Download or read book Career As a Radiation Therapist written by Institute for Career Research and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2015-06-28 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Most (about 70 percent) radiation therapists work in hospitals or in cancer treatment centers. Others work in physicians' offices as assistants, and a small number work in outpatient care centers and medical and diagnostic laboratories performing research. Across all practice settings, job opportunities for radiation therapists are expected to increase dramatically. As the population in the United States ages and develops higher risks for cancer, the demand grows. As radiation technology becomes safer and more effective, it will be prescribed more often, leading to even more jobs for radiation therapists. Considering the attractive features of this career - good pay and great job outlook - the educational requirements are quite modest. There are two ways to get the necessary training. One is by obtaining an associate or a bachelor's degree in radiation therapy. The other is to go through a certificate program, which generally takes less time than the full four years of an undergraduate degree. Prospective radiation therapists should make sure that their degree or certificate program is certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) before they enroll. Once radiation therapists begin working, their earnings are fairly high. Beginners start out with salaries of $50,000 per year on average. Their earnings rise the longer they stay in the job - those with 10 year's experience typically make $75,000 to $85,000 per year. Some make even more working at specialty hospitals or in medical and diagnostic laboratories. The greatest reward of working as a radiation therapist is witnessing the scientific advances that allow many cancer patients to survive and go back to leading healthy lives."--Pages 2-3.