Radiation Therapist Schools

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 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.

Accreditation

There are two ways in which institutions 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 radiation 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 recognized and accepted by the AART include:

• Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• Higher Learning Commission
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges

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.

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 the 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.