What Is a Therapeutic Radiologic Technician?

A therapeutic radiologic technician works with a radiation oncologist to use radiation to treat patients with cancer. Therapeutic radiology is also known as radiation oncology, radiation therapy or radiotherapy, but it should not be confused with radiology, which is the use of radiation in medical imaging to diagnose injury or disease.

Monikers

• Therapeutic radiologic technicians are also known as technologists, radiation oncology techs and, more commonly, radiation therapists. Radiation therapists can also advance to become dosimetrists, who help radiation oncologists calculate the radiation dose.

Duties

• Under the direction of an oncologist, a therapeutic radiologic technician positions patients, keeps records, explains treatment plans, operates the linear accelerator, exercises safety precautions and considers the patients’ well-being, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education

• Therapeutic radiologic technicians usually earn a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree or a certificate in radiation therapy.

Work Environment

• A therapeutic radiologic technician works with a radiation oncologist, a radiation physicist and others to treat cancer patients. Radiation therapists can work in hospitals or cancer treatment centers. Because they work with radioactive chemicals, techs must ensure they and their patients are not exposed to dangerous levels of radiation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Potentially Rewarding

• Even though working with cancer patients can be demanding and difficult, therapists may find it rewarding, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.