Radiation Therapist Salary

This article will introduce readers to the growing field of radiation therapy! I will discuss the education required, their specific role in the health care team, what their daily functions include and what to expect in terms of a radiation therapist salary. I myself have been a radiation therapist for 13 years now and have been amazed at the amount of technological advancement in our field. If you want a career that is growing with opportunity and enjoy caring for those that are sick - radiation therapy may just be your calling!

Education requirements to become a radiation therapist will vary depending on your location. Some countries will allow application into a radiation therapy program straight from high school while others require that you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate university/college program. The latter is the case where I am currently working - our students are required to have at least one year university education to apply. The length of the program after you are accepted is 3 years. You will come out of it with an undergraduate degree in radiation therapy as well as an advanced diploma in this specialization.

Our students learn a broad range of topics in the classroom and also in the clinical setting. They will gain valuable insight into all aspects of the profession which includes simulation & treatment planning, dose distribution, fabrication of immobilization devices, treatment delivery, patient care and health care ethics. They are evaluated based on knowledge gained in the classroom through the usual tests and exams. In the clinical setting, students in our cancer centre are evaluated on a competency basis. Students must demonstrate to their clinical instructors and staff over a period of time that they are proficient in a certain skill, technique or action.

To be brief, radiation therapists provide the cancer patient with ongoing, continuous care during their treatments. We are able to provide counselling on how to minimize the possible radiation side effects of treatment. We enjoy developing a supportive relationship with our patients and their families during this difficult time - as treatments can last for up to several weeks.

My current role in radiation therapy is a treatment planner. This means that I work closely with the radiation oncologist (a doctor specializing in cancer treatment) to generate a safe and deliverable course of treatment. I calculate the radiation dose and computer simulate the distribution of that dose inside the patient's body. There are other roles for radiation therapists as well. These include treatment delivery specialists, brachytherapy, research, sales with commercial companies, radiation safety officers (government agencies), educators and of course - management and administration.

So what are the factors determining a radiation therapist salary? Years of experience would be the main one. An entry level radiation therapist can expect to earn just under $50k annually and top out at just over $80k after a certain number of years. Working overtime and doing on-call shifts at night and on the weekend can greatly enhance your earnings. There have been instances where a front-line worker made six figures annually because of this - although it is more the exception than the rule. Obtaining advanced certifications can boost your earnings potential as well. Salary will vary based on geographic location as well. Friends of mine in the field have worked in places like Saudi Arabia where they either offer lucrative contracts in terms of pay or perks (extra vacation time, paid for flights to and from home would be examples).

I hope that this article has given you some insight into the role a radiation therapist plays on the health care team. Radiation therapy to me is a challenging career as you are using the latest in technology to deal with one of the most terrifying diagnoses a human can receive - that of cancer. There is nothing more rewarding to me than hearing that I made a difference during someone's course of treatment. Think about a career in radiation therapy, the world could use another hero!