Radiation Therapist Career
Radiation therapists are part of the oncology team. They operate linear accelerators that assist in shrinking or removing cancer cells in patients.
In addition to aiding the patients during a radiation treatment, a radiation therapist may explain treatment plans and answer any question the patient or family member may have. They will also need to take the proper precautions to protect themselves and the patient from overexposure to radiation.
Radiation therapists also need to check on the patient to ensure there are no unusual reactions to the radiation treatment and they will keep an updated chart of the records of treatment.
Radiation Therapist Career Snapshot
Radiation therapists generally work in hospitals, physician offices or cancer treatment facilities. When it comes to their working hours, they keep a regular full-time working schedule due to their procedures being scheduled in advance.
Further details on a career as a radiation therapist are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):
is the average yearly salary for radiation therapists.
increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.
have an Associate’s degree while 38% have a Bachelor’s degree.
Radiation Therapist Education
There are different paths into this profession. Some employers prefer that an individual posses at least an associate’s, and occasionally a bachelor’s degree. Some practices will even accept credentials from a 12-month certification program. You must also obtain a license in the state that you plan to practice if that state requires you to do so. Employers will occasionally request that you have American Registry of Radiologic Technologist certification.
Radiation Therapist Job Outlook
The job outlook for radiation therapists is slated to rise 14% by the year 2024. This is in part due to an increasing age population. The older one gets, the increased risk of cancer also rises.
Radiation Therapist Salaries
According to the BLS.gov, the median salary for radiation therapist was around $80,000 in May 2015. Radiation therapists in the top 10 percent earn up to $121,110 and the lowest therapists earn around $54,220.
Radiation Therapist Job Duties
Daily job duties of radiation therapists include troubleshooting equipment to ensure they all function properly, taking X-Rays of patient to determine the exact location of the area requiring treatment, and troubleshooting computer software to ensure that the proper radiation dosage amount will be administered to the proper location needing treatment.
Radiation Therapist Skills & Traits
| Radiation Therapist Skill Set: | Required Abilities: | Tools Used by Radiation Therapists: | Typical Work Activities: |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Active Listening • Reading Comprehension • Critical Thinking • Operation Monitoring • Social Perceptiveness | • Oral Comprehension • Oral Expression • Problem Sensitivity • Written Comprehension • Information Ordering | • IMRT collimators • Medical radiation dosimeters • Medical radiological positioning aids • Radiological shielding aprons | • Caring for others • Controlling Machines and Processes • Recording information • Inspecting equipment • Identifying objects |
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