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Career and School Info for Radiation Therapists

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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:

  • Accreditation - Is the program accredited and in good standing with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and/or the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)?
  • Practical experience/internships - Examples: The highly rated radiation bachelor's degree program at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, internship: A little over a year. The program at the highly rated Manhattan College, internship: 275 days training in a hospital radiation therapy department. Given that internships are vital - students achieve competency during their internship - make sure the program includes at least one semester of clinics in local hospitals or cancer treatment centers.
  • Clinical rotation of internships - One example is the Scottsdale, Arizona site of the highly respected Mayo Clinic that includes the following clinical rotations: Simulation, block fabrication and millennium multileaf collimator shaper; dosimetry, brachytherapy, external beam treatment and intra-operative radiotherapy. Completing the right clinical rotations is vital - be sure that a candidate program offers the rotations needed for licensing, employment, and ultimately success in the field.
  • Class size - For reference purposes, the prestigious Mayo School of Health Sciences at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale Arizona only admits 15 to 20 students into its one-year radiation therapy certificate program. For a candidate program how many students are there in classes and in clinical settings? How does this compare to the Mayo School, for instance?
  • Tuition and financial aid - Are there costs beyond tuition and books, such as special clinical supplies or long commutes to off-campus locations? What assistance is available directly from the school and program, such as scholarships, grants, work / study options and student loans?
  • Employee and licensure requirements - Make sure the program covers all the license requirements of the state. It is recommended that students ask prospective employees about their specific class and clinic training requirements and compare these to their candidate programs.
  • One-year certificate programs - For these programs look for schools which incorporate the American Society of Radiologic Technologists' national radiation therapy curriculum. Make sure the program includes all didactic and clinical competencies required for eligibility for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologist Examination, radiation therapy component.
  • Focus/certification - Graduating from a JRCERT accredited program increases the graduates' chances of passing the ARRT credentialing examination. What percentage of graduates were successfully certified? For example since 1970, the University of North Carolina reports 100 percent of its graduates of the radiation certificate program passed the ARRT certificate exam.
  • Graduate success - What percentage of graduates were employed as radiation therapists over the past several years? Does the program offer practical job placement opportunities? What are the average salaries of those who just graduated?
  • Transfers of credits - Will coursework transfer to other programs and schools should a student decide to pursue more advanced degrees in radiation therapy or related fields? It is always a good idea to check directly with advanced degree programs of interest to ensure they would accept the coursework.

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

 

  Example Job Titles

  • Computed Tomography Simulation Therapist (CT Simulation Therapist)
  • Dosimetrist
  • Radiation Therapist
  • Radiation Therapy Technician
  • Radiation Therapy Technologist (RTT)
  • Radiologic Therapist
  • Radiology Therapist
  • Registered Radiation Therapist
  • Staff Radiation Therapist