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Degree in Radiation Therapy for Military & Veterans

Degree in Radiation Therapy for Military & Veterans

The College of DuPage describes working in radiation therapy as a highly skilled career that requires knowledge of "physics, radiation safety, patient anatomy and patient care. Radiation Therapists administer targeted doses of radiation to the patients body to treat cancer and other diseases."

What can you do with a Radiation Therapy Degree?

Radiation therapy is the use of various kinds of high-energy radiation to treat cancer and other diseases. X-rays, gamma rays, electrons, and protons can all be used to help treat a variety of conditions and improve patients' health and well-being.

Radiation Therapist

Administer doses of radiation to patients with cancer or other serious diseases. The Median Annual Salary is $83,000.

A radiation therapist is an essential member of a radiation oncology health team. They use carefully targeted doses of powerful radiation beams to kill cancer cells and destroy tumors without harming the rest of the body! Radiation therapy can help cure cancer in most patients and improve the quality of life in most others.

Is a Radiation Therapy Degree hard?

A degree in Radiation Therapy requires both classroom and clinical (hands-on) work as it prepares students for the technical and theoretical aspects of a career in this field.

Getting an Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Radiation Therapy

An Associate Degree in Radiation Therapy provides students with essential courses in the Arts and Sciences along with a focused education in radiation therapy. A Bachelor’s Degree will include additional core educational courses in the Arts and Sciences, a focused education in radiation therapy, along with other related health science courses.

Both degree levels will provide students with essential classroom and clinical education requirements. Students will acquire necessary professional skills such as:
  • dose calculation
  • treatment delivery
  • quality assurance
A clinical experience involving interaction with patients and the delivery of radiation therapy is essential. Accredited radiation Therapy programs provide intensive and comprehensive clinical experience for their students. Students will be trained to provide professional and competent clinical care to patients along with other essential skills, including:
  • Demonstrating critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Effective communication skills
  • Demonstrating professional work standards
While a Radiation Therapy Degree and corresponding clinical experience will prepare graduates for a career in Radiation Therapy, a license is gained through successful completion of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) examination in radiation therapy. Graduates with a Degree in Radiation Therapy are encouraged to attain licensure as a registered radiation therapist.

GI Bill-approved Schools and Yellow Ribbon Schools with Degrees in Radiation Therapy

Ready to start your Degree in Radiation Therapy? Check out these great programs available at our partner schools:  

SUNY Upstate Medical University

Offers a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Radiation Therapy. Upstate Medical University offers GI Bill-approved programs, awards credit for military experience, and accepts credit for the CLEP exam, as well as being approved for Tuition Assistance.

John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences

Offers a Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy. JPU has GI Bill-approved programs, awards credit for both the CLEP and DSST exams, and is approved for Tuition Assistance. JPU is a Yellow Ribbon school.

Is a Radiation Therapy Degree worth it?

Radiation therapists are essential to a successful oncology team. Don’t forget: to obtain certification and registration in Radiation Therapy, all potential radiation therapists must sit for the Radiation Therapy examination through The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Click here to learn more.