How to Become a Radiation Therapist

Would you like a job helping people fight cancer? Radiation therapy is a growing field. As a radiation therapist, you will use machines that shrink and eliminate cancerous tumors in patients. If this sounds like a job you might be interested in, you should consider a career in radiation therapy. Here's how you can get started.

Instructions

1. Get a degree in radiation therapy. Right now, you can get a job with either an associates degree in radiation therapy or a bachelor's degree in radiography from an accredited school.

2. Get your certificate in radiation therapy. If you already have your associates or bachelor's degree, you can get a certificate to get a job as a radiation therapist. Many hospitals offer these programs, but you'll have to take a test to get admitted into the program.

3. Check if your state requires you to get licensed for radiation therapy. Before you can start a job as a radiation therapist, you might need to get licensed to practice radiology in your state. Check with your state's accrediting board or call your local hospital to see if you need to get an additional license.

4. Search for a job. You can begin by talking to your teachers and professors. You might also want to talk to the human resources department at the hospital through which you did your practical lab work.

Tips & Warnings

• You might need to take an additional certificate course in radiation therapy after completing you bachelor's degree in radiography. Call your local hospital to find out if you will need to get this certificate and where you can get it.

Resources

• Click here for more information about certification.
• Find information about the field of radiation technology.