Radiation Therapy Program

Answer: According to the National Cancer Institute, radiation therapy (radiotherapy) can cure cancer, prevent it from returning, slow its growth, or even stop it.¹ At high doses, radiation therapy kills or slows cancer cells by slowing their growth by damaging their DNA.

Cancer cells whose DNA is damaged beyond repair stop dividing or die. There are two main types of radiation therapy, external beam and internal.¹ Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or waves, such as X-rays, gamma rays, electron beams, or protons.

Citations
^{1^a, b,} National Cancer Institute. “Radiation Therapy to Treat Cancer.” National Cancer Institute, Cancer.gov. January 8, 2019. (Accessed May 3, 2022.)

According to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), a Radiation Therapist is someone who performs radiation therapy procedures under the supervision of a radiation oncologist.

A Radiation Therapist typically administers radiation to a patient throughout treatment.¹ They have completed their education and obtained certification. Those certified and registered with the ARRT^Ⓡ for Radiation Therapy use the R.T. (T)(ARRT)^Ⓡ certification.^*

Citations
¹ “The ASRT Practice Standards for Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy.” American Society of Radiologic Technologists. June 23,  2019. (Accessed June 15, 2022.)

*ARRT,^® American Registry of Radiologic Technologists,^® R.T.(MR)(ARRT),^® and R.T.(T)(ARRT)^® does The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists own registered trademarks.^® Gurnick Academy is not licensed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.^®

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, steps to becoming a Radiation Therapist include the following:

1. Complete a certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
2. Obtain American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)^{Ⓡ *} certification and registration. (This includes an examination.)
3. Within California, once one is certified and registered with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), one must also obtain a California License. (Therapists are not permitted to practice in California unless they obtain this.)
4. Maintain certification. Renew your credential by completing a continuing education requirement, usually every two years.^1† 
   

^†Many jobs also require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or essential life support (BLS) certification.

Citations
¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Radiation Therapists. May 3, 2022. (Accessed June 16, 2022.)

*ARRT,^® American Registry of Radiologic Technologists,^® R.T.(MR)(ARRT),^® and R.T.(T)(ARRT)^® does The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists own registered trademarks.^Ⓡ Gurnick Academy is not licensed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.^Ⓡ

According to the American Cancer Society, the profession’s origins go back to a German physics professor, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen. In 1896, Roentgen presented a remarkable lecture entitled “Concerning a New Kind of Ray.” Roentgen called it the “X-ray.” Within months, systems were being devised to use X-rays for diagnosis, and within three years, radiation was used to treat cancer.¹

Citations
¹ “History of Cancer Treatments: Radiation Therapy.” Www.cancer.org, American Cancer Society. June 12, 2014. (Accessed June 16, 2022).

To have information sent to you or a school representative for contact, please fill out our online contact form here.

The first step is to submit an online application.

Applicants should follow the general requirements for entry into Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts. These can be found on the General Requirements for Admissions page.

Please find more info about the Foreign Transcript/Diploma Evaluations process here.

The deadline for applications is one week before the online orientation and one week before the semester’s official start date. Please see an advisor for the current academic calendar.

To qualify for the B.S. in Radiation Therapy program, you must pass the Test of Essential Academic Skills TEAS^® exam. You can find more information here.

Yes. All applicants, regardless of their degree or background, must pass the entrance exam before being admitted into the program.

No. All courses are built into the course curriculum and course content. Please get in touch with our Admissions Team for more information.

The program length is 36 months* or 3,100 hours, or 131 semester credit hours. Clinical work is 1,620 hours. You may learn about the B.S. in Radiation Therapy Program Length and Schedule here.

*135 Approved Instructional Weeks

Gurnick Academy’s Medical Arts Radiation Therapy program will be based out of the Van Nuys campus. According to the program director, Cheryl Young, Ed.D., RT(T), the program will be taught through distance education with synchronous instruction.

The program offers 1,500 clinical hours in the following counties: Sacramento, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and Phoenix, AZ. 

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts holds national institutional accreditation by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). ABHES accreditation does not include continuing education courses.

Additionally, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private institution approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Approval to operate means the institution is compliant with the minimum standards in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act (CPPEA) of 2009 (as amended) and Division 7.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. CPPEA governs the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.

Yes. The B.S. in Radiation Therapy program is a full-time course.

To review the scheduled breaks during the school year. Please see Gurnick Academy’s Addendum.

Please find more info about remediation in our Catalog and Addendum.

No. Each student will complete three clinical externships, which will be provided.

No. All externships are unpaid positions.

Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts participates in various federal and state student financial assistance programs.

This is a full-time program and requires a commitment to the profession. Depending on individual needs or preferences, students may be able to work during the program. However, this depends on the type of work, each student’s individual needs, work-study balances, and life schedules and commitments. 

There are guidelines for achieving a study-life balance. The Hechinger Report cites a 2018 study by Georgetown University regarding students working while enrolled in higher education. According to the report, “Students who worked had lower grades and were more likely to drop out” than those who did not work during their college tenure.

The report states, “The risk was especially high for low-income students. Other studies seem to concur with this report. The conventional advice to students is to try to work under 15 hours a week if they want to finish their degrees,” says the article.¹

Citations
¹ Barshay, Jill. “Working in College Interferes With Studies But Boosts Adult Earnings.” The Hechinger Report. June 17, 2019. (Accessed. June 21, 2022.)

The B.S. in Radiation Therapy program is a Bachelor of Science degree program.

Upon completing the program, students will be prepared to take an examination to be certified and registered with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists^Ⓡ (ARRT).^Ⓡ In California, they must also obtain state licensure from the California Department of Public Health, Radiologic Health Branch.*

Please find more info about the Licensure, Certification, and Registry Disclaimer policy in our Catalog and Addendum.

^*ARRT,^® American Registry of Radiologic Technologists,^® R.T.(MR)(ARRT),^® and R.T.(T)(ARRT)^® does The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists own registered trademarks.^Ⓡ Gurnick Academy is not licensed by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.^Ⓡ

Test preparation is strongly emphasized throughout our students’ entire curriculum at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts.

We have a dedicated Career Services department that can assist students with job placements upon completion of the program. However, we cannot guarantee employment.

Radiation Therapy is expected to expand to meet community demands. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, projected employment growth is expected to exceed 9% between 2020 and 2030, with an estimated 17,700 job openings anticipated in the upcoming years.¹  

Citations
¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Radiation Therapists. May 3, 2022. (Accessed June 1, 2022.)

According to Gurnick Academy Career Services, typical interview questions include some of the following: 

• Tell me a little about yourself.
• Why do you want to work for us?
• What is your long-term career goal? How does this position fit into your career path?
• What would your last employer say about you?
• How would your coworkers/rotation team members describe your work style or work habits?
• What did you learn from your past work experiences, and how is it relevant to this position/facility? What transferable skills do you feel will assist you in this position? 
• Can you work on multiple assignments simultaneously? How do you handle multitasking/organization?
• Describe a time when you were able to overcome a communication barrier.
• What kind of people do you find it most challenging to work with, and how do you work with them?
• What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses as a newly licensed Radiation Therapist?
• Why should we hire you?
• What questions would you ask employers?

According to the website, All 50 Medical, two complaints within the vocation seem to be that some find it physically demanding.

“Radiation Therapists are on their feet all day long, and the job can be physically demanding as you help weak or chronically ill patients to and from radiation treatment tables,” says author Pat Bass III, M.D., M.S., M.P.H. Another complaint Bass states is that the vocation can be “Potentially emotionally difficult.”¹

Citations
¹ Bass, Pat. “Radiation Therapist Jobs | All 50 Medical.” All 50 Medical. (Accessed June 16, 2022.)

While workplaces, geographical regions, and employers can vary by many factors, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national median annual pay for Radiation Therapists in May 2021 was $94,000.^1* 

*Compensation may vary depending on geographic expectations, costs of living, experience, qualifications, acumen, and other factors.

Citations
¹ “Radiation Therapists.” Www.bls.gov, United States Department of Labor. March 31. (Accessed June 16, 2022.)

The American Cancer Society lists several professions that comprise radiation teams. According to the American Cancer Society, these are as follows:

• Radiation Oncologist: This doctor is specifically trained to treat cancer with radiation therapy. This person oversees your radiation treatment plan.
• Radiation Physicist: This person ensures that the radiation equipment is functioning properly and provides the exact dose prescribed by your radiation oncologist.
• Dosimetrist: This professional assists the radiation oncologist in planning the treatment.
• Radiation Therapist or Radiation Therapy Technologist: This person operates the radiation equipment and positions you for each treatment.
• Radiation Therapy Nurse: This nurse has specialized training in cancer treatment and can provide you with information about radiation treatment and managing its side effects.¹

Citations
¹ —. “How Radiation Therapy is Used to Treat Cancer.” Cancer.org, American Cancer Society. December 27, 2019. (Accessed  June 16, 2022.)

The vocation receives high rankings within multiple core employment areas. U.S. News ranked it #23 out of 100 Best Healthcare Jobs and #82 in the 100 Best Jobs, with an overall job satisfaction score of 5.8 out of 10, using a complex mix of factors that include median salaries, growth percentages, occupational stress levels, and work-life balance.¹

Citations
¹ Staff. Radiation Therapist. U.S. News, 2022. (Accessed June 1, 2022.)

According to the ASRT, the following list is within a Radiation Therapist’s scope of practice. These include the following: 

• Administering medications parenterally through new or existing vascular access, enterally, or through other appropriate routes as prescribed by a licensed practitioner.*†
• Administering medications with an infusion pump or power injector as prescribed by a licensed practitioner.*† 
• Applying principles of ALARA to minimize exposure to the patient, self, and others. 
• Applying principles of patient safety during all aspects of patient care. 
• Assisting in maintaining medical records, respecting confidentiality, and establishing policy. 
• Corroborating a patient’s clinical history with the procedure and ensuring information is documented and available for use by a licensed practitioner. 
• Educating and monitoring students and other healthcare providers.* 
• Evaluating images for proper positioning and determining if additional images will improve the procedure or treatment outcome. 
• Evaluating images for technical quality and ensuring proper identification is recorded. 
• Identifying and responding to emergencies. 
• Identifying, preparing, and administering medications as prescribed by a licensed practitioner.*† 
• Performing ongoing quality assurance activities. 
• Performing venipuncture as prescribed by a licensed practitioner.*† 
• Postprocessing data. 
• Preparing patients for procedures. 
• Providing education. 
• Providing optimal patient care. 
• Receiving, relaying, and documenting verbal, written, and electronic orders in the patient’s medical record.* 
• Selecting the appropriate protocol and optimizing technical factors while maximizing patient safety. 
• Starting, maintaining, and removing intravenous access as prescribed by a licensed practitioner.*† 
• Verifying archival storage of data. 
• Verifying informed consent for applicable procedures.*
• Constructing/preparing immobilization, beam directional, and beam-modification devices. 
• Delivering radiation therapy treatments as prescribed by a radiation oncologist. 
• Detecting and reporting significant changes in patients’ conditions and determining when to withhold treatment until the radiation oncologist is consulted. 
• Monitoring, under the direction of a radiation oncologist, doses to normal tissues within the irradiated volume to ensure tolerance levels are not exceeded. 
• Participating in brachytherapy procedures. 
• Performing simulation, localization, treatment planning procedures, and dosimetric calculations as a radiation oncologist prescribes. 
• Using imaging technologies for simulation, treatment planning, and treatment delivery as a radiation oncologist prescribes.¹

* Excludes limited X-ray machine operators
† Excludes medical dosimetry 

Citations
¹ “The ASRT Practice Standards for Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy.” American Society of Radiologic Technologists. June 23, 2019. (Accessed June 15, 2022.) Pgs 8, 9

Radiation Therapists are only allowed to perform procedures within their official scope of practice.

Yes. According to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, Radiologic Therapy professionals are vital members of multidisciplinary teams that form a core of highly trained healthcare professionals, bringing expertise to the area of patient care.¹ 

Citations
¹ “The ASRT Practice Standards for Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy.” American Society of Radiologic Technologists. June 23,  2019. (Accessed June 15, 2022.)

According to Radiology Info.org, Radiation Therapists use linear accelerators to deliver external beam therapy. Your radiation oncologist will determine the equipment most suited to your treatment. The linear accelerator is the most commonly used device for external beam therapy.¹

Citations
¹ Radiology (ACR), Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), and American College of. “External Beam Therapy (EBT).” Radiologyinfo.org, Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (RSNA). January 31, 2019. (Accessed June 16, 2022.)