Welcome onboard today, we have to discuss the best Radiation therapist schools in 2023, with the full detail required for successful admission application.
Those who want to learn more about the human body’s inner workings can pursue a range of careers in health and research. A four-year degree program in radiation treatment is one such possibility.
With a degree in this profession, you’ll be confident in your ability to use technology to help eradicate cancer. As a result, this post compiles data on the finest Radiation Therapist Schools for 2021.
Radiation therapists are regarded for having a strong desire to assist others. And, given the increasing number of cancer patients each day, their services are always in demand.
The job has the potential to be rewarding and exciting, but students must first complete the necessary educational and certification requirements.
Students can become certified by the American Registry of Radiology Technologists after completing a degree program (ARRT).
Read through a list of top radiation therapist colleges to acquire a degree and become a registered radiation therapist.
A quick check at the table of contents below will show the schools and other essential questions about this course, all of which will be answered in this post.
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What is Radiation Therapy and How Does It Work?
Lets consider the meaning and how radiation therapist school works, before we move down to listing the top best radiation therapist schools.
Cancer is treated by radiation therapy. Radiation treatment is the use of equipment such as linear accelerators to deliver high-energy x-rays into a patient’s body in order to eradicate cancer cells.
Cancer cells are destroyed by these high-energy x-rays, which diminish or eliminate them. In cancer centers and hospitals, radiation therapists are in charge of running linear accelerators as well as administering, analyzing, and documenting patient data.
They’re also in charge of simulating the surgery to figure out where the patient and linear accelerator should go.
To minimize overexposure to radiation, radiation therapists must follow specific safety procedures. In cooperation with a radiation therapy professional, they devise a treatment plan.
Radiation therapists collaborate with radiologists to put therapeutic treatment plans in place for patients. Radiation therapists locate malignancies, measure the quantity of radiation provided, and update treatment reports for patients under the supervision of oncologists and radiologists.
Radiation therapists treat cancer cells with X-rays, gamma rays, or charged particles, or inject radioisotopes into the body near cancerous tumors.
Fortunately, there are a number of high-quality, low-cost schools that offer a variety of options for meeting these standards, allowing each student to pick a school that meets their needs and budget.
Radiation Therapist Responsibilities
Radiation therapists are an important member of a patient’s medical team. A radiation therapist’s responsibilities and tasks include the following:
1. Use radiation therapy equipment to deliver prescribed dosages of radiation to specific regions of the body, as directed by the radiation oncologist.
2. Patients are positioned for treatment, and strong doses of ionizing radiation are administered as directed.
3. Patients should be informed about the processes.
4. Use the machine to administer radiation to a patient.
5. Keep an eye on the patient for any odd reactions to the treatment.
6. Maintain thorough records of the patient’s therapy.
What Majors Do You Need to Become a Radiation Therapist?
To become a qualified radiation therapist, you must complete a four-year radiation therapy degree program.
This is required in order to sit for and pass a certification exam. Radiation therapist school, on the other hand, requires an associate or bachelor’s degree in a related subject.
You should major in one of the radiation therapy degree program’s possible courses. You’ll need an excellent grade in physiology and anatomy, radiation therapy physics, radiologic patient care, and radiation safety, among other courses, to get into most radiation therapist programs.
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What is the average number of years it takes to become a radiation therapist?
While an associate degree in radiation therapy can be obtained in two years, becoming a radiation therapist requires completion of a four-year curriculum.
So, a Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy takes four years to finish, or two years if you only want an associate degree.
Is it possible to earn a radiation therapy degree online?
Radiation therapy degree programs necessitate a lot of on-the-job training. As a result, such degree programs are not offered as an online option.
To become a radiation therapist, you must complete a bachelor’s degree program in radiation sciences with a concentration in radiation therapy.
This can be done in a radiation therapist school as an on-campus program or as a partially online program requiring students to visit campus on occasion.
A complete list of these programs is available from the Joint Review Committee on Radiological Technology (JRCERT), which can be categorized by title type.
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What are the Degree and Certifications in Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapists must have a certification, certificate, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree in the subject.
These programs include a wide range of useful occupational practices, from specific radiological principles and skills to more general science courses, as well as hands-on experience.
Consider the many degrees and certifications available in the radiation therapy program.
Radiation therapy certificate programs train students for jobs as radiation therapists, including national certification. The curriculum usually lasts about a year and is aimed towards diagnostic radiography who want to specialize.
Radiation safety, radiation physics, psychology, anatomy, and physiology are all possible prerequisites. Other programs require applicants to be an AART-certified radiologic technologist or a registered nurse (RN).
Radiation therapy in theory and practice, radiological oncology, ethics, and patient care are all covered in the courses.
Students may be required to complete an observation task. It’s possible to learn from a distance.
Associate students study general education curriculum in addition to studying for the ARRT exam and certification. In addition, unlike a certified degree, programs might provide more practical experience performing radiation therapy.
Psychosocial patient care, sectional anatomy, dosimetry, advanced treatment procedures, and treatment planning are some of the topics covered in these classes.
Some colleges will accept transfer credits for two-year general education requirements in liberal arts such as English, philosophy, mathematics, and history for Bachelor of Science degrees in Radiation Therapy.
In a student’s third year, application to the program may be necessary.
Before moving on to particular radiation therapy courses in years three and four, students study the health-care system, medical terminology, biology, and physics.
Radiological oncology, patient care, dosimetry, and professional growth are all covered in this course.
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Is it possible to work as a radiation therapist with only an associate’s degree?
While an associate degree in radiation therapy is possible, it does not prepare you for the registrations required to achieve certification or licensure.
To become a qualified radiation therapist, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in radiation science with a concentration in radiation therapy.
Best Radiation Therapist Schools In 2023
1. Virginia Western Community College (VWCC)
This is the first in our list of best radiation therapist schools. The AAS degree in radiation oncology at VWCC in Roanoke, Virginia, prepares students to execute the duties of a radiation therapist and has a 97 percent ARRT certification approval rate. It is said to be one of the best schools for radiation therapists.
Furthermore, VWCC claims that more than 87 percent of its alumni find work within six months of finishing the two-year program.
Because the curriculum at VWCC is regarded rigorous, students are discouraged from working while enrolled.
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2. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (UNC)
At the second top best radiation therapist schools we have the University of North Carolina.
UNC, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, has a long reputation of distinction in health education and is one of the top radiation therapist schools in the world, having just been rated one of the 30 best national institutions by U.S. News and World Report (2018).
Before enrolling in the UNC program, applicants must have earned (or be on their way to earning) an associate’s degree and be certified in radiography.
Students who complete the 12-month post-baccalaureate certificate program are eligible to sit for the national ARRT board of radiation therapy certification exam.
This program also has a 100% post-graduation employment rate, which is rather excellent.
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3. University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
Here comes the third in our list of the best radiation therapist schools. UNMC, in Omaha, Nebraska, was designated one of the top 20 primary care graduate schools in the country by U.S. News and World Report in 2018, as well as one of the best Radiation Therapist Schools in the United States.
Students who complete the 12-month radiation therapy program can earn a bachelor’s degree in radiation science technology or a graduate certificate that allows them to sit for the ARRT exam.
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4. University of Vermont (UV)
University of Vermont (UV) is the fourth in our list of the top best radiation therapist schools.
With less than $16,000 in annual revenue, one of the most profitable radiation therapy programs is located in Burlington, Vermont (tuition in the state). Because the university’s degree program has a 100% job placement rate in the last five years, it is the ideal professional trampoline.
When it comes to radiation therapy regimens, this is one of the more cost-effective and high-performing solutions.
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5. Oregon University of Science and Health (OHSU)
Here comes the fifth in our list of best radiation therapist schools. The OHSU school was regarded as the fifth finest primary care medical school in the country by US News & World Report, in addition to being located in one of the most beautiful sections of the country (having campuses throughout Oregon and Washington) (2018).
The 97 percent completion rate, 95 percent exam passing rate, and 87 percent job placement rate for the OHSU BS in OHSU radiation therapy is impressive.
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6. Gateway Community College (GCC)
The Gateway Community College makes up our sixth list of the top best radiation therapist schools.
With out-of-state tuition rates of just over $10,000 per year, this is one of the most cost-effective AS Radiation Therapist Schools that offer radiation therapy programs. GCC is well-known for its comprehensive and flexible online course offerings.
Its radiation technician curriculum is only 13 months long and includes a clinical radiation therapy course (RTT150) that can be done partially online.
It is not only cost-effective and versatile, but it also produces excellent learning results. 90% of graduates pass the national certification exam on the first try, with a 100% job placement record after graduation.
It’s vital to remember that this program is intended for students who are already certified as medical radiographers by the ARRT.
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7. Ohio State University in Columbus
At the seventh top best radiation therapist schools we have the Ohio State University in Columbus.
In terms of research, OSU’s Medical School is tied for 30th place. The Wright Innovation Center in Biomedical Imaging is located at OSU.
The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, part of the OSU School of Medicine, provides a Bachelor of Science in Radiological Sciences. Radiotherapy, radiography, and ultrasound are among the program’s specialization possibilities.
If you currently have a medical imaging certification, you can study radiological sciences through a Certificate of Study or a degree completion program.
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8. Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech has Indiana’s only associate degree radiation program, and its VERT program is one of only 29 such programs in the country. It is the eighth in our list of best radiation therapist schools.
Ivy Tech Community College – Bloomington’s radiotherapy program’s aim is to give students with an affordable and high-quality education that will prepare them for a future in radiation oncology.
The program will prepare graduates for entry-level radiation therapy careers through strategic relationships and creative training.
Link To School Website
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9. Pennsylvania College of Technology
At our second to last of the top best radiation therapist schools we have the Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Students at Penn College are learning how to use radiography technologies to improve patient care. This fully recognized program offers more than 1,500 hours of training in clinical settings and is an engaging practical experience.
To ensure a deep experience, apply technical skills in our array of fully energized digital radiography images and guaranteed clinical rotations in three systems.
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10. Armstrong State University
Here comes the last in our list of best radiation therapist schools. Registered radiology technologists can get a B.S. or a post-baccalaureate degree from Armstrong State University of Georgia. During the first semester of education, students must attend physical facilities as part of this flexible curriculum.
Students can complete a substantial portion of the curriculum online and schedule clinical rotations at a facility near their home at their leisure for the remainder of the program.
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