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Radiation Therapist
As a Radiation Therapist, you are responsible for accurately interpreting and administering targeted doses of radiation to the patient’s body, according to a treatment plan prescribed by radiation oncologists to shrink and eliminate cancerous tumors and other diseases. You keep detailed treatment records that enable the medical team members to monitor the patient’s exposure to radiation, ensure that the treatment plan is working, and monitor and control side effects.
You work closely with patients throughout their treatment, usually over a period of several weeks, educating them about procedures and potential side effects and answering their questions. It’s challenging work that needs more than technical expertise; it calls for a positive attitude and the ability to provide emotional support to patients at a very difficult time in their lives.
The accredited Radiation Therapy program develops the full range of knowledge and skills essential to the practice of radiation therapy. Through our program of participatory learning in the classroom and in clinical settings, you’ll be ready to begin your career as a competent and skilled professional who provides excellent patient care.
Career Facts
- The average annual wage for Radiation Therapists is $77,340.
- Employment for Radiation Therapists is projected to grow by 27 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is much faster than average.
- Most Radiation Therapists work 40 hours a week, usually during the day, in hospitals or cancer treatment centers.
- Some states, along with many employers, require Radiation Therapists to be certified by American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
- There are several different ways to advance in this field — managing a treatment center, teaching, technical sales, or research. You can also go through additional training and certification to become a dosimetrist, someone who uses complex mathematical formulas to calculate proper radiation doses.
Programs
- Undergraduate
Want to get the ball rolling?
Everything about our college is aimed at getting you the job you want in the shortest time possible — from our affordable tuition, to how we choose our programs, to our small class sizes, and flexible class schedules.
Discover what Baker can do for your future. Schedule a visit or enroll online today.
