Radiation Therapy
Career Information
A radiation therapist is a healthcare professional specializing in administering radiation treatments to patients with cancer and certain benign conditions. As part of a multidisciplinary team, they work closely with radiation oncologists, medical physicists, dosimetrists, and oncology nurses. Their primary duties include:
- Treatment Delivery: Administer daily radiation treatments as prescribed by the radiation oncologist.
- Patient Care: Monitor and assess patient health and response to treatment, providing necessary care and support.
- Equipment Operation: Utilize and maintain sophisticated radiation therapy equipment, ensuring accurate and safe delivery of radiation.
- Treatment Planning: Collaborate with the medical team to implement treatment plans, considering patient positioning, dosage, and tumor targeting.
Radiation therapists play a critical role in cancer care, combining technical expertise with patient-centered care to improve treatment outcomes. They typically work in hospitals, cancer treatment centers, and freestanding clinics. With additional education and experience, radiation therapists can advance to roles such as dosimetrists, educators, researchers, or leadership and administrative positions.
Program Information
The radiation therapy professional program covers theory and techniques in radiation therapy technology through didactic and clinical coursework. Prospective students typically apply to this two-year program during their sophomore year and begin in fall of their junior year.
Up to ten students are accepted into this 2-year professional program track each year. Upon completion, graduates are eligible for the national certification exam in radiation therapy through the ARRT. Students will have also completed didactic coursework for the national certification exam in CT and MRI but not the clinical component.
Admission & Degree Requirements
Admission & Degree Requirements
Prerequisite Courses
Rhetoric: RHET:1030 Rhetoric
Anatomy: one of these:
HHP:2100 Human Anatomy
HHP:3105 Anatomy for Human Physiology
HHP:3115 Anatomy for Human Physiology with Lab
Physiology: one of these:
HHP:2400 Fund. of Human Physiology
HHP:3500 Human Physiology
HHP:3550 Human Physiology with Lab
Physics: PHYS:1400 Basic Physics
Psychology: PSY:1001 Elem. Psychology
Math: one of these:
MATH:1440 Math for the Bio Sciences
MATH:1020 Elementary Functions
General Education: 3sh from 2 of the following areas:
Understanding Cultural Persp. (UCP)
Historical Perspectives (HP)
International and Global Issues (IGI)
Literary, Visual, and Perf. Arts (LVPA)
Values and Society (VS)
Medical Terminology: CLSA:3750 Medical and Technical Terminology
A total of 60sh coursework
Program Admission Requirements
- Prerequisites courses must be completed by June 1
- 2.5 minimum cumulative college GPA
- 2.0 minimum UI GPA
- 2.0 minimum college semester GPA in the spring or summer immediately prior to the start of the program.
- Two years of high school world language
- International students and students whose first language is not English: must satisfy all UI Admissions requirements, complete the English Language Requirements for Admission, and have clearance to take a full academic load.
Recommendations
- Job shadowing in radiation therapy
- Hands-on patient care experience
- RSP:1100 Introduction to Radiation Sciences
- STAT:1020 Statistics
- HHP:2110 Human Anatomy Lab
- HHP:1400 Human Anatomy & Physiology or BIOL:1140 Human Biology (prior to anatomy course)
- PHYS:1512 College Physics II
- BAIS:1500 Business Computing Essentials
- PSY:1010 Learning about Learning
Notes:
-- Apply to the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Radiation Sciences Interest
-- Separate application for competitive selection due by January 15
-- Admission to a Radiation Sciences program is not guaranteed.
-- Transfer students – apply by November.
-- Also see the Transfer Credits link on the Resources section of the website
Degree Requirements
- One of the following professional programs/tracks:
Radiation Therapy – up to 10 students accepted per year
- Radiation Therapy – Greater Iowa City Area Only Track (2-year track) – up to 8 students
- Radiation Therapy – Senior Year Outside Affiliated Site Track (2-year track) – up to 2 students
- Semester hour and GPA Requirements:
- Successfully complete a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit
- Maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative and UI GPA
- Complete all track courses with a C or above
Prerequisite example plans are located on the Prospective Students page.
-- Students are advised for success, based on academic strength, not necessarily for a 4-year plan.
Accreditation
The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine’s Radiation Therapy program is accredited by the
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
312-704-5300
Email: mail@jrcert.org
The program’s current award is 8 years. General program accreditation information and the current accreditation award letter can be found here.
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