Radiation Therapist

Radiation therapists assist in the treatment of cancer and other health conditions through the administration of powerful, radioactive interventions such as chemotherapy.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

Radiation Therapist, Staff Radiation Therapist, Radiation Therapy Technologist (RTT), Registered Radiation Therapist, Computed Tomography Simulation Therapist (CT Simulation Therapist)

Summary

Radiation therapists typically do the following:

Examine machines to make sure they are safe and work properly
Explain treatment plans to the patient and answer questions about treatment
Follow safety procedures to protect the patient and themselves from overexposure
X-ray the patient to determine the exact location of the area requiring treatment
Check the computer programs to make sure that they will give the correct dose of radiation to the correct area of the patient's body
Operate the equipment to treat the patient with radiation
Monitor the patient to check for unusual reactions to the treatment
Keep detailed records of treatment

Most radiation therapy uses machines called linear accelerators. These machines direct high-energy x rays at specific cancer cells in a patient's body, shrinking or removing them.

Radiation therapists are part of the oncology team that treats patients with cancer. They often work with the following specialists:

Radiation oncologists, physicians who specialize in radiation therapy
Oncology nurses, nurses who specialize in patients with cancer
Radiation physicists, physicists who calibrate linear accelerators
Dosimetrists, workers who calculate the correct dose of radiation to use in the treatment

Educational Requirements

In most states, radiation therapists must have a license. Although most radiation therapists currently receive their license through pursuing an AS or BS in radiation therapy, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) will require students receive an AS or BS degree from an accredited institution beginning January 1, 2015. Learn more about this policy change through ARRT's website.

Salary Information 2022

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of a Radiation Therapist in 2022 was $82,790.

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Information retrieved from Bureau of Labor Statistics: Radiation Therapists and O*NET Online: Radiation Therapists.