace-info@csulb.edu.
