Radiation Therapist Schools

Search For Schools

For those who are fascinated with the inner workings of the human body, there are a variety of career options in healthcare and research to consider. One of the better-paying paths may be a two- or four-year degree from a top radiation therapy school. With an average salary of $85,190 per year, radiation therapy is a relatively lucrative profession in the U.S., and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2017) projects that jobs in this field will grow by 13 percent between 2016 and 2026 — faster than the national average projected for all occupations.

Although it is a potentially lucrative and captivating field, the educational and certification requirements are significant. Students who complete a program that qualifies them for certification through the American Registry of Radiology Technologists (ARRT) must have completed at minimum an associate’s degree in any field and an educational program in radiation therapy.

Fortunately, there are several high-quality, low-tuition schools that provide flexible ways to complete these requirements so that every student should be able to find a school to fit their needs and budget.

Radiation Therapist fast facts
Projected Jobs Created2,400
Projected Job Growth13%
Low Salary$55,530
Average Salary (Median)$85,190
High Salary$123,020
Entry-Level EDU Associate's Degree
Sourced from BLS, June 2018

Accredited Radiation Therapy Programs

In order to become a radiation therapist, students must complete a program at an accredited school. While certificate programs were common in the past, as of January 1, 2015, the ARRT, the primary licensing body for radiation therapists, requires that candidates have completed at least an associate degree to qualify for licensure. In addition to associate of applied science (AAS) degrees, students can pursue bachelor’s of science (BS) or post-baccalaureate specializations in radiation therapy.

Following is a sampling of esteemed, accredited programs in radiation therapy:

  • Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) : At VWCC, located in Roanoke, Virginia, the radiation oncology AAS degree prepares students to perform the tasks of a radiation therapist and has an impressive ARRT certification pass rate of 97 percent. In addition, VWCC reports that over 87 percent of their graduates are employed within six months of completing the two-year program. The curriculum at VWCC is considered intense and students are therefore discouranged from working while attending..

  • University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (UNC) – Named recently as one of the top 30 national universities by the U.S. News and World Report (2018), UNC, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, has a long-established tradition of excellence in healthcare education. In order to be eligible for the UNC program, applicants must have already earned (or be in the process of earning) a minimum of an associate’s degree and must be certified in radiography prior to entering the program. The 12-month, post-baccalaureate certificate program qualifies students to sit for the ARRT’s national board certification exam in radiation therapy. This program also has an impressive post-graduation employment rate of 100 percent.

  • University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) – The U.S. News and World Report named UNMC, located in Omaha, Nebraska, as one of the top 20 primary care graduate schools in the nation (2018). Students who complete the 12-month radiation therapy program can choose to earn either a BS in radiation science technology or a post-baccalaureate certificate, both of which qualify them to sit for the ARRT exam.

  • University of Vermont (UV) – UV, located in Burlington, Vermont, is one of the most cost-effective radiation therapy programs at less than $16,000 annually (in-state tuition). The university’s BS degree program provides the perfect career springboard, as their average job-placement rate for the last five years sits at 100 percent. As an investment, this is one of the lowest-cost, highest-yield options when it comes to radiation therapy programs.

  • Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) – Besides being placed in one of the most beautiful parts of the country (with campuses throughout Oregon and Washington state) OHSU school was ranked by the U.S. News and World Report as being the fifth best Primary Care Medical School in the Nation (2018). The OHSU BS in radiation therapy from OHSU boasts a 97 percent degree completion rate, a 95 percent exam pass rate, and an 87 percent job placement rate.

List of Radiation Therapist Schools

Filter by state :
School City State Website Total grads (2013)
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale Florida http://www.keiseruniversity.edu 396
West Coast Ultrasound Institute Beverly Hills California http://www.wcui.edu/ 129
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale Illinois http://siu.edu/ 105
Arkansas State University-Main Campus Jonesboro Arkansas http://www.astate.edu/ 105
Kaplan College-North Hollywood North Hollywood California https://www.brightwood.edu/locations/north-hollywood-ca/ 99
Medvance Institute-West Palm Palm Springs Florida https://www.fortis.edu/ 85
Universidad Del Este Carolina Puerto Rico http://ac.suagm.edu/ 80
Palm Beach State College Lake Worth Florida http://www.palmbeachstate.edu/ 71
Mount Aloysius College Cresson Pennsylvania http://www.mtaloy.edu/homecoming/ 67
Ultimate Medical Academy-Tampa Tampa Florida http://www.ultimatemedical.edu 62
Kent State University at Salem Salem Ohio https://www.kent.edu/columbiana 61
University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College Blue Ash Ohio http://www.ucblueash.edu/ 59
College of DuPage Glen Ellyn Illinois http://www.cod.edu 59
Boise State University Boise Idaho http://www.boisestate.edu 58
Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie Port Saint Lucie Florida https://www.fortis.edu/ 55
Carrington College-Phoenix Westside Phoenix Arizona http://carrington.edu/ 55
Lone Star College System The Woodlands Texas http://www.lonestar.edu 54
Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville Florida http://www.fscj.edu 52
CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn New York http://www.citytech.cuny.edu 51
Anthem College-Denver Aurora Colorado http://www.anthem.edu 51
Niagara County Community College Sanborn New York http://www.niagaracc.suny.edu 48
Valencia College Orlando Florida http://valenciacollege.edu 44
CUNY Bronx Community College Bronx New York http://www.bcc.cuny.edu 44
Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga Tennessee https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/ 44
The College of Health Care Professions-San Antonio San Antonio Texas http://www.chcp.edu/ 42
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus Ohio https://www.osu.edu/ 42
Broward College Fort Lauderdale Florida http://www.broward.edu/Pages/home.aspx 42
Hillsborough Community College Tampa Florida http://www.hccfl.edu 41
Cambridge Institute of Health & Technology Delray Beach Florida http://www.cambridgehealth.edu/ 41
University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City Oklahoma http://www.ouhsc.edu/ 40
Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland Ohio http://www.tri-c.edu 39
Nassau Community College Garden City New York http://www.ncc.edu/ 38
Ferris State University Big Rapids Michigan http://www.ferris.edu/ 38
Miami Dade College Miami Florida http://www.mdc.edu/main/ 37
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas Barranquitas Puerto Rico http://www.br.uipr.edu/inter/ 37
St Catherine University Saint Paul Minnesota http://www.stkate.edu 36
Loma Linda University Loma Linda California http://www.llu.edu/index.html 36
Anthem College-Orlando Orlando Florida http://www.anthem.edu 36
Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies Weslaco Texas http://vgi.edu 36
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Indianapolis Indiana http://www.iupui.edu 35
Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington Kentucky http://www.bluegrass.kctcs.edu/ 35
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Pennsylvania http://www.bloomu.edu 35
Bellevue College Bellevue Washington http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/ 35
University of Akron Main Campus Akron Ohio http://www.uakron.edu 34
Central California School San Luis Obispo California http://ccsce.org 34
The College of Health Care Professions-Austin Austin Texas http://www.chcp.edu 33
Davis Applied Technology College Kaysville Utah http://www.datc.edu 33
Quinnipiac University Hamden Connecticut http://www.quinnipiac.edu 32
Rend Lake College Ina Illinois https://www.rlc.edu 30
Portland Community College Portland Oregon http://www.pcc.edu 30
Middlesex County College Edison New Jersey http://www.middlesexcc.edu 30
Hagerstown Community College Hagerstown Maryland http://www.hagerstowncc.edu/admissions/apply-online 30
Fort Hays State University Hays Kansas http://www.fhsu.edu 30
Tulsa Community College Tulsa Oklahoma http://www.tulsacc.edu 29
Volunteer State Community College Gallatin Tennessee http://www.volstate.edu 28
Lamar Institute of Technology Beaumont Texas http://www.lit.edu 28
College of Lake County Grayslake Illinois http://WWW.CLCILLINOIS.EDU 28
LIU Post Brookville New York http://www.liu.edu 27
Baker College of Owosso Owosso Michigan http://www.baker.edu 27
The Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore Maryland http://www.ccbcmd.edu 26
Roane State Community College Harriman Tennessee http://www.roanestate.edu 26
Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Kentucky http://www.nku.edu 26
Hudson Valley Community College Troy New York https://www.hvcc.edu/ 26
Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania http://www.drexel.edu 26
Argosy University-Twin Cities Eagan Minnesota https://www.argosy.edu/locations/twin-cities 26
Wayne State University Detroit Michigan http://wayne.edu/ 25
The College of Health Care Professions-Southwest Houston Houston Texas http://www.chcp.edu 25
Santa Fe College Gainesville Florida http://www.sfcollege.edu 25
Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport Pennsylvania http://www.pct.edu 25
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Mercedita Puerto Rico http://www.ponce.inter.edu 25
Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway South Carolina http://www.hgtc.edu 25
Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis Minnesota http://www.dunwoody.edu 25
Owens Community College Perrysburg Ohio https://www.owens.edu 24
Massasoit Community College Brockton Massachusetts http://www.massasoit.edu/ 24
CUNY Hostos Community College Bronx New York http://www.hostos.cuny.edu 24
Bellingham Technical College Bellingham Washington http://www.btc.edu/ 24
Western Oklahoma State College Altus Oklahoma http://www.wosc.edu 23
Trident Technical College Charleston South Carolina http://www.tridenttech.edu 23
SUNY Broome Community College Binghamton New York http://WWW.SUNYBROOME.EDU 23
Prince George's Community College Largo Maryland http://www.pgcc.edu 23
Orange County Community College Middletown New York http://www.sunyorange.edu/ 23
Kapiolani Community College Honolulu Hawaii http://www.kapiolani.hawaii.edu//page/home 23
Jackson State Community College Jackson Tennessee http://www.jscc.edu 23
Essex County College Newark New Jersey http://www.essex.edu 23
Carrington College-Spokane Spokane Washington http://carrington.edu/ 23
Monroe Community College Rochester New York http://www.monroecc.edu/ 22
Emory University Atlanta Georgia http://www.emory.edu/home/index.html 22
Columbus State Community College Columbus Ohio http://www.cscc.edu/ 22
SUNY Downstate Medical Center Brooklyn New York http://www.downstate.edu/ 21
Pitt Community College Winterville North Carolina http://www.pittcc.edu 21
Montgomery College Rockville Maryland http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/edu/ 21
Fortis College-Winter Park Winter Park Florida https://www.fortis.edu/ 21
Concorde Career College-Aurora Aurora Colorado http://www.concorde.edu 21
Columbia State Community College Columbia Tennessee http://www.columbiastate.edu 21
Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire Wisconsin http://www.cvtc.edu/home.aspx 21
Bergen Community College Paramus New Jersey http://www.bergen.edu 21
Anthem College-Minnesota Saint Louis Park Minnesota http://www.anthem.edu 21
University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas Nevada https://www.unlv.edu/ 21
Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor Michigan http://www.wccnet.edu 20
Jefferson Community and Technical College Louisville Kentucky http://www.jefferson.kctcs.edu 20
Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Indiana http://www.ipfw.edu 20
Eastern Florida State College Cocoa Florida http://www.easternflorida.edu 20
Concordia University-Wisconsin Mequon Wisconsin http://www.cuw.edu/ 20
SUNY Westchester Community College Valhalla New York http://www.sunywcc.edu 19
Southwest Tennessee Community College Memphis Tennessee http://www.southwest.tn.edu 19
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College Cumberland Kentucky http://www.southeast.kctcs.edu 19
Polk State College Winter Haven Florida http://www.polk.edu 19
Northern Essex Community College Haverhill Massachusetts http://www.necc.mass.edu/ 19
Molloy College Rockville Centre New York http://www.molloy.edu 19
Yakima Valley Community College Yakima Washington http://www.yvcc.edu/Pages/default.aspx 18
St Vincent's College Bridgeport Connecticut http://www.stvincentscollege.edu 18
St Petersburg College Clearwater Florida http://www.spcollege.edu 18
St Luke's College Sioux City Iowa http://www.stlukescollege.edu 18
Northwest Florida State College Niceville Florida http://www.nwfsc.edu/ 18
Newman University Wichita Kansas http://newmanu.edu/ 18
Mid Michigan Community College Harrison Michigan https://www.midmich.edu/ 18
Passaic County Community College Paterson New Jersey http://www.pccc.edu 17
Marion Technical College Marion Ohio http://www.mtc.edu 17
Kellogg Community College Battle Creek Michigan http://www.kellogg.edu 17
Idaho State University Pocatello Idaho http://www.isu.edu/ 17
Cumberland County College Vineland New Jersey http://www.cccnj.edu 17
Brookdale Community College Lincroft New Jersey http://www.brookdalecc.edu 17
Baker College of Jackson Jackson Michigan http://www.baker.edu 17
Baker College of Clinton Township Clinton Township Michigan http://www.baker.edu 17
York Technical College Rock Hill South Carolina http://www.yorktech.edu 16
University of New Mexico-Main Campus Albuquerque New Mexico http://www.unm.edu 16
Southside Regional Medical Center Professional Schools Petersburg Virginia http://www.srmconline.com/Southside-Regional-Medical-Center/home.aspx 16
Saint Johns River State College Palatka Florida http://www.sjrstate.edu 16
Piedmont Technical College Greenwood South Carolina http://www.ptc.edu 16
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences Lancaster Pennsylvania http://www.pacollege.edu/ 16
Middlesex Community College Bedford Massachusetts https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/ 16
Madison Area Technical College Madison Wisconsin http://madisoncollege.edu 16
Lakeland Community College Kirtland Ohio http://www.lakelandcc.edu 16
Eastern Maine Community College Bangor Maine http://www.emcc.edu 16
Community College of Beaver County Monaca Pennsylvania http://www.ccbc.edu 16
College of Central Florida Ocala Florida http://www.cf.edu 16
California College San Diego San Diego California http://www.cc-sd.edu 16
Avila University Kansas City Missouri http://www.Avila.edu 16
Allegany College of Maryland Cumberland Maryland http://www.allegany.edu 16
West Virginia Northern Community College Wheeling West Virginia http://www.wvncc.edu/ 15
Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Virginia http://virginiawestern.edu/ 15
Universidad Central Del Caribe Bayamon Puerto Rico http://uccaribe.edu/ 15
Rose State College Midwest City Oklahoma https://www.rose.edu/ 15
Midlands Technical College West Columbia South Carolina http://www.midlandstech.edu 15
Mercer County Community College West Windsor New Jersey http://www.mccc.edu 15
MCPHS University Boston Massachusetts https://www.mcphs.edu/ 15
Lorain County Community College Elyria Ohio http://www.lorainccc.edu 15
Kent State University at Ashtabula Ashtabula Ohio http://www.kent.edu/ashtabula 15
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San German San German Puerto Rico http://www.sg.inter.edu 15
Cape Fear Community College Wilmington North Carolina http://cfcc.edu/ 15
Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences Memphis Tennessee http://www.bchs.edu 15
Baker College of Muskegon Muskegon Michigan http://www.Baker.edu 15
Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg South Carolina https://www.sccsc.edu/home/ 14
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green Kentucky http://www.bowlinggreen.kctcs.edu 14
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill Schuylkill Haven Pennsylvania http://www.sl.psu.edu 14
North Arkansas College Harrison Arkansas http://www.northark.edu 14
Indiana University-Kokomo Kokomo Indiana http://www.iuk.edu 14
Indian River State College Fort Pierce Florida http://www.irsc.edu 14
Howard Community College Columbia Maryland http://www.howardcc.edu 14
Fortis Institute-Nashville Nashville Tennessee https://www.fortis.edu/ 14
Florence-Darlington Technical College Florence South Carolina http://WWW.FDTC.EDU 14
Covenant School of Nursing and Allied Health Lubbock Texas http://www.covenanthealth.org/About-Us/Facilities/School-of-Nursing/About-Us.aspx 14
College of Southern Idaho Twin Falls Idaho http://www.csi.edu 14
Capital Community College Hartford Connecticut http://www.ccc.commnet.edu 14
Bluefield State College Bluefield West Virginia http://bluefieldstate.edu/ 14
Atenas College Manati Puerto Rico http://atenascollege.edu/ 14
Anne Arundel Community College Arnold Maryland http://www.aacc.edu 14
Zane State College Zanesville Ohio http://www.zanestate.edu/ 14
Upstate Medical University Syracuse New York http://www.upstate.edu 14
University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls South Dakota http://www.usiouxfalls.edu/ 14
University of Hartford West Hartford Connecticut http://www.hartford.edu 14
Tallahassee Community College Tallahassee Florida https://www.tcc.fl.edu/Pages/default.aspx 14
Southwestern Oklahoma State University Weatherford Oklahoma http://www.swosu.edu 13
Somerset Community College Somerset Kentucky http://www.somerset.kctcs.edu/ 13
Shawnee State University Portsmouth Ohio http://WWW.SHAWNEE.EDU 13
Pensacola State College Pensacola Florida http://www.pensacolastate.edu 13
Northern Oklahoma College Tonkawa Oklahoma http://www.noc.edu 13
New York Methodist Hospital Center for Allied Health Education Brooklyn New York http://www.cahe.edu/ 13
Naugatuck Valley Community College Waterbury Connecticut http://www.nv.edu 13
Madisonville Community College Madisonville Kentucky http://www.madisonville.kctcs.edu/ 13
James A Rhodes State College Lima Ohio http://www.rhodesstate.edu 13
Hutchinson Community College Hutchinson Kansas http://www.hutchcc.edu 13
Holyoke Community College Holyoke Massachusetts http://www.hcc.edu 13
Fortis Institute-Fort Lauderdale Lauderdale Lakes Florida https://www.fortis.edu/ 13
Erie Community College Buffalo New York https://www.ecc.edu/ 13
Bowling Green State University-Firelands Huron Ohio http://www.firelands.bgsu.edu 13
Blackhawk Technical College Janesville Wisconsin http://www.blackhawk.edu 13
Ball State University Muncie Indiana http://cms.bsu.edu/ 13
Aiken Technical College Graniteville South Carolina http://www.atc.edu 13
Truckee Meadows Community College Reno Nevada http://www.tmcc.edu 13
West Kentucky Community and Technical College Paducah Kentucky http://www.westkentucky.kctcs.edu 12
University of Central Arkansas Conway Arkansas http://uca.edu/ 12
Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines Iowa http://www.mchs.edu 12
Hillyard Technical Center Saint Joseph Missouri http://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/Domain/16 12
Gulf Coast State College Panama City Florida http://www.gulfcoast.edu/default.htm 12
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Elizabethtown Kentucky http://www.elizabethtown.kctcs.edu 12
Eastern Gateway Community College Steubenville Ohio http://www.egcc.edu 12
Delta College University Center Michigan http://www.delta.edu/ 12
Tacoma Community College Tacoma Washington http://www.tacomacc.edu 11
Saint Louis University Saint Louis Missouri http://www.slu.edu 11
Rolla Technical Institute Rolla Missouri http://rolla.k12.mo.us 11
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington New Kensington Pennsylvania http://www.nk.psu.edu/ 11
Pasco-Hernando Community College New Port Richey Florida http://phsc.edu/programs 11
Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac Wisconsin http://www.morainepark.edu 11
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla Aguadilla Puerto Rico http://www.aguadilla.inter.edu/index.php?nomobile=1 11
Gwynedd Mercy University Gwynedd Valley Pennsylvania http://www.gmc.edu 11
Fulton-Montgomery Community College Johnstown New York http://www.fmcc.edu/ 11
Fortis Institute-Cookeville Cookeville Tennessee https://www.fortis.edu/ 11
CUNY LaGuardia Community College Long Island City New York http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/home/ 11
Blessing Hospital School of Radiologic Technology Quincy Illinois http://www.blessinghealthsystem.org 11
GateWay Community College Phoenix Arizona http://www.gatewaycc.edu 10
El Paso Community College El Paso Texas http://www.epcc.edu/_layouts/temp/index.html 10
Daytona State College Daytona Beach Florida http://www.daytonastate.edu/ 10
College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas Nevada http://www.csn.edu 10
Burlington County College Pemberton New Jersey http://www.rcbc.edu/dental 10
Baptist Health Schools-Little Rock Little Rock Arkansas https://www.bhclr.edu/ 10
Avera McKennan Hospital School of Radiologic Technology Sioux Falls South Dakota http://www.avera.org 10
Wor-Wic Community College Salisbury Maryland http://www.worwic.edu 10
UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology Des Moines Iowa http://www.unitypoint.org/desmoines/radtech.aspx 10
Texas State University San Marcos Texas http://www.txstate.edu 10
Technical College of the Lowcountry Beaufort South Carolina http://www.tcl.edu 10
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota Bradenton Florida http://www.scf.edu 10
Southeast Arkansas College Pine Bluff Arkansas http://seark.edu/ 10
Mohawk Valley Community College Utica New York http://www.mvcc.edu 10
Hazard Community and Technical College Hazard Kentucky http://www.hazard.kctcs.edu 10
Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown North Carolina http://home.gtcc.edu/ 10
Great Plains Technology Center Lawton Oklahoma http://greatplains.edu/ 10
Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome Georgia http://www.gntc.edu 10
Gateway Technical College Kenosha Wisconsin https://www.gtc.edu/ 10
University of Michigan-Flint Flint Michigan http://www.umflint.edu 9
University of Charleston Charleston West Virginia http://www.ucwv.edu 9
Owensboro Community and Technical College Owensboro Kentucky http://www.owensboro.kctcs.edu 9
Oregon Health & Science University Portland Oregon http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/ 9
Northern New Mexico College Espanola New Mexico http://nnmc.edu 9
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay Wisconsin https://www.nwtc.edu/ 9
Northcentral Technical College Wausau Wisconsin http://www.ntc.edu 9
North Idaho College Coeur d'Alene Idaho http://www.nic.edu/ 9
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Mansfield Pennsylvania http://www.mansfield.edu 9
Gannon University Erie Pennsylvania http://www.gannon.edu 9
East Arkansas Community College Forrest City Arkansas http://WWW.EACC.EDU 9
Drury University Springfield Missouri http://www.drury.edu 9
Bacone College Muskogee Oklahoma http://www.bacone.edu 9
Vincennes University Vincennes Indiana http://vinu.edu/web/guest/home 8
University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha Nebraska http://www.unmc.edu 8
South Florida State College Avon Park Florida http://www.southflorida.edu 8
South Arkansas Community College El Dorado Arkansas http://www.southark.edu 8
Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud Minnesota http://www.stcloudstate.edu 8
Missouri Southern State University Joplin Missouri http://www.mssu.edu 8
Middlesex Community College Middletown Connecticut http://mxcc.edu/ 8
Manhattan College Riverdale New York http://manhattan.edu/ 8
Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis Indiana http://www.ivytech.edu 8
Galveston College Galveston Texas http://www.gc.edu/gc/default.asp 8
Chesapeake College Wye Mills Maryland http://www.chesapeake.edu 8
Briar Cliff University Sioux City Iowa http://www.briarcliff.edu 8
Community College of Denver Denver Colorado https://www.ccd.edu/ 7
Ashland Community and Technical College Ashland Kentucky http://www.ashland.kctcs.edu/ 7
American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education Piscataway New Jersey https://www.aimseducation.edu/ 7
Amarillo College Amarillo Texas https://www.actx.edu/ 7
University of Vermont Burlington Vermont http://www.uvm.edu 7
Roxbury Community College Roxbury Crossing Massachusetts http://www.rcc.mass.edu 7
Oakland Community College Bloomfield Hills Michigan https://www.oaklandcc.edu/ 7
Mott Community College Flint Michigan http://www.mcc.edu 7
Mitchell Technical Institute Mitchell South Dakota https://www.mitchelltech.edu/ 7
Memorial Hospital School of Radiation Therapy Technology New York New York https://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/13431.cfm 7
Grady Health System Professional Schools Atlanta Georgia http://www.gradyhealth.org/ 7
Georgia Regents University Augusta Georgia http://www.gru.edu 7
Cooper Health System Center for Allied Health Education Camden New Jersey http://www.cooperhealth.org 7
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas Texas http://www.utsouthwestern.edu 6
St Francis College Brooklyn Heights New York http://www.sfc.edu 6
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College Mount Gay West Virginia http://www.southernwv.edu 6
Notre Dame of Maryland University Baltimore Maryland http://www.ndm.edu 6
Northeast Community College Norfolk Nebraska http://www.northeast.edu 6
Mountwest Community and Technical College Huntington West Virginia http://www.mctc.edu 6
Forsyth Technical Community College Winston Salem North Carolina http://www.forsythtech.edu/ 6
East Central College Union Missouri http://www.eastcentral.edu 6
Delgado Community College New Orleans Louisiana http://WWW.DCC.EDU 6
City College of San Francisco San Francisco California http://www.ccsf.edu 6
Carolinas College of Health Sciences Charlotte North Carolina http://www.carolinashealthcare.org/carolinas-college-of-health-sciences 6
Mayo School of Health Sciences Rochester Minnesota http://www.mayo.edu/mshs/ 5
Howard University Washington D.C. http://www.howard.edu 5
Georgetown University Washington D.C. http://www.georgetown.edu 5
Catawba Valley Community College Hickory North Carolina http://www.cvcc.edu/index.php 5
West Virginia University Hospital Departments of Rad Tech and Nutrition Morgantown West Virginia http://www.wvuhradtech.com 4
University of St Francis Joliet Illinois http://www.stfrancis.edu 4
Suffolk University Boston Massachusetts http://www.suffolk.edu 4
Siena Heights University Adrian Michigan http://www.sienaheights.edu 4
Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls Oregon http://www.oit.edu 4
Northwest Mississippi Community College Senatobia Mississippi http://www.northwestms.edu 4
New York Chiropractic College Seneca Falls New York http://www.nycc.edu 4
Minot State University Minot North Dakota http://www.minotstateu.edu 4
Laboure College Milton Massachusetts http://www.laboure.edu/about-labour- 4
Gateway Community College New Haven Connecticut http://www.gatewayct.edu/ 4
Ultimate Medical Academy-Clearwater Clearwater Florida http://www.ultimatemedical.edu 3
NHTI-Concord's Community College Concord New Hampshire https://www.nhti.edu/ 3
Kaskaskia College Centralia Illinois http://www.kaskaskia.edu/home/Default.aspx 3
Indiana University-South Bend South Bend Indiana https://www.iusb.edu/ 3
Alderson Broaddus University Philippi West Virginia http://ab.edu/ 3
Abdill Career College Inc Medford Oregon http://www.abdill.com 3
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Newark New Jersey http://www.umdnj.edu/ 2
University of Jamestown Jamestown North Dakota http://www.uj.edu/ 2
Roosevelt University Chicago Illinois http://www.roosevelt.edu 2
Regis College Weston Massachusetts http://www.regiscollege.edu 2
Oakland University Rochester Hills Michigan http://wwwp.oakland.edu/ 2
Western Nebraska Community College Scottsbluff Nebraska http://www.wncc.edu 1
Treasure Valley Community College Ontario Oregon http://www.tvcc.cc 1
Oakton Community College Des Plaines Illinois http://www.oakton.edu 1
Georgia Perimeter College Decatur Georgia http://www.gpc.edu 1
Fairleigh Dickinson University-College at Florham Madison New Jersey http://www.fdu.edu 1
Belmont University Nashville Tennessee http://www.belmont.edu 1
2013 School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in January, 2015)

Online Radiation Therapy Schools

Cleveland University Kansas City
AAS - Radiologic Technology
American University
Online MS - Healthcare Management
Arizona State University
Clinical Research Management (MS)
Clinical Research Management - Regulatory Science (MS)
*sponsored

There are a handful of online and hybrid radiation therapy programs that are well-respected in the healthcare community. In fact, the Joint Review Committee in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) has a comprehensive list of these programs that can be sorted by type of degree.

While there are no accredited programs that can be completed 100 percent online due to the essentially clinical nature of radiation therapy, there are a number of required general education and radiology courses that can be completed online.

Following is a sampling of accredited, hybrid, radiation therapy programs recommended by JRCERT: 

  • Gateway Community College (GCC)  – At just over $10,000 per year in out-of-state tuition costs, this is one of the most inexpensive radiation therapy AS programs available. GCC is well-known for its flexible and extensive online course options. Their radiation technician program is only 13 months long and offers a clinical radiation therapy course (RTT150) which can be completed partially online. Not only is it inexpensive and flexible, but the learning outcomes are stellar. A full 90 percent of graduates pass the national certification exam on the first try, and they have a 100 percent job placement rate upon graduation. It’s important to note that this program is only open to students who are already certified through the ARRT as medical radiographers. 

  • University of Texas – At the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, radiation therapy students take a two-year BS program either in person or via distance learning. The distance learning option includes synchronous interaction between students and faculty, clinical rotations at affiliated facilities, and a brief session on campus in Houston.

  • Armstrong State University – Armstrong State University of Georgia offers both a B.S. and post-baccalaureate certificate option for registered radiology technicians. In this flexible program, students’ attendance in the brick-and-mortar facilities is necessary during the first semester of didactic instruction. For the remainder of the program, students can complete much of the coursework online and set up clinical rotations at a facility near their home at their convenience.

School City State Website Total grads (2013)
Weber State University Ogden Utah http://www.weber.edu 203
Armstrong Atlantic State University Savannah Georgia http://www.armstrong.edu 75
Clarkson College Omaha Nebraska http://www.clarksoncollege.edu/ 72
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock Arkansas http://www.uams.edu 69
Morehead State University Morehead Kentucky http://www.moreheadstate.edu 63
Washburn University Topeka Kansas http://www.washburn.edu 61
Greenville Technical College Greenville South Carolina http://www.gvltec.edu/index.aspx 54
Bunker Hill Community College Boston Massachusetts http://www.bhcc.mass.edu 37
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse Wisconsin http://www.uwlax.edu/Home/Future-Students/ 33
La Roche College Pittsburgh Pennsylvania http://www.laroche.edu 31
Southeast Community College Area Lincoln Nebraska https://www.southeast.edu/ 30
Clarion University of Pennsylvania Clarion Pennsylvania http://www.clarion.edu 29
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston Texas http://www.mdanderson.org 27
University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa http://www.uiowa.edu 25
University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Missouri http://missouri.edu/ 25
Misericordia University Dallas Pennsylvania http://www.misericordia.edu 23
Widener University-Main Campus Chester Pennsylvania http://www.widener.edu 17
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Orangeburg South Carolina http://www.octech.edu 13
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina http://www.unc.edu 9
Western Wyoming Community College Rock Springs Wyoming http://www.wwcc.wy.edu 6
North Central Missouri College Trenton Missouri http://www.ncmissouri.edu/ 2
2013 School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in January, 2015)

Core & Elective Courses

Radiation therapists undergo similar training to other radiological professionals (e.g., sonographers, dosimetrists, radiation technologists). Still, there are several courses that are unique to radiation therapy programs. Some of the most common include:

  • Principles of oncology – In this course, students learn how cancer affects a patient’s physical, mental, and emotional health. It also discusses typical cancer treatments and how to identify aberrations in cancer-related screenings.
  • Radiation pathology – Students study various types of illnesses, disease, and physical impairments. Although this is a common course for many types of healthcare workers, this course focuses specifically on cancer-related pathologies, such as carcinoma, melanoma, neoplasms, and tumors.
  • Medical imaging – This course teaches the different types of medical images and how to use various medical imaging equipment (e.g., computerized tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]). 
  • Sectional anatomy – In this course, students are introduced to advanced anatomy focusing on interpreting results in transverse and sagittal orientations. Students examine typical scans taken from these orientations, including spinal, abdominal, chest, and pelvic exams.
  • Practicum – This clinical component of allows students to apply their didactic knowledge to real-life situations. Comprising around 200 hours each, this series of clinical rotations must include the use of CT and MRI systems, analysis of radiological imaging results, standard radiological treatment procedures, and other key practical experiences.

Accreditation

There are two ways in which insitutitions of higher learning are accredited: programmatic and institutional. A program's accreditation status affects graduates' ability to apply for professional credentials, such as certification through the the ARRT.

Institutional Accreditation

Institutional accreditation involves the evaluation and approval of an institution as a whole, include all of its programs. The AART accepts institutional accreditation from a number of different agencies for the raditional therapy associate's degree prerequisite. In order to be considered valid, programs must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the United States Department of Education (USDE) as an legitimate accrediting agency.

Some of the reputable national and regional accrediting agencies for the AART include:

In order to be accredited, schools must meet certain program requirements, including a thorough self-qualifying study to ensure that their program is meeting national standards. This study is typically followed by a site visit, wherein a team of radiation professionals evaluates the curriculum, technology, and course outcomes of the program. Finally, the evaluation team creates a findings report and the agency may choose to grant the program accreditation.

Programmatic Accreditation

Programmatic accreditation involves a similar process to institutional accreditation but applies specifically to the radiation therapy program. The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) is the only group that specifically accredits radiation therapy programs.

In order to be eligible for AART certification, a program need not be accredited by JRCERT, but it must appear on the AART list of approved programs, which is available on that organization's website.

Career Outlook

While the high-paying field of radiation therapy is expected to grow faster than the national average (13 percent from 2016 to 2026), very few jobs are expected to be created in this field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests that only around 2,400 new jobs will be available to radiation therapists through 2026 (2017).

The growth is due partially to the rising number of aging Baby Boomers that are projected to need screenings and treatment for cancer. In addition, it is probable that there will be an increase in the number of younger people who will seek out early cancer detection options as affordable screening options become available.

Currently, 91 percent of radiation therapists work in general hospitals, private practices, and outpatient care centers, with an average wage of $85,190 (BLS 2017). However, the most highly-paid radiation therapists make an average wage of over $120,000 per year and usually work in specialty hospitals. The highest wages paid to radiation therapists are in California, New Jersey, Oregon, Connecticut, and Washington – averaging between $98,000 to $113,000 per year (BLS 2017).

Radiation therapists who complete an associate or bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy are most likely to get the highest-paid positions in this field. Board certification may also qualify students for more prestigious jobs. In addition, students who want to further their career in this field may continue their education to gain certification as a Medical Dosimetrist, which pays between $90,000 and $136,000 per year in California (2018).

Career Facts Radiation Therapist
Related CareersRespiratory Therapist, Radiologic Technician, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Common Job TitlesRadiation Therapists, Computed Tomography Simulation Therapist, Dosimetrist
Technology & EquipmentDefribrillators, Radiation Therapy Collimeters, Radiological Positioning Aids, X-Ray Intensifying Screens
Sourced from BLS, June 2018

Licensing & Certification

In order to be licensed as a therapist in most states, you must complete a clinical period of study (usually two years), in addition to passing the national exam administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). A complete list of the state licensure requirements for radiation therapists is housed by American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT).

As of 2015, students wishing to sit for the national exam administered by the ARRT must complete a minimum of an associate degree from an accredited college. This doesn’t have to be a Radiological AS degree, however. As long as the associate degree is completed at a college accredited by a body that is recognized by the ARRT, students may sit for the exam.

Although experience in a clinical setting is not necessary to take the exam, it is vital to becoming a licensed radiation therapist. Most states require at least 200 hours of clinical training in order to become licensed. In addition, those hours must be corroborated by a currently licensed and registered therapist to allow qualification for the licensure.

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