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. The ARRT has a comprehensive list of recognized educational programs in radiology. In addition, these programs have been demonstrated to meet a specific set of competency and professional standards that guarantee the best quality educational experience for students, employers, and patients.

While no accredited programs can be completed 100 percent online due to the essentially clinical requirements of radiation therapy programs, students can complete several required general education and radiology courses online. Programs that split their instruction between online and on-campus learning environments are known as hybrid programs.

The following is a sample of hybrid accredited radiation therapy programs recognized by ARRT, JRCERT, or a regional accreditation organization approved by the US Department of Education.

Georgia Southern University – with three campuses across the state, the Savannah campus at Georgia Southern University offers an online bachelor of science bridge program for registered radiology technicians.

The non-clinical track is 100 percent online and aims to teach leadership, management, and technical communication to students with two-year degrees and certification in radiation therapy and other related fields. To be admitted to this program, applicants must have completed a JRCERT-accredited program in radiologic or nuclear medicine technology or sonography or hold an equivalent degree.

• Location: Savannah, GA
• Duration: 24 months
• Tuition: $182.13 per credit (residents); $642.73 per credit (non-residents)
• Accreditation: ARRT & Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

University of Texas – At the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, 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 session on the Houston campus.

In the state-of-the-art radiation oncology center, where many students complete their clinical training, more than 4,000 new patients are treated each year, giving students ample opportunities to learn in a world-class treatment facility. The curriculum includes courses such as principles of radiographic exposure and radiobiology. Graduates from this program are qualified to sit for the ARRT certification exam.

• Location: Houston, TX
• Duration: Two years
• Tuition: $2,300 per semester (residents); $8,400 per semester (non-residents)
• Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Washburn University (WU) – Located in Topeka, Kansas, the Department of Allied Health at WU offers a hybrid certificate program in radiation therapy. This program is only 13 months long and offers online classes with in-person clinical experiences in radiation therapy. Applicants to this program must hold a two-year degree recognized by the ARRT and prove completion of prerequisite sciences, mathematics, and communications courses.

Not only is it inexpensive and flexible, but the learning outcomes are stellar. This program has a credential pass rate of 96 percent and a job placement rate of 89 percent calculated over a five-year average. Resident tuition is available to those living in border states adjacent to Kansas, including Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas.

• Location: Topeka, KS
• Duration: 13 months
• Tuition: $338 per credit (residents); $731 per credit (non-residents)
• Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Indiana University Northwest (IU) – The bachelor of science in radiation therapy program at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, Indiana, is designed to prepare students for careers as radiation therapists. The curriculum follows the guidelines established by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists. The program faculty strives to develop students’ interests in lifelong learning through professional societies and continuing education. Students in this hybrid program are expected to complete more than 20 percent of their coursework face-to-face over the course of the degree.

• Location: Gary, IN
• Duration: Two years
• Tuition: $669 per credit
• Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Gateway Community College – Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the radiation therapy program at Gateway Community College prepares students for entry-level radiation therapists in hospitals and cancer centers. The radiation therapy program is either in a hybrid format or online, with clinical education in hospitals and cancer centers. Students rotate through all clinical settings at local healthcare facilities throughout the program. The program culminates in eligibility to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) board examination (Radiation Therapy).

• Location: New Haven, CT
• Duration: 20 months
• Tuition: $174 per credit (residents); $523 per credit (non-residents)
• Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Kent State University Salem – Located in Salem, Ohio, at Kent State University Salem offers a hybrid of online bachelor of science in radiation therapy. Featuring online classes and in-person classes and clinicals, this program is designed for working adults, and applicants must meet one of three admission pathways:

• Option 1: Earn a radiologic technology associate degree program followed by Kent Core Requirements and five semesters of radiation therapy courses
• Option 2: Have three years of general course work including Kent Core Requirements followed by five semesters of radiation therapy courses; or
• Option 3: Have a hospital-based certificate program in radiologic technology and an associate degree in technical studies.

The program assigns students to clinical education settings in northeastern Ohio or western Pennsylvania to complete two to four site experiences for equitable access. The Kent State University Salem radiation therapy program provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in this growing field.

• Location: Salem, OH
• Duration: 24 months
• Tuition: $272.10 per credit (residents); $651.70 per credit (non-residents)
• Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Accreditation for Radiation Therapy Programs

There are two ways 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 ARRT.

Institutional Accreditation

Institutional accreditation involves the evaluation and approval of an institution as a whole, including all of its programs. The AART accepts institutional accreditation from several regional agencies for the radiation therapy associate's degree prerequisite. 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 a legitimate accrediting agency.

Some of the reputable national and regional accrediting agencies recognized and accepted by the AART include:

• Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

To be accredited, schools must meet specific program requirements, including a thorough self-qualifying study to ensure that their program is meeting national standards. A site visit typically follows this study, wherein a team of radiation professionals evaluates the program’s curriculum, technology, and course outcomes. 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.

To be eligible for ARRT certification, a program need not be accredited by JRCERT. Still, it must appear on the AART list of recognized educational programs. As of February 2023, the ARRT recognizes 732 educational programs in radiography.

Licensing & Certification for Radiation Therapists

To be licensed as a radiation 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).

Students wishing to sit for the national radiation therapy exam administered by the ARRT must complete a minimum of an associate degree from an accredited college. This degree can be a radiological associate’s degree or any two-year degree in any discipline from an accredited institution recognized by the ARRT. Applicants must also meet ARRT standards of ethics governing appropriate behavior and standards in a healthcare workplace to be eligible to 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 a minimum number of hours of clinical training to become certified. In addition, those hours must be corroborated by a currently licensed and registered therapist to allow qualification for licensure.