Radiation Therapy Schools

Radiation therapy schools equip students with the skills and knowledge to administer, record and interpret treatment in hospitals or cancer centers.

Radiation therapy primarily used to treat cancer, and radiation therapist use a linear accelerator machines that produces high-energy beams of radiation to treat patients. Radiation therapy is more commonly known as a treatment for cancer. However, it is also used for treatment of conditions such as neuralgia, thyroid eye disease and a number of other non-malignant conditions. Radiation Therapy Schools teach students all aspects of working with patients who must undergo radiation treatment. A Radiation Therapist is a very important part of the medical team, that works in this part of health care, and has a great deal of responsibility in all phases of a patient's treatment. Radiation therapists administer radiation therapy to patients under the supervision of oncologists and radiologists. They locate tumors, measure the amount of radiation, and update radiation treatment reports.

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Selected Radiologic Sciences Programs

Florida Hospital College of Health

• Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences

Radiation Therapy Training and Education

There are a number of radiation therapy schools that provide this radiation therapy training, such as hospitals, community colleges, universities, vocational schools and cancer centers. It is very important that anyone enrolled in this type of program be sure that the program is accredited and that units earned are transferable. The school or college one attends must be accredited by Joint Review Committee on Education of Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). After completing the studies and sitting for a board exam will allow one to be accredited.

To become employed in this field, one must have a two-year or four-year associate or bachelor's degree and a radiation therapy certificate. This certificate must be from an ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) accredited program. In addition, they must have AART certification. Some states require the therapist to be licensed, as well, so that should be checked out with the State Department of Education where one lives.

Students in this program have regular classes as well as clinical work. Radiation therapy courses include human anatomy, physics, radiation therapy procedures, simulation procedures, medical terminology, dose(amount of x-ray) calculations and many more. At the same time the classes are being taken clinical work is done as well. This clinical work is under the direct supervision of specialists in radiation therapy.

Radiation Therapist Careers

Radiation therapists operate a linear accelerator machine which directs high energy x-rays to specific cells on a cancer patient. This responsibility requires a thorough knowledge of the machine and how it affects the human body. The patient and the accelerator must be positioned for treatment, then the treatment must be monitored. Safety rules must be followed at all times to avoid radiation exposure.

In addition the therapist keeps records, develops the patient's treatment plan, together with the physician, and explains the procedure to the patient. Operating the linear accelerator, which contains the x-ray equipment, correctly is an extremely important part of the job. Any necessary adjustments must be made and the patient monitored to watch for adverse reactions. During this phase of treatment the therapist will be working with medical radiation physicists.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

Salaries for Radiation Therapists vary from state to state as well as from one place of employment to another. Employment in this field is expected to raise 3.3% with the mean hourly wage $37.18 and the mean annual wage $77,340. The average salary in the United states runs from $45,000 to $60,000 annually. If there is a specialization in the field, such as medical dosimetry, the salary can rise to $90,000. In 2008 there were 15,200 registered Radiation Therapists with that number estimated to reach 19,400 in 2018, an increase of 26%.

The radiation therapy career is one which can bring a person great satisfaction while earning a very good salary. Studying for, and becoming, a Radiation Therapist offers a lifetime career. In addition, when employed with a government agency, for example, one also has the advantage of a secure position with benefits of vacation time, holidays, and a pension. Radiation therapy schools will therefore remain an important part of the health care industry as medical research continues to advance.