THE WORLD IS CHANGING RAPIDLY, SO ARE HEALTH CARE CAREERS

Home About Us Our Sponsors Careers Education Employers Labor Market Info Important Links Downloads Contact Us		Radiation Therapist  (Medical Imaging) DID YOU KNOW?   (click for more) DID YOU KNOW?   (click to hide) Radiation Therapist - Did-You-Know: 1. Radiation therapy students can experience a wide range of treatment procedures, including total body irradiation and total skin irradiation. 2. Radiation therapy students get a chance to work with high tech treatment equipment [such as patient support assembly, simulators, computer tomography (CT) scanners, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, treatment-planning computer software, megavoltage teletherapy equipment (both linear accelerators and radioisotope units), and treatment equipment (including stereotactic radiosurgery units, intraoperative units, heavy particle beam units, radioisotope teletherapy units, and remote after loading brachytherapy units). (www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/alliedhealth/radiation/) ] 3. More than half of all people with cancer are treated with some form of radiation. 4. Radiation treatments [such as external beam radiation therapy treatment] are painless [like getting an X-ray]. [Radiation treatments such as brachytherapy, (internal radiation or seed implants) can cause some discomfort. (www.vicc.org/radonc/expect.php) ] 5. The field of radiation therapy is always advancing with new treatment procedures [(such as systemic radiation therapy, radioimmunotherapy, and investigational radiation therapy)], high tech equipment, and computer planning for patient treatment. [(www.vicc.org/radonc/expect.php) ] 6. Radiation therapists usually work from 8am until 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. 7. Radiation therapy can be a very rewarding profession. How is technology impacting any of the following areas in the Radiation Therapy field? 1. Education: More use with computers, increased training on new technology. 2. Research: Developed new and better ways to treat cancer, giving a better quality of life. 3. Direct patient care: Helped give better patient care through new medications, exams and patient education. DESCRIPTION OF WORK: Radiation therapists administer radiation treatments to patients using a planned design to treat cancers in the body that have been previously diagnosed. The progressive improvement in the technology has led to a gradual increase in both cognitive abilities and general knowledge necessary to perform the tasks. Mean annual salary for this position is $60,110. WHERE EMPLOYED: About one in five worked part-time. Radiation therapists are highly skilled medical specialists educated in physics, radiation safety, patient anatomy and patient care. They typically see their patients three to five days a week throughout a four-to-seven-week treatment plan in cancer treatment centers or radiation oncology departments in hospitals. Hospitals will remain a major employer of radiation therapists. However, a greater number of new jobs will be found in cancer treatment centers. PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Radiation therapists must like to work with patients and people, especially with those facing difficult times. One must like technology and feel comfortable with computers and big equipment and must feel comfortable in a high-tech high-touch combination environment. Because there is a lot of autonomy in therapy, one must also have a high quotient of integrity – there is no ‘cutting corners’. One must be detail-oriented and aware that the very best is being done for the patient at all times. ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: The increase in the role requirements caused the professional organization, American Registry of Radiation Therapy (ARRT), to support a minimum requirement of a bachelor’s degree for entry into the field. Although many programs now offer a bachelor’s degree, no mandate by ARRT has been approved. To practice as a radiation therapist one must complete an accredited radiation therapy program and pass the national radiation therapy exam offered by ARRT. Accredited programs are accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). More information on accredited programs can be found by going to www.jrcert.org EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS: There are bachelor’s, associates, and certificate programs offered throughout the United States. Bachelor’s programs are either four-year courses of study usually affiliated with or offered through an academic medical center. Other bachelor’s level affiliated programs where students take either one or two years of prerequisites and complete the last one or two years in an accredited radiation therapy program affiliated with the college or university. Some community colleges offer an associate’s radiation therapy degree program. Many of the associate’s degree programs and the one-year certificate programs require one be a registered radiographer to enter the program. Educational program types for this career. EMPLOYERS: Potential employers for this career. LAST UPDATED: 9/9/2007 - Update Current status - Active
Home About Us Our Sponsors Careers Education Employers Labor Market Info Important Links Downloads Contact Us