Dietetic Practicum Program at Fraser Health

Dietetic Practicum Program

Preparing future dietitians for evidence‑informed practice

Supervised practice after completing your nutrition and food science degree.

The Fraser Health Dietetic Practicum Program provides high-quality, supervised practice experiences for dietetic students preparing for entry‑to‑practice as registered dietitians (RDs) in Canada.

Through diverse clinical, community and food systems learning opportunities, students develop the competencies required for safe, ethical and evidence-informed dietetic practice.

Learning guided by experienced Fraser Health dietitians

Students are supported by experienced Fraser Health dietitians who are committed to mentorship, teaching and professional development. The program emphasizes practical skill development, critical thinking, interprofessional collaboration and application of nutrition evidence within real-world health care settings.

Getting started with practical experience after you complete your schooling

Fraser Health offers in-person, hospital-based practicum placements for two (2) streams of eligible applicants. Get started by selecting the appropriate stream below:

Graduates of Canadian Universities

Human Nutrition Degree

This practicum stream is designed for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree in human nutrition from a recognized Canadian university and are pursuing registration as a registered dietitian in Canada.

Program Duration

Students in this stream complete structured practice rotations that typically include:

Clinical Nutrition Placements (Acute Care and Outpatient Settings): 18 weeks

Community and Population Health Nutrition: 10 weeks

Food Systems Management: 10 weeks

Research Project (Optional): 4 weeks

The practicum duration is 38–42 weeks, with options to extend placements to demonstrate the skills required for ICDEP competencies.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant must:

Be a permanent resident / citizen of Canada or have the appropriate legal status to work and study in Canada.
Have graduated from a Canadian university with a degree in human nutrition that meets current dietetic education requirements (see the full guide for a list of qualifying institutions and degrees)
Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (approximately 75% or B), calculated based on the most recent 30 academic credits
- Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 who have significant relevant life or work experience may be considered and are encouraged to describe this experience in their letter of intent
- Meeting the minimum GPA does not guarantee admission
Be eligible to complete a dietetic practicum as part of the pathway toward RD registration
Meet all Fraser Health onboarding and placement requirements (e.g., immunizations, criminal record check)
Have completed coursework in required areas as part of their Canadian human nutrition degree (see full document for coursework requirements)

Required Documentation

All applicants must submit the following:

Letter of intent (maximum 2 pages, 12‑point font, 2.54 cm margins)
- Addressed to: Fraser Health Authority Dietetic Practicum Committee
- Must include:
  - Practice areas of interest
  - Reasons for applying to Fraser Health
  - Career goals (3–5 years)
  - Relevant life or work experience

Resume (maximum 2 pages)
Three (3) references
- Including names, phone number and email address
  - At least one reference must be from a registered dietitian

Additional documents
- Complete, up-to-date and official transcripts from an accredited Canadian institution
  - Digital or paper transcripts accepted.

See the full guide for a full list of accepted institutions.

If you are accepted into the program, you will be required to present valid government-issued ID upon enrollment.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through an online application system during published intake periods.

See How to Apply section on this page or view the full guide for step-by-step instructions to submit your application.

Costs and Fees

The Fraser Health Dietetic Practicum is a fee‑based program.

Cost: $4,000 CAD
Duration: 38-42 weeks

Payment is due at the time of enrollment and is payable by credit card.

Additional Costs

Students are responsible for all costs associated with participation in the practicum, including:

Professional liability insurance (required)

Transportation, parking, and other travel‑related expenses

Any additional personal or placement‑related costs incurred during the practicum

There are no mandatory textbooks or required learning materials for the Fraser Health Dietetic Practicum.

Internationally Educated Dietitians

IEDs

This practicum stream supports internationally educated dietitians who are working toward registration in British Columbia and have completed a formal competency assessment with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC).

The practicum focuses on:

Bridging identified competency gaps

Orientation to Canadian health care systems and dietetic practice standards

Application of evidence-informed nutrition care within Fraser Health settings

Program Duration

Practicum placements for internationally educated dietitians are individualized and designed to address the competencies identified in the applicant’s Self‑Directed Learning Plan. Most practicums for IEDs are 6-18 weeks in duration.

The length and focus of the practicum are determined by:

Recommendations from the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia, and
Assessment by the Fraser Health Dietetic Practicum admissions team

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be permanent residents / citizens of Canada or have the appropriate legal status to study and work in Canada. International applicants are required to submit documentation in step 2 of the application process.

Applicants must:

Have completed a credential and competency review with the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC)
Have received a Self‑Directed Learning Plan (SDLP) that includes a supervised practice requirement
Meet all Fraser Health onboarding and placement requirements (e.g., immunizations, criminal record check)

Required Documentation

All applicants must submit the following:

Letter of intent (maximum 2 pages, 12‑point font, 2.54 cm margins)
- Addressed to: Fraser Health Authority Dietetic Practicum Committee
- Must include:
  - Practice areas of interest
  - Reasons for applying to Fraser Health
  - Career goals (3–5 years)
  - Relevant life or work experience

Resume (maximum 2 pages)
Three (3) references
- Including names, phone number and email address
  - At least one reference must be from a registered dietitian

Additional documents
- Completed a credential and competency review with the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC)
- Self-directed learning plan from the CHCPBC
  - Plan must include a supervised practice requirement
- Legal status documents to work and study in Canada – submit in step 2 of the application process

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through an online application system during published intake periods.

See How to Apply section on this page or view the full guide for step-by-step instructions to submit your application.

Costs and Fees

The Fraser Health Dietetic Practicum is a fee‑based program.

Cost: $1,000 CAD base tuition, plus $100 CAD per week
Total cost and length are determined based on CHCPBC recommendations and Fraser Health assessment

Payment is due at the time of enrollment.

Additional Costs

Students are responsible for all costs associated with participation in the practicum, including:

Professional liability insurance (required)

Transportation, parking, and other travel‑related expenses

Any additional personal or placement‑related costs incurred during the practicum

There are no mandatory textbooks or required learning materials for the Fraser Health Dietetic Practicum.

Reimbursement of tuition costs for eligible Fraser Health employees

Successful graduates of the Fraser Health Dietetic Practicum will be eligible for full reimbursement of tuition fees if the following criteria are met within 14 months from graduation:

The graduate completes 900 hours of work as a casual RD in a dietitian role at Fraser Health
The graduate works for 12 months in a temporary or permanent, part-time or full-time role as a dietitian at Fraser Health

“Throughout each placement in the Dietetics Practicum Program, my preceptor supported my learning and growth and gave me the tools I needed to start practicing independently.”

Tisha – Clinical Dietitian at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre

Read her full story >

How to Apply

Apply now and start in September 2026!

Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 Practicum Program. Application deadline: July 15, 2026.

For detailed instructions on how to apply, see the full program guide.

STEP 1

Submit your documents

Email your letter of intent, resume and all additional documentation required for your applicant stream.

Email documents to FHDieteticPracticum@fraserhealth.ca

STEP 2

Connect with Talent Acquisition

Submit your information to our Talent Acquisition team. This will help us connect you with future career opportunities at Fraser Health as you near the completion of your practicum.

Connect now >

STEP 3

References and final confirmation

Complete the Reference and Final Confirmation form. This is the final step in the application process.

Complete references and final confirmation>

Applications are reviewed by the Fraser Health Dietetic Practicum Program team. Selected applicants may be contacted for additional information or next steps. Due to the volume of applications received, only those selected for placement will be contacted.

Important notes:

Practicum placements are subject to operational capacity, supervisor availability and service needs

Meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee placement

All students must meet Fraser Health onboarding requirements prior to placement start