Dietitians of Canada

DC uses a web-based computer system that permits dietetic internship programs to enter a listing of ranked applicants whom they will accept, and allows student applicants to enter the 3 internship programs to which they have applied.

The system then matches the program and student lists, and makes offers to successful applicants up to the number of positions available. The system allows for personal email notification of applicants and for programs to monitor acceptance of applicants to their program. The selection process continues to match applicants with the program's ranked applicant list until all program positions are filled. A detailed description of the computer selection process is contained in the application package. The computer match process helps applicants obtain a position of their choice. It also helps internship programs obtain applicants of their choice.
 

All costs are paid by the applicant. Applicants submit the applicable fee of $141.25 (includes HST) fee to gain access to the computer system. The deadline to register for computer selection is February 1.

Even if you have submitted your program applications, failure to remit the fee and register in the computer system or to enter your program choices in the system prior to the February 1 deadline will disqualify you from the computer selection process.
 

Registration access for the Internship Selection process will be available on January 4, 2011 at: www.dietitians.ca/Internshipmatch. Once the application fee has been processed, applicants will be emailed information about how to enter the system. An instruction page is provided once an applicant enters the system. Applicants are required to complete a personal profile of contact information and to select, from a drop down menu, the 3 internship programs to which they have applied/will apply. The 3 choices are equal and are not ranked according to preference (i.e. first, second, third). February 1 is the deadline to enter your program choices for computer selection. Failure to enter program choices by February 1 excludes the applicant from the selection process.
 

Yes. Applicants can apply to a maximum of 3 programs. Applicants should only apply to those programs from which they would accept an internship position.
 

Each internship coordinator screens his or her own applicants, and enters their selection list of acceptable applicants into the computer system in the rank order which they will accept the student (i.e. #1 is first selection choice). The program's selection list will likely include more names than there are positions available to ensure that all positions are filled, however, the computer system will only make offers up to the number of available positions for that program.

The computer only matches student choices and the program ranking listing of students. Programs can only select applicants who have sent an application package to their program and have entered their internship choice into the computer system.
 

Appointments to internship programs are very competitive. Program coordinators are looking for students with high academic ability, work experience, strong references, and professional potential. Your internship application package is your personal "marketing" tool. An application package that follows directions explicitly, and is professional in appearance and content, is very important. A well-developed personal letter serves as a good reflection of your interest in the program, your maturity, and communication skills. Read the internship program brochures carefully to determine specific requirements of the program and skills/attributes that the internship values.
 

Computer selection occurs in early March each year. All applicants (both successful and unsuccessful) will be notified of the results by personal email on March 12. Subsequent First Process Round selections will occur based on unfilled program positions created due to applicants declining an internship position offer.
 

DC sends a personalized email to notify successful applicants of program offers. After the successful applicant has entered the computer system to accept an offer, they must send the acceptance form contained in the internship package to the program within 48 hours of receiving their confidential email. Applicants who are not successful will be sent a personalized email at the beginning of the First Process Round (March 12) and again at the conclusion of the internship selection process for that year.
 

Yes. You may be ranked by more than one program that you applied to, within the number of positions that they have available. If so, you could be offered up to 3 positions in a selection process round.
 

No. All information submitted is confidential both to the applicant and to each program. Applicants can only see their information and the program can only see those applicants who have applied to their program. Neither the program nor DC will tell applicants how they have been rank ordered on a program list. Please do not contact either DC or the program to ask, as this in considered to be unethical conduct.
 

If you are successful in being offered an internship position(s), you will receive an email informing you of this. The email will contain information on how to enter the computer system to accept the position. You will be given a deadline to do this (usually 2 days). If you are offered more than one position you will have to decide which position to accept. If you do not complete the acceptance process within the specified deadline, you will be considered as having rejected this program offer. If you are accepted into a program(s) and decide to decline the offer, you may receive an offer from another program in a subsequent process round, if there is one. If you are offered a position(s) and have decided that you no longer want to do an internship, the system permits you to decline all offers in this and any subsequent process round.
 

You should only apply to programs you are willing to accept. If you are offered a program and decide to decline that offer, hoping you might be offered another program if a vacant position is available, you are taking a significant risk. First, there is no guarantee that there will be a subsequent process round nor is there a certainty that you are ranked highly enough by that program to receive an offer before all of their program positions are filled.
 

There will be a Second Process Round only if programs are unable to fill all of their positions with the applicants they have ranked in the First Process Round. If there are vacant internship positions remaining after the conclusion of the First Process Round selection, all unsuccessful applicants will receive a personal email informing them of the vacant positions and the application deadline. Available Second Process Round positions will also be posted on DC's web site.. Application packages for the Second Process Round will also be available from the DC office. There is no additional fee for the Second Process Round application. Only those who applied in the First Process Round are eligible to apply, and applications can only be made to one program.
 

Yes, you are eligible to apply but, if successful, you must change your student authorization to an employment authorization. A valid study permit is needed to apply for the work permit.

If you want to work in Canada after you graduate from your studies, you must apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. A work permit under this program cannot be valid for longer than your study program. For example, if you graduate from a 4 year degree program, you could be eligible for a 3 year work permit, if you meet the criteria.

International students must apply for the work permit within 90 days of receiving written confirmation (for example a transcript or official letter) from your educational institution that you have completed your academic program. So, if you are graduating in May, you can accept an internship offer in March, apply for a work permit right after you graduate, and begin your internship program in September.

You should confirm your individual situation with a representative of Citizenship & Immigration Canada. A complete copy of the application package to change the terms and conditions of your stay in Canada is available on-line at www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad.asp - Studying in Canada: Work Permits for Students—Working after Graduation.
 

If applicants don't receive an internship position this year, they can continue to apply for an internship position, as often as they wish, by February 1 each year. Because application packages are updated annually, a new package must be obtained each year. Applicants can apply up to three years from the date that they graduated from a DC accredited program or met DC academic requirements, before assessment for upgrading if required.