They are highly skilled members of the health team. Radiation Therapist duties include
recording, interpreting and administering radiation treatment. They also help facilitate
other medical procedures such as X-rays, Ct scans and fluoroscopy. Radiation therapist
must be detailed, accurate in recording data with the ability to work independently
and as part of a team.
As part of their Radiation Therapist duties, they may conduct researches into radiation
treatment and research. They are tasked with maintaining the well being of the patient
during treatment and decide whether a patient should continue with the course of
treatment. They also possess a good background of anatomy, radiation biology, human
physiology, medical physics and oncology.
Work Environment
Radiation therapists generally works in sterile or clean environments. This is ensuring
that patients don’t become infected. They have day jobs because radiation therapy
usually occurs in the day shift. Radiation therapists are not required for emergency
cases because it is not an emergency way of treating patients. Radiation therapist
should possess physically fit bodies because constant lifting of patients is needed.
Employment Opportunities
Radiation Therapist opportunities are found in hospitals, centers for oncology treatment,
clinics and universities. Only a few medical professionals take this medical field.
Salaries are on the upscale compared to other medical professionals. Highly specialized
in their own fields, they are only one of the few who deal with oncology treatment.
Career advancement is through continued education with job opportunities in the
educational field, management and commercial research.
How much does a Radiation Therapist make - Radiation Therapist Salary and Wages
Numbers of year of practice in the hospital setting is the main basis for Radiation
Therapist salary range. Those who just started the practice or those with four years
or less experience make $70,000 a year depending on the type of institution with
bigger and well known hospital giving larger monthly wages. Radiation therapists
with five to nine year experiences are at the $80,000 range as they move up in their
careers. Veterans or those who have ten or more years experience have salaries in
the $95,000 level.
Variations in the Radiation Therapist salary range are not huge in terms of tenure
or stay in the hospital; persons who have just entered a career in radiation therapist
don’t notice great increases in income through the years. Opportunities for increasing
the salary grade are done through moving up the career ladder.
How to become a Radiation Therapist
Educational and Training
In order for an individual to be practice a career as a radiation therapist in the
United States, a bachelor's Radiation Therapist degree or equivalent is required.
They must be certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
and state licensed. Around 32 states require individuals to get certification; this
usually lasts for one year and is renewed subsequently. They must ARRT certification
and complete accredited radiologic therapy approved program training. Exams cover
concepts regarding oncology, treatment planning, treatment delivery and patient
care and education. They must be able to perform calculations, beam adjustments
and be able to insure care in low and high risk radiation procedures and treatments
to meet Radiation Therapist qualifications.
Common radiation therapist courses include English, Computer Science, Human Anatomy
and Physiology, Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, Statistics, and Physics.
You can find information concerning online Radiation Therapist degrees and jump
start your Radiation Therapist career by checking out the online colleges and degrees
below.
Radiation Therapist Resources
ASRT - American Society of Radiologic Technologists