Radiation Therapy Provider Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Those aspiring to become radiation therapy providers need to have an associate's or bachelor's degree in radiation therapy. An associate or bachelor's degree in radiography is also accepted, but twelve-month certification courses in radiation therapy are also required in this path. The American Registry of Radio logic Technologists has accredited about 123 radiation therapy programs in the U.S.
Training and Education
Successful workers find it useful to have an associate degree. According to recent surveys, 42% of employees had received a degree. Radiation therapy providers with some schooling beyond high school, but not a college degree, total about 55%.
Job Overview
Radiation therapy providers primarily use radiation therapy to treat cancer. They use machines known as linear accelerators, which project high power x-rays at cancer cells in the body.
Job Requirements
Licensure is required from radiation therapy providers before they can begin practicing. The requirements vary from one state to another. About 32 states require radiation therapy providers acquire a license by the accrediting board of the state. Many states require radio therapy providers to have cleared the ARRT certification exam.
The ARRT certification needs to be renewed every year. For this, radiation therapy providers have to work by the standards of ethics set by ARRT, pay annual dues and fulfill ongoing education needs. Ongoing education needs have to be met every couple of years. Alternatively, a ARRT certification in a discipline other than radio therapy also suffices.
Radiation therapy providers need to have the mental conditioning to be able to work with patients suffering from cancer and need to be able to handle the stress that goes with it. Excellent communication and interpersonal relation management skills are also important. They need to keep accurate documentation of the treatment and history of the patient. Being physically fit and strong is important as they have long work hours and often need to physically move patients.
Nature of Work
Radiation therapy providers discusses treatment plans with radiation oncologists and dosimetrists. They use computer tomography (CT) scans or x-ray machines to locate cancerous tumors. They then use the linear accelerator in away that the radiation exposure focuses only on cancerous cells. He records and controls the radiation treatment of the patient.
Radiation therapy providers generally work in centers or hospitals where cancer treatment is offered. They work in clean and well-ventilated environment. They work for forty hours a week, but also need to be on call on occasion. They work with radio active substances and face the hazard of being exposed to their radiation, so they need to maintain safety procedures.
Area Job Conditions
Looking at workers per capita, Billings (Montana), Gainesville (Florida), and Springfield (Illinois) rise to the top of the list. Dallas (Texas), Kansas City (Missouri), and Minneapolis (Minnesota) have the fewest per capita.
The highest salaries for employees are in and around Billings (Montana), Camden (New Jersey), and San Jose (California). The lowest-paying areas are Oklahoma City (Oklahoma), Baton Rouge (Louisiana), and Boise (Idaho).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Radiation therapy providers working less than full time, whether by design or chance, were 10% of the total.
Career Videos
Radiation Therapy Providers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $70,000 | 60 | +57% |
| Mobile | $66,000 | 30 | +127% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $78,000 | 580 | +320% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $88,000 | 550 | +73% |
| Oakland | $97,000 | 280 | +258% |
| Riverside | $85,000 | 130 | +38% |
| San Diego | $85,000 | 150 | +46% |
| San Francisco | $96,000 | 60 | -23% |
| San Jose | $98,000 | 110 | +57% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $81,000 | 170 | +74% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | $92,000 | 50 | +12% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $74,000 | 250 | +31% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $79,000 | 80 | +47% |
| Gainesville | $79,000 | 60 | +571% |
| Jacksonville | $73,000 | 240 | +413% |
| Miami | $78,000 | 40 | -48% |
| Pensacola | $67,000 | 30 | +171% |
| Tampa | $84,000 | 230 | +157% |
| West Palm Beach | $83,000 | 60 | +49% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $73,000 | 200 | +10% |
| Augusta | $67,000 | 50 | +222% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $78,000 | 460 | +56% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gary | $60,000 | 50 | +143% |
| Indianapolis | $73,000 | 140 | +100% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $77,000 | 40 | +58% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $62,000 | 30 | +36% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $65,000 | 70 | +143% |
| New Orleans | $65,000 | 60 | +46% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $63,000 | 70 | -32% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $87,000 | 310 | +127% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $68,000 | 130 | +149% |
| Grand Rapids | $59,000 | 70 | +140% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $64,000 | 130 | -7% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $63,000 | 50 | +158% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $74,000 | 160 | +101% |
| St Louis | $72,000 | 140 | +34% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $71,000 | 40 | +563% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $70,000 | 100 | +173% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $89,000 | 60 | +47% |
| Edison | $88,000 | 70 | -13% |
| Newark | $92,000 | 110 | +40% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $80,000 | 50 | +43% |
| Nassau | $89,000 | 210 | +111% |
| Rochester | $71,000 | 50 | +27% |
| Syracuse | $64,000 | 40 | +66% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 90 | +34% | |
| Greensboro | $70,000 | 50 | +82% |
| Raleigh | $62,000 | 60 | +49% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $72,000 | 120 | +51% |
| Cleveland | $69,000 | 130 | +62% |
| Columbus | $78,000 | 60 | -17% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $71,000 | 200 | +344% |
| Tulsa | 140 | +319% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $84,000 | 120 | +50% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $84,000 | 330 | +120% |
| Pittsburgh | $66,000 | 80 | -11% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $65,000 | 30 | +73% |
| Knoxville | $68,000 | 50 | +94% |
| Memphis | $65,000 | 60 | +25% |
| Nashville | $76,000 | 50 | -14% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $82,000 | 70 | -58% |
| Fort Worth | $69,000 | 60 | -11% |
| Houston | $75,000 | 420 | +103% |
| San Antonio | $83,000 | 80 | +17% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $78,000 | 40 | -16% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $69,000 | 100 | +108% |
| Roanoke | $68,000 | 40 | +243% |
| Virginia Beach | $73,000 | 50 | -16% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $97,000 | 150 | +36% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $80,000 | 100 | +54% |