Radiation therapists treat patients with serious illnesses.
Radiation therapy simulation technicians, also known as radiation therapists, deliver high doses of radiation to treat cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. They work at cancer treatment clinics, hospitals and radiation therapy facilities.
Job Requirements
Radiation therapists need formal education. licenses and certification.
Aspiring radiation therapists must have a associate or bachelor's degree in radiography or radiation therapy. Radiation therapists need licenses in 33 American states. Some states require certification by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Duties
Radiation therapists simulate the effects of radiation before the actual treatment.
Radiation therapy simulation is a planning process in the treatment protocol. Radiation therapists properly immobilize the patient's body, place marks on their skin and take preliminary imaging scans. They instruct patients to lie on their stomachs, sides or backs to find the precise position to maximize the effects of radiation therapy.
Key Traits
Radiation therapists need to communicate precisely with patients and doctors.
Successful radiation therapists must be empathetic to patients with serious illnesses and have excellent communication skills to explain procedures. They need a precise touch to control and operate sophisticated equipment. Radiation therapists must follow physician orders and document patient dosage records.
Compensation
The BLS reported a mean annual salary of $77,340 in 2009.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, radiation therapists earned an average hourly wage of $37.18 and an average annual salary of $77,340 as of May 2009. Salaries ranged from a low of $49,980 to a high of $107,230.
Tags: Radiation therapists, Radiation therapists need, therapists must, therapists need, annual salary