In their final year of study, the B Dietetics IV students undergo internship training for a period of 23 weeks. Successful completion of the internship is compulsory for registration with the HPCSA. 

The objectives for the internship training are:

• to guide the student in the transition from the academic milieu to the practical situation
• to present the student with the opportunity to develop self-sufficiency, responsibility and accountability
• to present varied experiences which will enable the student to develop his/her adaptability and communication skills, and
• to encourage the development of a dietician who maintains the discipline and self-awareness of a professional and accepts responsibility for the continuing development of his/her own competence.

The internship covers all three components of the dietetic profession, i.e. therapeutic nutrition, community nutrition and food service system management. Internship training for therapeutic nutrition and food service system management is done at various hospitals situated in Gauteng, while the community nutrition training takes place in communities in and around Pretoria. 

The therapeutic nutrition component of the internship programme lasts over nine weeks and involves the provision of medical nutrition therapy to hospitalised patients as well as outpatients treated at the different hospitals. During the training period, the students provide nutritional care to the patients following the steps of the nutritional care process under the guidance and supervision of qualified dietitians. 

Food service system management training encompasses the establishment and maintenance of high standards of food production and service in the nutritional care of patients. To achieve this, dietetic students should demonstrate knowledge of financial management, personnel management and techniques involved in the safe and efficient production of food in large quantities. This is achieved over a seven-week period under supervision of either a food service manager or a dietitian. 

On completion of the 23 weeks, students sit for a final examination consisting of a written paper for each of the three components as well as an integrated oral exam covering all three components of the dietetics profession.