To be a radiation therapist, it is pertinent to know that you must complete a study in an accredited radiation therapy program. In this article, we will be providing you with various information about all you need to know to become a radiation therapist and the best universities where you can study it.
Let’s look at some of the characteristics that set schools apart when it comes to selecting the best schools for radiation therapy. There are already some stipulated standards put in place by the American Society of Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
So, one of the things to look out for when trying to find the best schools to study radiotherapy is good access to the teaching hospital rotation facilities onsite and schools whose radiation materials or tools are quite appealing. Another thing to look out for are schools whose radiotherapy facilities are onsite and who keep their radiation materials or tools updated.
Before we dive right in, let’s ask a question: why would you choose this course?
The radiotherapy career is a special one.
That combines both patient care and technical capabilities in its skill set.
According to NSS 2021, the field is rated 2nd in the UK according to student satisfaction.
Completing this degree will give you a BSc (Hons) in radiotherapy and oncology, and finalists are eligible for state registration with healthcare organizations.
Over 95% of people who graduate from this program get jobs for at least 15 months after graduation.
Now you might wonder, “What really is this course about?
Radiotherapy is mainly used to manage at least half of the people who suffer from cancer, utilizing radiation at higher energy levels to damage cancer cells so that a patient can either be free by being cured or have their symptoms alleviated.
Studying this discipline will help you become a therapeutic radiographer that is suitable for state registration. People who studied radiotherapy are the key clinical practitioners with the responsibility of running radiotherapy.
In the program, you will be equipped with various skills that relate to the planning and effective running of radiotherapy using a range of specific technical tools. You will also be equipped with some important skills to be able to manage the patient’s psychological, social, and emotional factors felt by the patients who suffer from cancer and even their family and loved ones.
Undergraduates in this field will be trained on how to treat patients with surgery, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. The field offers excellent career prospects with the opportunity for continuous career progress and development.
The course is a practical-based one, so even as you continue to study theory-based outlines, they will continue to be merged with clinical practice. You will spend up to six weeks each year gaining the valuable clinical experience that you will need to develop the knowledge, appropriate understanding, and skills that are required of a professional therapeutic radiographer.
Ohio State University, Columbus
The Ohio State University was tied for the 56th rank according to U.S. News and World Report national universities in the year 2019. Its College of Medicine was also ranked 30th by the same organizations after research.
The OSU also conducts the Wright Center for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging. The citadel of learning offers a Bachelor of Science in radiologic science. There are also different specialization options in the discipline, like radiotherapy, radiography, and sonography.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
According to U.S. News and World Report, the University of North Carolina was ranked as the best graduate school, primarily for primary care, at 1, and the best graduate medical school on a research basis at 23.
The citadel of learning in its radiation oncology department gives a JCERT-accredited after-radiography radiation therapy certification program to students who own an associate degree and an up-to-date certification in radiography.
If you intend to study radiology at this school, be aware that you’ll be supervised by professionals in the field. Your clinical rotation sites could include UNC Hospital or the Duke University Medical Center.
The University of Texas, South Western Medical Center, Dallas
The University of Texas South Western Medical Center was ranked the 26th best medical research school according to U.S. News & World Report’s evaluation. The Citadel of Learning’s Department of Radiation Oncology, in partnership with the School of Health Professions and the residency program for doctors in the program, both support the radiation therapy program.
Virginia Western Community College
The Virginia Western Community College can be found in Roanoke, Virginia, and is among the best schools there are when it comes to radiotherapy. If you succeed in completing a radiation program at the school, you will immediately possess an AART certification approval with an increased chance of about 97%. To add to it, graduates from the school, on average, secure jobs within six months.
University of North Carolina
Apart from the fact that the university is very proficient in radiation therapy, the citadel of learning is also ranked among the top 30 best universities in the world. It is well renowned for its efficiency in its different medical programs, of which radiotherapy is part. However, the only way you can apply for the program at the school is if you have an associate degree in radiotherapy.
It is important to know that for courses such as this, it is very necessary that you attend the best schools out there in order for you to learn enough to become competent for the task ahead because it is only when you’re competent that employers will consider you amongst their numerous job applicants.
A careful observation of our list shows that the best schools have one thing in common: they have up-to-date facilities and are mostly based in the US. This isn’t to say that other places, especially Europe, do not have standard universities that are good for learning radiotherapy; it just means that even though they do, the US is still considered the best.
