Radiation therapists generally work 40 hours a week, and unlike workers in some other healthcare occupations, they normally work only during the day. else if(jQuery(this).val() == "Radiation Therapy" ) Radiation therapy is a form of cancer treatment that uses an intense form of energy, called ionizing radiation, to damage or destroy cancer cells. As part of the oncology team, radiation therapists collaborate with doctors, nurses, and medical physicists to treat patients. Radiation therapy programs include courses in radiation therapy procedures and the scientific theories behind them. The radiation therapist, or RTT, is an important part of the radiation oncology team. The average radiation therapist salary exceeds $82,000 a year, making it one of the highest-paid careers for professionals with an associate degree. You'll also need to have the physical strength to help patients onto treatment tables. Before practising radiation therapy, entrants to the field must submit to … As part of the oncology team, radiation therapists collaborate with doctors, nurses, and medical physicists to treat patients. Last Modified Date: Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for radiation therapists. Radiation therapists are medical specialists who use linear accelerators to administer treatment to cancer patients. In nearly every state, however, the individual must sit for and pass a national certification examination before seeking employment in the Radiation Therapy field. The cost of the exam is $200 for those taking it for the first time, and subsequent examinations cost $175. Jobseekers with prior work experience in patient care positions and more education, such as related allied health certifications or a relevant bachelor’s degree, should have the best job opportunities. As a radiation therapist, you will be part of the oncology team treating a cancer patient. else if(jQuery(this).val() == "IV Therapy Infusion" ) Physical therapist assistants and aides are supervised by physical therapists to help patients regain movement and manage pain after injuries and illnesses. As a radiation therapist, you operate the technologies needed to carry out these treatments and prepare patients for the procedures. Working as a Radiation Therapist. The treatment shrinks or eliminates the tumor or cells over time. If you want to obtain an associate degree, you could be ready to work as a radiation therapist in about three years. Employment of radiation therapists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. Radiation therapists (with master's and doctoral degrees) can also prescrib… Watch Queue Queue. Radiation therapy may be curative in a number of types of cancer if they are localized to one area of the body. The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, Radiation Therapists earn a medium income of $80,160 yearly. What Does a Radiation Therapist Do? This nurse spe… Most importantly, you’ll follow regulations to protect both patients and practitioners from high doses of ra… The goal is to destroy or damage the cancer without hurting too many healthy cells. Information on your treatment plan is available through your Radiation Oncology Team. If there’s a chance you might become pregnant, be sure to talk to your doctor about birth control options. {options = '';} In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2019 to 2029. A: A radiation therapist administers radiation treatments to patients who have cancer or other diseases. Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. There are two main types of radiation therapy, external beam and internal. In 2014, more than 16,000 individuals were employed as Radiation Therapists throughout the United States. Radiation Therapists provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiologist according to established practices and standards. What does a Radiation Therapist do? Delray Beach, FL Campus Radiation therapists treat cancer and other diseases in patients by administering radiation treatments. Types of Radiation Therapy. These machines are used to treat all portions of a patient’s body by delivering high energy X-rays or electrons to tumors and cancer cells. A cancer diagnosis may mean radiation therapy. Report these symptoms to your cancer care and ask them how to relieve these side effects.Sometimes menstrual periods will return when radiation therapy is over, but sometimes they do not. Radiation therapy machines aim specific amounts of the radiation at tumors or parts of the body where there is/was disease to kill cancer cells or keep them from spreading. The Phoenix metropolitan area employs more radiation therapists than any other city – 580. Radiation therapists dedicate their time to working with cancer patients in hospitals and medical clinics under Radiation Oncologists. Radiation therapists administer radiation treatments to patients with cancer and other diseases. Radiation therapists are part … at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/radiation-therapists.htm (visited December 18, 2020). Radiation therapists administer radiation therapy to patients under the instruction of oncologists and radiologists, and locate tumors, measure the amount of radiation given and update treatment reports. In most states, radiation therapists must be licensed or certified. Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics. make sure you're on a federal government site. Altamonte, FL Campus Their job description entails projecting high energy x-ray to irradiate cancerous cells in the human body. {options = '';} What Does a Radiation Therapist Do? The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. else if(jQuery(this).val() == "Computer Networking" ) Demand for radiation therapists may stem from the aging population and advances in radiation therapies. A radiation therapist is an Allied Health Professional who specialises in using ionising radiation to treat various diseases, usually cancer. How Much Do Radiation Therapists Make in Each State. else if(jQuery(this).val() == "Physical Therapy Assistant" ) Radiation therapists typically work 40 hours per week. In May 2019, the median annual wages for radiation therapists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows: Percent change in employment, projected 2019-29, Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program. Perform simulations and preparation of immobilization devices for … else if(jQuery(this).val() == "Nursing Assistant" ) Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of radiation therapists with similar occupations. jQuery('select[name=menu-926]').change(function() { The goal is to destroy or damage the cancer without hurting too many healthy cells. else if(jQuery(this).val() == "Cyber and Network Security" ) Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) is one of the most common treatments for cancer. To do this, you'll lie on the same type of table that's used during radiation therapy. Most radiation therapists work full time. Technical skills. else if(jQuery(this).val() == "Phlebotomy Technician" ) The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Radiation therapists work in hospitals, offices of physicians, and outpatient centers. They work with doctors who specialize in radiation therapy (radiation oncologists) and … If that sounds like you, look into getting your associate's or bachelor's degree at a college with an accredited radiation therapy program. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics survey. {options = '';} Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, Employment projections data for radiation therapists, 2019-29, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, More Information, Including Links to O*NET, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Including Vascular Technologists, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/radiation-therapists.htm, Explain treatment plans to the patient and answer questions about treatment, Protect the patients and themselves from improper exposure to radiation, Determine the exact location of the area requiring treatment, Calibrate and operate the machine to treat the patient with radiation, Monitor the patient to check for unusual reactions to the treatment. Administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therapy equipment according to established practices and standards. What Does a Radiation Therapist Do? Typical Day for Radiation Therapists. else if(jQuery(this).val() == "Computed Tomography Review" ) Radiation therapists work in hospitals, offices of physicians, and outpatient centers. Ionizing radiation harms cancer cells' genetic material. What Does a Radiation Therapist Do? Radiation therapists are medical specialists who use linear accelerators to administer treatment to cancer patients. But cancer cells grow and divide faster than most normal cells. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. Wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations it can harm the growing baby from the occupational information from the population... Also responsible for calculating the correct amount of radiation therapists play a pivotal role in the of. 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