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What Do Radiation Therapists Do?
Patients who have cancer often receive radiation as a form of treatment in addition to chemotherapy or surgery. Machines called linear accelerators are used to direct high energy x-rays at specific cancer cells in a patient's body, shrinking or removing them. Radiation therapists operate linear accelerators as part of their role within a hospital's or cancer center's radiation oncology team. It is common for radiation therapists to see their patients three or more times a week over the course of treatment plan, which typically last four to seven weeks.
Video - A Radiation Therapist School Experience
Helpful example of a radiation therapy program run at British Columbia Institute of Technology. Students share their backgrounds, why they chose this profession, and show what happens in their hands on classroom.
How to Choose the Best Radiation Therapy School
What makes for a top radiation therapist program? Of course that answer changes for each student -- but factors that all students should consider in choosing their "best" school and program include:
What is Required to Become a Radiation Therapist?
Employers of radiation therapists usually require them to have a certificate, associate's degree or bachelor's degree from an accredited program in radiation therapy. Programs are available through hospitals, cancer centers, community colleges, vocational schools, colleges and universities. Candidates with a degree in radiography (radiological imaging) can become qualified by completing a 1-year certificate program.
The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) accredits radiation therapy educational programs. In states that require licensure, although requirements vary, radiation therapists often need to be certified through ARRT. Another accrediting organization recognized by the US Department of Education is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).
Online Classes and Programs
Since radiation therapy programs require clinical experience it is not possible to entirely complete studies online. Online classes that apply towards a certificate or degree may be available and can offer a convenient solution to busy students. Care should be taken to make sure that if a student plans to transfer online studies from one school to another that indeed the credits are transferrable. Additionally, any program with an online studies option should be accredited through ARRT in order to qualify graduates for certification.
In general programs with online options should be part of an institution with accreditation from agencies approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or United States Department of Education (USDE)..
Coursework
Coursework for radiation therapy students combines time in class with supervised clinical experience. Courses include:
- human anatomy and physiology
- physics, algebra and pre-calculus
- scientific theories behind radiation therapy procedures
- clinical concepts in radiation oncology
- simulation procedures and dose calculations
- the application of radiation
- fabrication of beam modification devices
- low-volume, high-risk procedures
- radiation protection and quality assurance
- treatment planning and delivery
- patient care and education
Scholarships
One scholarship possibility to be aware of is from Varian, which provides scholarships to students studying radiation therapy through organizations such as ASRT, RSNA and AAPM. ASRT also offers several other radiology student scholarships ranging from $1000 to $5000 to students of all education levels.
On-the-Job Responsibilities
Responsibilities of a radiation therapist usually include:
- Developing a treatment plan by working with a physician who specializes in radiation therapy and a technician who calculates the proper dosage
- Explaining the treatment plan to the patient and answering any questions
- Simulating the procedure to determine the proper placement of the patient and linear accelerator
- Applying treatment by properly positioning the patient and linear accelerator and conducting the procedure from a protected room
- Monitoring a patient's condition and checking for adverse reactions
- Communicating the status of the treatment and providing emotional support
- Keeping detailed records
- Making adjustments to the linear accelerator in cooperation with medical radiation physicists
- Following standard safety procedures to prevent exposure to radiation
Career Profiles
Job Title: Radiation Technician
Attended: ITT Technical Institute • Denver, CO
Studied Radiation Technology (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 3/10/2012
"It is a very stressful job, but I like it. The patients can be a handful at times."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | Rad techs are in constant need in most hospitals. There is a great market for them. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 10 | As in any hospital, the odds of promotion depend entirely on what degrees you are pursuing. You are limited only by your own education. |
| Job Security | 9 | I think my job is very secure. I can always go to another hospital if I am laid off or decide where I work is not for me. |
| Earnings Potential | 9 | Depending on the market, there is great potential. Right now I make a very comfortable living as a rad tech. |
| How Stressful | 6 | It's not as stressful as brain surgery, but it can have its moments. People tend to be very nervous about radiation and you have to be the one that calms them down. |
| Task Variety | 3 | There isn't a great deal of variation between everyday tasks. However, the medical landscape is constantly changing and therefore so is the work. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | Radiation Technology is always changing and evolving. As a tech I get to be on the forefront of this evolution and get to witness it first hand. I get to work with kids and help people who are going through hard times. All in all, my job is "very cool." |
| Career Flexibility | 2 | The hospital I work for is not very flexible in terms of letting me get time off. If anything I am called in on my days off quite frequently. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | We are mostly professional at work with little fooling around. That being said, it is also very laid back and fun at times. |
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