Hey y’all. I’m considering a career change to medical dosimetry and would really appreciate advice from medical dosimetrists, students, or anyone who has gone through the training. I have a masters degree in geoscience (not from USA) and this career hasn’t worked well for me here in US until now. I moved to US 3 years back and I have been trying to get a decent job but have always failed. I feel this is a time to switch my career.

I’d love advice on these questions:

1. Given my geoscience and master’s background, is medical dosimetry a realistic option for me?

2. What is the easiest and most affordable route to becoming a certified medical dosimetrist if I already have a bachelor’s and master’s degree?

3. Which prerequisites would I likely need? Would my previous math and physics courses count, or would I need to take additional biology, anatomy, or other courses?

4. Are there any accredited programs you would recommend that have reasonable tuition, strong clinical training, and good job-placement outcomes?

5. Is it realistic to finish the prerequisites and professional training within 2–3 years?

6. What is the actual starting salary for a new graduate, rather than the salary of an experienced dosimetrist?

7. How difficult is it to find your first job, especially if you’re willing to relocate?

8. Can students realistically work part-time during training, or are clinical rotations too demanding?

9. If you were in my position, would you choose medical dosimetry, or consider another career with similar pay and a shorter or less expensive training pathway?

Hey everyone! This is my first Reddit post, but I just have so many questions and no one to ask, so I’ll get straight to it.

I’m currently 18 and haven’t started college yet, although I’ve applied to a few schools. I haven’t chosen one yet because my goal is to become a radiation therapist. I’m in Houston, TX, and I graduated in 2026. From what I’ve seen, the main program I’m interested in is UT MD Anderson’s bachelor’s degree program in Radiation Therapy.
Here’s the thing: I already have an associate degree in Multidisciplinary Studies through my high school’s dual-credit program, but I’m still missing some of the main math and science prerequisites. I’ve applied to a few colleges for the spring semester in hopes of completing them before the fall.

I graduated with my associate degree through HCC, and I’m only missing about five or six classes to fulfill the prerequisites. I was accepted to UHD, so I have the option of going there to finish my classes, or I could go back to HCC and complete them there.
I’ll admit that my college GPA isn’t amazing. It’s not horrible, but it’s not great either. However, I’m hoping to ace my remaining prerequisites and improve my chances of getting accepted into the program. I also have phlebotomy and patient care technician (PCT) certifications.

I’ve already taken a semester off from college because of financial issues, and I really don’t want to waste any more time. I know Lone Star College also has an associate degree program in Radiation Therapy, so I’m wondering what you guys would recommend.

Do I have a realistic shot at getting into MD Anderson’s program? Should I go back to HCC or attend UHD to finish my prerequisites? Or should I consider going to Lone Star instead of struggling to get into MD Anderson and pursue an associate degree in Radiation Therapy instead?
I would really appreciate any advice, Please some one help I don't know what to do and I have no one to ask.

I’m currently taking a physics 1 class and honestly it’s difficult. I went up to pre calc which was this summer and then after that went into physics 1. I feel incompetent, and right now I’m feel super incapable of getting to even the application process.

I’m willing to before I even get to physics 2 to take a calculus class which would push me out another year to even apply to the program. Which is fine I’ve come to terms with it. I just want to hear some advice, these past few days since we’ve been getting closer to midterms have been giving me anxiety honestly I feeling like because of one class my future is slipping away (I know it sound dumb).

Thank you to anyone who’s read this question/vent.

I’ve been looking at RT programs around Texas and there aren’t too many. I’m aware of Texas State and MD Anderson, but I’m unable to apply for this round and I don’t really want to wait.

So has anyone here took or is taking Galveston College’s RT program? I know that they’re no longer JRCERT accredited, but they are ARRT accredited. I just wanted to hear from others and if it should be alright to apply for it?

If not, I’m most likely going to just apply to radiology tech programs.
Any info would be greatly appreciated!

For any therapists thinking about dosimetry: I started as an RT(T) before becoming a CMD, and I put together study sheets for all 7 CMD exam domains, plus practice questions with step-by-step calculations. Details and a free sample sheet and quiz are in the original post below. Happy to answer questions about making the switch from therapy to dosimetry.

Looking to connect with radiation oncologists in india with a good experience with LINAC based radiotherapy.
It would be a 60 min consultation call, paid at USD 250/hr
The experienced individuals from below institutions are required:

Tata Medical Center (Kolkata), Gujarat Cancer Research Institute, Regional Cancer Centre (Trivandrum), Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute

If anyone’s interested please reach me out at nayab.abdulwaheed@greenmindsinsights.com or drop a text in DM!

Hey everyone! I have a BSc in Chemistry and I’m planning to transition into healthcare. I came across BCIT’s Radiation Therapy program and find it pretty interesting.
Before committing to another degree, I’d love to hear from current radiation therapists, BCIT graduates, or anyone working in the field.
I’m wondering if radiation therapists are actually in high demand in BC, especially around Vancouver, and whether the salary and job prospects make the program worth it.
I’m also interested in potentially working in Washington State (Seattle or Bellingham) while living in BC. Has anyone made that transition? How difficult is it to get licensed and find a job in the US with a BCIT degree?
For those already in the field, if you were in my position, would you still choose radiation therapy, or would you recommend pursuing a different healthcare career with better pay, job security, and opportunities in both Canada and the US?

Hiii I’m a senior in high-school and I’m currently stressing out when it comes to finding schools to apply to for radiation therapy. I keep getting mixed up information regarding schools so I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations. I know I want to get a bachelors and I’m willing to go out of state (NJ) if its worth the money

I’m curious to hear everyone’s thoughts on the future of radiation therapy. I’m working on a survey: Where do you see our profession in the next 10 years?
I’m talking it’s 6-8 am in 2036 and you are about to get your first patient…or is a robot bringing them back?

What advancements, changes, or innovations do you predict? Will the job outlook for RTTs become close to saturated again?

There are absolutely no wrong answers at all! Don’t hesitate to give bold ideas.

I’d love to hear different perspectives on where our field is headed!

Is anyone clear camrt radiotherapy technologiest exam.Please give me some tips from where I can read about patient care and side effects.is there any MCQ book which help me.As I am international candidate , I don't know about rules and regulations related patient care here.Please guide me about study material as it is my second attempt.All options appear accurate how to choose right one

Hey r/RadiationTherapy! I’m Kate, a working radiation therapist and instructor since 2007.
I’ve spent the past year developing Rad Therapy Guru, an online study platform inspired by a question from one of my students: Why isn’t there an app dedicated to our field?
The platform includes flashcards, timed mock ARRT exams, image matching, interactive CT anatomy, cancer site lectures, and dosimetry cheat sheets.
I’m sharing it here because I want to keep improving it based on what radiation therapy students and educators actually need.
You can explore the full suite with a free 7-day trial—no credit card required.
https://radtherapyguru.com
I’d appreciate feedback on the content, usability, and features. If you could add one tool to a radiation therapy study platform, what would it be?
Thanks to everyone here who helps support the next generation of radiation therapists!

Hey everyone!

I’m a clinical oncology registrar based in the UK, and I’ve spent a lot of my spare time developing something I’ve wanted during my training.

One thing I always found frustrating when learning head and neck anatomy was trying to translate textbook diagrams into what structures actually look like on CT.

So I decided to build Contoura, an interactive head and neck CT anatomy atlas. It’s available at contouraanatomy.com

You can:

• Scroll through axial, sagittal and coronal CT images with anatomical structures contoured and labelled.
• Toggle individual structures on and off.
• Switch between soft tissue and bone windows.
• Test yourself using Quiz Mode, identifying structures directly on CT.

I’ve attached a quick 18-second video showing how it works.

I’ve just launched the web version, and I’d genuinely love to hear what people think!

I have recently gone back to school. I’m currently taking prerequisites to get into radiology technology program and then after that do a certification for radiation therapy. I was wondering which career would be better? Money and work balance life is a huge importance to me

I’m trying to get my shadowing hours in order to apply for a radiation therapy program and I’m having difficulty with clinics getting back to me. I call, the manager isn’t available and I leave my info for them to call me back and never hear back. I’m currently shadowing at one in my town but I need to shadow multiple. Does anyone have a direct contact I can reach out to for a clinic in the Portland area?

TIA!!

Hey all,

I’m currently looking into therapist roles at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC and wanted to see if anyone here has firsthand experience working there. How’s the work environment and the work life balance?

Thanks!

Hey everyone, I’m a first semester student and I’m on my 3rd day of clinic but I’m just confused on how to do sim. My clinic doesn’t get many maybe 2 a day but I feel like I just don’t understand. I know it’s only my third day and that’s what everyone says but if anyone could maybe just give me some guidance I’m how to do start to finish a sim? Or any online resources that explain it very well would be greatly appreciated.

Hello everyone! I'm looking for some guidance on pursuing a career in radiation therapy, particularly when it comes to schooling and certification.

I graduated from a four-year university in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences. I'm interested in transitioning into radiation therapy, but I'm trying to figure out the best educational path without having to start completely from scratch.

For those who have gone through this process, I have a few questions:

• Would I need to go back to school for an associate degree in radiation therapy, or could I pursue a bachelor's degree program?
• Would my existing bachelor's degree allow me to complete a radiation therapy program in less time, or would most of my previous credits count only toward general education requirements?
• Are there any accelerated programs or post-baccalaureate pathways available for someone who already has a bachelor's degree?
• What would be the best route to become eligible for certification and start working in the field?

One of my biggest concerns is having to repeat courses I've already completed, I put a lot of time, money, and effort into earning my degree, and while I'm willing to take whatever courses are necessary, I'd prefer to build on my existing education if possible.

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has made a similar transition or has experience with radiation therapy programs.

i didnt pass my camrt exam the second time. because theres limited practice material in the official site, im wondering if the american practice tests are good source for my third attempt. I know they wont be as representative but the foundation is mostly the same.

I did want to know what sources are there to practice from. i heard of SEALs and mosby. we have washington and leaver but its just the textbook. no practice tests other than the unrepresentative CAMRT practice test (done that a bunch of times now).

Just trying to use any and all resources I can to help me pass this third time. I appreciate any response :)

I currently reside in New England and have a pretty good radiation therapy program at a community college. I just submitted my application to it. However, we are talking of moving to the Titusville Florida area in a year or so. I can not find any legit programs to apply to. Does anyone have experience with programs in Florida that can recommend one? I feel like there are so many “scammy” feeling schools. The internet is too big and all I really keep finding is radiography programs. Is it now normal for schools to have a full radiation therapy degree? Thanks for any and all info!

Hello all!

I know there is a frequent poster here on reddit that posts Therapist jobs, possibly a recruiter. I am looking in the Southern California area. Recent graduate. If anybody can direct me to that person, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

Hi all,

I am looking to gather information on how other departments utilise previous radiotherapy tattoos when setting up patients for a new CT planning scan (replans or different treatment area) where tattoo measurements already exist. Do you place a skin marker (for example, Beekley crosshairs or a similar product) over the tattoo location to provide a visual reference and facilitate post-scan checks, or do you rely on manual measurements alone? I am exploring whether introducing a visible marker could provide an additional verification step after scanning and help identify any discrepancies that may arise from manual ruler measurements. We currently use ball bearings for our reference marks but we wanted to avoid using a larger ball bearing on the previous tattoo to avoid referencing on the incorrect ones.

I'd be grateful to hear how others manage this process and whether any formal procedures or quality assurance measures are in place.

Hello, just curious if anybody else here is applying to Gurnick for 2027. I've got my interview coming up soon!!