Radiation Therapist Schools

*sponsored

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 $79,140 per year, radiation therapy is a relatively lucrative profession in the U.S., and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2014) projects that jobs in this field will grow by 24% between 2012 and 2022—much faster than the national average projected for all occupations.

Although it is a potentially gainful 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 high-level coursework and logged over 200 hours of clinical practice.

Fortunately, there are several high-quality, low-tuition schools that provide flexible ways to complete these stringent requirements. From radiation therapy programs like the one at Gateway Community College, which offers online education options, to top-ranked healthcare schools like the University of North Carolina, every student should be able to find a school to fit their needs and budget.

Radiation Therapist fast facts
Projected Jobs Created	4,500
Projected Job Growth	24%
Low Salary	$53,010
Average Salary (Median)	$81,740
High Salary	$114,900
Entry-Level EDU	Associate's Degree
Sourced from BLS, January 2015

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 American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (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 (A.A.S.) degrees, students can pursue bachelor’s of science (B.S.) or post-baccalaureate specializations in radiation therapy.

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

Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) – At VWCC, the radiation oncology A.A.S. degree prepares students to perform the tasks of a radiation therapist and has an impressive ARRT certification pass rate of 93%. In addition, VWCC reports that over 80% of their graduates are employed within six months of completing the two-year program. While much of the curriculum must be completed on campus, courses such as medical terminology, pharmacology, and concepts of disease can be completed online at a student’s convenience.
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 (2015), and the second best Medical Healthcare – Primary Care Grad School, UNC has a long-established tradition of excellence in healthcare education. This 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 75%.
University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) – The U.S. News and World Report named this cost-effective school one of the Top 10 Primary Care Grad Schools in the Nation (2015). Students who complete this 12-month program receive a B.S. in radiation science technology or a post-baccalaureate certificate, both of which qualify them to sit for the ARRT exam. UNMC reports that 100% of their students pass the certification exam, and their post-graduation job placement rate is an impressive 93%.
University of Vermont (UV) – Not only is this one of the Top 30 Primary Care Grad Schools for 2015, but is one of the most cost-effective at less than $15,000 annually (in-state tuition). This B.S. degree program provides the perfect career springboard, as their average job-placement rate is one of the highest on record, at 94%. 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, this school was ranked by the U.S. News and World Report as being the third best Primary Care Medical School in the Nation (2015). Additionally, OHSU is ranked in the top 10 schools for Nursing, Physician Assisting, and Family Medicine. This B.S. in radiation therapy from OHSU boasts a 89% degree completion rate, a 98% exam pass rate, and a 95% 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.kaplancollege.com/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	http://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
Edison State College	Fort Myers	Florida	http://www.edison.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	http://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-.aspx	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

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% 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.

Here 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 certificate 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 89% of enrolled students complete the program, 98% pass the national certification exam on the first try, and they have a 98% job placement rate upon graduation. It’s important to note that this program is only open to students who are already certified through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) as medical radiographers.
St. Francis College – St. Francis College of Illinois offers a B.S. degree in radiation therapy. This “2+2” program begins with two years of liberal education and pre-professional science requirements. The last two years comprise the professional education component of the program, and a number of the didactic courses can be taken online.
University of Nebraska – The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) offers a 12-month B.S. in radiation therapy giving students the clinical laboratory experiences, medical training, and core instruction necessary to advance their skills as a radiation therapist. While much of the clinical work must be done on-campus, some of the more theoretical courses are offered online. The UNMC has an impressive 100% ARRT certification pass rate over the last 15 years. For consideration, applicants to this program must have already completed an accredited program (A.S. or certificate) and be ARRT-certified.
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

According to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), there are a number of acceptable accrediting agencies for radiation therapy programs. In order to be considered valid, they 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 radiation therapy programs include:

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS): Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC): Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU): Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS): Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) and Senior College Commission (SCC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges: California, Hawaii

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.

Licensing and Certification

After completing a program at an accredited radiation therapy school, students may be eligible to seek licensure which is required to practice in most states. As of January 1, 2015, all candidates for certification must have earned an academic degree (e.g., associate, bachelor's) before becoming certified by the ARRT. A certificate without a degree is no longer valid for ARRT licensure.

The ARRT (2015) offers a comprehensive handbook to prospective radiation therapists seeking certification. Candidates must abide by ARRT's ethical standards and demonstrate their clinical efficacy by completing the Radiation Therapy Didactic and Clinical Competency Requirements. Registered radiation therapy candidates must have completed their programs within three years of pursuing ARRT's certification. The ARRT test covers subjects including clinical concepts in radiation oncology, treatment planning, and radiation protection.

Once radiation therapists (RT's) become certified, they must meet the Continuing Education Requirements for Renewal of Registration every two years.

Finally, American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) provides a guide to state-specific standards of licensure and continuing education.

Career Outlook

While the high-paying field of radiation therapy is expected to grow much faster than the national average (over 24% by 2022), very few jobs are expected to be created in this field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests that only between 4,500 and 8,000 new jobs will be available to radiation therapists over the next eight years (2012).

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

Currently, 93% of radiation therapists work in general hospitals, private practices, and outpatient care centers, with an average wage of $83,943 (BLS, 2013). However, the most highly-paid radiation therapists make an average wage of over $90,000 per year, and usually work in specialty hospitals. The highest wages paid to radiation therapists are in California, Connecticut, Washington, and New York – averaging between $101,000 to $117,000 per year (BLS, 2013).

Radiation therapists who complete an associates 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 – $136,000 per year (2014).

Career Facts	Radiation Therapist
Related Careers	Respiratory Therapist, Radiologic Technician, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Common Job Titles	Radiation Therapists, Computed Tomography Simulation Therapist, Dosimetrist
Technology & Equipment	Defribrillators, Radiation Therapy Collimeters, Radiological Positioning Aids, X-Ray Intensifying Screens
Sourced from BLS, January 2015

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 A.S. 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.

SOURCE URLS

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291124.htm

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/radiation-therapists.htm

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