Radiation therapists work closely with radiation oncologists and radiation physicists in planning and delivering radiation therapy treatments for cancer patients. The radiation therapist will take planning CT scans to pinpoint the tumor location. A treatment plan is then formulated by the team. It is the radiation therapist that carries out the treatment plan by carefully giving the patient the correct dose of radiation. Protective shielding protects the radiation therapist from harmful radiation while patient treatment is in progress. Careful monitoring of the patient and the treatment is observed and documented. Team members will review the documentation and subsequent CT scans to evaluate treatment effectiveness. Radiation therapists are part of a life saving team.
If you think this is the career for you, here’s a guideline on how to become a radiation therapist.
- Earn a degree. For the vast majority of radiation therapy jobs, you will need to complete either an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree. You can attend one of the many great online radiation therapist schools to earn this degree as well as traditional schools. The coursework, which is in-depth and includes subjects like human anatomy, physics, physiology, pathology, oncology and other related science and math disciplines, should be accredited by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
- Get certified. ARRT awards certification for radiation therapist training. To qualify for certification, you must complete an ARRT-accredited program, pass the examination, abide by the ARRT ethical principles and standards, and be competent in the practice of radiation therapy. Certification must be renewed annually. To qualify for renewal, you need to complete continuing education every two years, observe the standards set by ARRT, and pay the annual fees.
- Obtain a license. Licensure is not universally required. In fact, as of now, only 33 states included licensure as a requirement. Still, if you intend to work in any of these states, understand that to qualify for a license; you need to be ARRT certified. For complete licensing requirements, check your state or the hospital in which you’d like to work.
- Consider the salary and job outlook. The best salaries go to radiation therapists who have a college degree and are certified. While not all states require this level of education for job entry, it certainly will improve your marketability. The low end of salaries is around $47,000. Those working in big markets can expect to make around $70,000-$90,000. The high end of the pay scale is around $105,000.
This is an occupation that is expecting around 20% growth in the next ten years. As the population ages, more patients will need radiation treatment. Treatments are also expected to be safer with the advent of procedures that target only the malignant cells and do less damage to normal cells. These two factors will drive an increased need for radiation therapists.
Radiation therapists are needed in many settings to perform treatment procedures. You can land radiation therapist jobs in hospitals, treatment centers, outpatient facilities and doctors’ offices. Entry-level positions are generally abundant, so finding a job may not be a large problem. Job promotions are available to those who train in various radiation therapy techniques and have extensive experience. Some of those positions include: managerial, administrative, research, academia or developing innovative treatment products and protocols.