Radiation Therapist Salary
Radiation is necessary for the treatment of cancer in many cases. A radiation therapist is responsible for providing this treatment to those in need. A machine known as a liner accelerator delivers external beam therapy to destroy cancerous tumors. The radiation therapist will be an essential part of the treatment team from the first step.
He or she will be responsible for determining the exact location of the tumor and will continue working with a patient until the last treatment is complete. If you are interested in helping others to regain their health after a cancer diagnosis, this is the career for you. Consider the radiation therapist salary to help you make an informed choice when doing so.
Radiation Therapist Salary
As of May 2008, the annual median wage of a radiation therapist was $72,910. Those in the bottom 10% of earners in this field made $47,910 or less while those in the top 10% made $104,350 or more. Take the radiation therapist salary into consideration when determining if this career is right for you. Don’t overlook factors such as reimbursement for continuing education and any other perks provided by an employer also.
Radiation Therapist Education
In order to work as a radiation therapist, you must under a certificate program or obtain a bachelor’s or associate degree in radiation therapy. Courses that will be taught in this type of program include human anatomy and physiology, radiation therapy procedures and computer science. As of 2009, 102 accredited radiation therapy programs existed in this country according to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Radiation Therapist License and Certification
Thirty three states, as of 2008, require that a radiation therapist be licensed to operate in that state. The licensing requirements for each state vary and many require that the ARRT certification exam be successfully passed. To determine the licensing requirements in your state, it is best to contact the State licensing board. Certification is also required by some states and/or employers. In order to obtain ARRT certification, an accredited program must be completed, the ARRT certification exam passed and the candidate must agree to adhere to ARRT ethical standards. This designation is valid for one year at which time you must renew your certification.
Job Growth Outlook For Radiation Therapists
Job growth for radiation therapists is expected to be quite high moving forward according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to their official website, growth is expected to hit around 27% between the years 2008 and 2018. This is much faster than the average when compared to the rest of occupations throughout the United States.
Their are a few reasons why growth is so high for this particular career, including the aging of the baby boomer generation which will mean more and more patients in need of radiation treatment and thus radiation therapists. On top of that, it’s expected that radiation procedures are going to become more and more safe as the years go by and will therefore be prescribed more often to more health settings. Clinics, nursing facilities and physician’s offices are expected to make use of radiation technology more and more in their treatment of patients. Therefore it’s expected that growth will occur across all job settings including hospitals, clinics, outpatient centers and physician’s offices.
While job openings are expected to be many, those applicants with a bachelors degree and the best training and certification will not surprisingly land the best positions. This is a fast-growing career that has a great salary base and has options for advancement into many other healthcare areas.
There are many fantastic online resources in terms of training and certification when it comes radiation therapy, be sure to do some further online research. Good luck!
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