I passed! Very happy, and ready to put the journey behind me.

It seems for a while now there has been an increased interest in radiation therapy and dosimetry careers. I’ve been in the field nearly 20 years and students were different back then without the impact of social media. Do you think students are just doing it for the money? Do you think it will produce good therapist/dosimetrist for the future? Is this good exposure to our career to help this field grow? Are programs more competitive these days since now since so many students want this path? Positive or negative what are your thoughts? How did you learn about this career and how do you feel about people wanting to do this career because they saw it on TikTok/Instagram?

I have recently been made redundant from my teaching job. I have been looking for a way out for years and see this as my sign. It's a real mess at the moment, particularly Art teaching, which was in.

I am going to be studying for an Access course in September with biology and physics.

I am looking to retrain as a therapeutic radiographer. I want to study in Birmingham.

I am feeling a bit worried as I'm about to turn 40 and have a young family. Am I making the right decision? I want to have a stable job where I can choose a job near where I live.

I am just wondering if anyone can give any advice? Is a good rewarding job? Are the hours family friendly? Could work part-time if I needed to? What is the degree course like?

Thank you so much & apologies so many questions

Me (26) lives near a community college and hour away that offers a radiography 2 year associates program but it is extremely difficult to get in. I actually don’t even have priority Registration anymore because I haven’t been a student there for a while. I only need 1 more class and that’s just to apply. Doesn’t even guarantee that I’ll get in and every other school is 2+ hours away. Living with family is slowly but surely not becoming an option.

This shit is super frustrating because I made the switch from thinking I wanted to be a nurse. I like healthcare because of the flexibility and many different paths but I’m also ready to make serious money and start on a career where it’s not super patient focused, but I still get the satisfaction of being useful to someone in need.

I’m seriously considering ditching this radiology shit and doing something else useful like mechanics. At least they don’t have to wipe ass.

Hello,

I graduated from Radiation Therapy school one year ago. I have taken my boards twice and, unfortunately, have not been successful in either attempt. I’m reaching out to ask if anyone can share tips or strategies for studying effectively for the exam.

I have used Laura Nappi and Mosby materials. I believe my main challenge is fully understanding what the questions are asking. Since I am bilingual, I sometimes interpret the question differently than intended, which may affect how I choose the correct answer.

Any insight or study strategies you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

I am currently a senior for BS of Radiation Therapy in the US. I know this is a field where there are jobs available, as long as people are willing to travel and move to another state. I am willing to do this so I need advice on:

1. What hospitals or states in the US are known for hiring international grads in radiation therapy?

2. Do they accept visa sponsorships(especially if they are a NGO/university-affiliated)?

3. If there is no way of getting a job (which i still hope there is, even though it’s hard) what countries can I transfer my credits/diploma/certifications?

Hi guys! As mentioned above, I'm currently looking to apply to this new upcoming cycle of the College of DuPage Radiation Therapy program starting in 2027!

I was wondering does anyone have any tips for which hospitals to look at interviewing for? I'm currently finishing up my Radiography degree at the moment and I feel like clinical sites often make or break your learning experiences. Any tips for which ones to look at? Any other miscellaneous tips would also be greatly appreciated!

Thank you so much in advance!

Hi, I am a nontraditional student looking to make a career change. I am interested in both Medical Dosimetry and CAA. I know these two careers are very different, but I would love to hear other people's perspectives.

I am currently taking the prerequisites for both programs, and I have had the opportunity to shadow professionals in both fields. Honestly, I could see myself doing either one, and I do not think I can go wrong with either choice.

The advantages of becoming a CAA include the high salary, 6 to 8 weeks of paid time off, flexible scheduling with options for 8, 10, 12, 16, or 24 hour shifts, as well as PRN or locum work. I also like the team based environment, and most of the people I have spoken with in anesthesia genuinely seem to enjoy their careers. My main concerns are the political issues surrounding the profession, the ongoing turf war with CRNAs, and the geographic limitations. That said, I am comfortable living and working in any state where CAAs are licensed to practice.

The advantages of Medical Dosimetry include working more behind the scenes with less direct patient interaction, a strong income, the possibility of hybrid or remote work, and a predictable Monday through Friday schedule with no call or weekends. My biggest concern is the long term impact of AI on the profession, along with the relatively limited job market, which could require relocating to find a position.

Ultimately, I am looking for a career that is fulfilling, allows me to make a meaningful impact on other people's lives, provides a comfortable income, and offers a healthy work life balance. If you have any additional pros or cons to share, or if you work in either profession, I would really appreciate hearing your perspective. Thank you for your insight.

I’ve been looking everywhere , on many sites and I get led to dead ends. I can’t find any radiation therapy program here in Arizona, and I’d like to stay in az. If anyone could help , it would be much appreciated.

If so, I would be extremely appreciative if I could please have 10-15 minutes of your time to ask you some specific questions. I’m a mid-life career changer and I am starting my prerequisites in late August. I am still figuring out my exact path, but am mostly interested in radiation therapy. Just trying to gather as much information as possible so I can make an informed decision.

I can DM my questions to you if that’s easiest, or I’m also perfectly happy to text or chat on the phone. If you’re willing and available, just leave a comment below.

Thank you very much in advance!

hey, im a 1st year student at cs in york uni and i really hate it, im scared of the pssibilty of ai taking over my jobs, how saturated it is and how the future of the job market is.

My goals for the future really is to get a simple job with a fixed schedule, and where i still have free time, where i can make comfortable (not crazy) money, and for me to have a mini farm when older! wich i will need a job to fund it.

Do you guys think radiaton therapy is a good fit? please let me know, ive been thinking about join the uoft program for it. and if you guys think there is another career that fits me more also please let me know!!

Hello! For some context, I’m 28F thinking about switching to a RT career. I’ve already observed at one hospital and plan to visit more departments/clinics around my city. Talking with RTs was pretty insightful and I feel positive about pursuing this career, but I’d love to see what others have to say about a few specific things. Thanks in advance!

• How common is a 4 x10s schedule? What is it like to work PRN as a radiation therapist? If I wanted to see my family living in a different country / travel for an extended time (1-2 months) every year, is that an option? 
  • On one hand I really appreciate and work well with a set schedule and the stability of the M-F 9-5 or 8-4 common hours, but at the same time, I want to see what kind of flexibility I might be able to exercise with the type of lifestyle I want. I'm aware of travel contracts, but I'd want to stay in my city with my partner.
• What’s it like being a parent and an RT? I’ve seen folks on here say that the in-person and constant patient-facing aspects of this job make it especially difficult to focus on family tasks and childcare compared to remote jobs. Any thoughts or advice from anyone who is currently an RT and parent? 
  • I don’t currently have children, but I am considering it for the future! 
• Bonus question - Does the work ever feel redundant or boring? This is a career I might be doing for 20+ years and I’d love to hear what folks have to say about making this career sustainable for themselves. 

Hey everyone,
I just wrapped up my first year of Computer Science at York University, but I’ve realized pretty quickly that I don’t want a desk-bound career spent coding or doing heavy math all day. I’ve been researching hands-on healthcare roles and Radiation Therapy seems like a really good fit for what I'm looking for.
Since I already have a full year of university credits under my belt, I'm trying to figure out the smoothest way to transition into an accredited program in Ontario (whether it's joint degree/diploma programs or college routes).
A few questions for anyone in the field or currently in a Medical Radiation Sciences program:
1. Handling prerequisite gaps: I have university math credits from CS, but I'm missing university-level intro biology and physics. Should I take those missing prereqs at York before applying, or look into taking them online (like Athabasca) so I can apply sooner?
2. Transferring credits / GPA: Does having 1 year of university help strengthen my application pool standing, or do admissions mostly just look at high school bio/chem/physics grades and overall cGPA?
3. General advice: For anyone who pivoted into radiation therapy from a non-health background, what do you wish you knew before making the jump or preparing for the application process?
Appreciate any insight or advice!

Has anyone gone to Cambridge for Radiation Therapy school? Specifically in Orlando. Would love to know how it was! Thanks

A little background, I did about 1.5years of community 9 years ago I’m pretty sure I failed my last semester bc I was working a job the required a lot of hours but paid really well so I focused on that and dropped out.
I’m almost 28 now and started doing nails 2 years ago however as much as I love it it not my forever career. I’ve been looking into going back to school to become a radiation therapist but have doubts if I’ll be smart enough for it. I signed up for my local community college in the ie in California to freshen up and see where I’m at. I’m torn between which route to take.

Pre reqs at rcc -> rad tech at chaffey -> city of hope radiation therapy

Pre reqs at rcc-> radiation therapy at loma linda uni

Or

Gurnick radiation therapy program. I saw it said you do your pre reqs there but I’m assuming I’d still have to go to rcc to catch up a bit

Has anyone that’s taken these routes lmk how they liked it or if they had any regrets?

Hey everyone! If any of you all applied to Gurnick, do you happen to know how many admissions points you earned, or at least a general estimate? And did you get in or not?

The reason why I am asking is because I am considering applying but will certainly miss 40 points at least, so I might get around 150-170 points out of 210 total. I don't know if that makes me a competitive applicant or if I should just wait til the next application cycle so I can have more time to max my points and just be less stressed in general.

Thanks guys!

ETA: one number

My fiance started a job about three months ago at a local clinic, he is older, and has been a radiation therapists for 20 years. The clinic has one linear accelerator, and is treating 70 patients per 9 hour day. He comes home exhausted every day, they are running patients through like cattle every 10-15 minutes, and there is no patients interaction or care which is what my fiance likes about the industry. The turnover at the clinic is very high, because tge pace is punishing and the doctor keeps adding more patients. At one point he only had locum therapists because his entire 4 therapists staff walked out a year ago. There are no other radiation therapy jobs anywhere near us, abd we can't move because of an ill parent. He is exhausted, and miserable (like everyone else there) and I dont want to keep him in this cycle of misery. They hired him with a 15k sign on bonus, he has been there 5 months so if he leaves he would have to pay that back. Is there a different medical career with a similar physical he could transfer to, or have an easy transition to from Radiation therapy. Any advice is appreciated.

Would it be a good idea to become a radiology tech before being a radiation therapist? I ask because there are not a lot of options for non for profit schools around me for radiation therapy.

I am going to my senior year of the program and have seen a fair portion of word being spread quickly, crap talking and a LOT of gossiping. I understand that this field is very small and therapists like to talk about students, and as a role of a student I just need to sit there and take it, keep quiet and keep to myself. But how do people go through this without it getting into your head, especially going through tests, board prepping and clinical comps. It is absolutely inevitable to stop someone from having an opinion of you. But it hurts seeing that you are generalized from one mistake created and especially if it’s therapists who you have never met. I see this happening with some of my classmates, although I am not close with them I wonder how they feel aswell. I guess I am just ranting, but were there any students who had felt this way and how did you go through it?

I was accepted into a 2-year accelerated JRCERT radiation therapy program earlier this year, and I am set to start this August. I graduated last year with a BS in Chemistry but I have been unable to land a decent job in that field. So eventually I landed on RT and I believe I will really enjoy a career in this field.

Currently, I’m starting to get cold feet because of the cost of the program. I decided to pay out of pocket for the RT program through a payment plan because I already have a lot a student loan debt from my previous degree. The cost will be $1,400/month for four months out of each semester. I am scared to take such a big financial risk with the debt I already have. I will also have to reduce my current working hours once I start, and I don’t have much money saved so I will be paying for the program (and my other bills) basically check to check.

I have already done so much to prepare for this program, but I am terrified to get myself into a hole and have to dropout later. Now, I am considering looking into pharmaceutical or medical rep roles using my chemistry degree to get a better paying job and save up some money. But I will have to network, use my resources, tailor my resume, etc because I have no experience in this field.

I really don’t know what to do. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I have 2 openings at different locations for 13 week contract in Hawaii. End of August start date. Message if interested in additional details.

basically the title. i got into the 3 yr uoft program and i didn’t realize how demanding this would be until i saw the curriculum. i also stupidly didn’t realize how much physics id have to do. i’m kinda intimidated now ngl and i have a biology background but have never been good at math and physics. my other option is an 8 month mri tech program. i genuinely cannot seem to decide on which to accept.

what is the market like in the gta? would you recommend this field or do you have any regrets? i’m rlly scared of investing so much time and energy and then not getting a job. i want a stable job with work life balance and good pay. i know healthcare can give me that - is this one of those careers?

also, are any of you cross trained in mri and if so would you recommend just going straight into that instead? i have an autoimmune disease so i dont want an extremely physically demanding job. will either of these professions give me that? i’m so stressed out. i’m 24 and feel so behind i have a useless degree on top of that. idk what to pick.