Metro State’s human nutrition-dietetics (HND) students are now one step closer to becoming registered dietitians.

The HND Program recently received Accreditation of Dietetics Education that makes it an official didactic or educational program in dietetics. Students studying dietetics apply nutrition knowledge to the diets of others. Those who graduate from Metro State’s program can now apply for an accredited dietetics internship in order to become a registered dietitian rather than a nutritionist. A nutritionist does not require an internship and does not take the dietitian qualifying exam.

“All of our majors have been biting their fingers hoping we could get it,” says Bruce Renger, director of the Nutrition Program. “As of May 12 we are actually an accredited program.”