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Which Radiation Therapy Schools Can Be Attended in the State of Texas?

Learn about radiation therapy schools in Texas. Get information about programs available and admission and program requirements to make an informed decision about your education. Schools offering Diagnostic Medical Sonography degrees can also be found in these popular choices.

Licensure Requirements for Radiation Therapists in Texas

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), radiation therapists administer controlled doses of radiation to treat cancer (www.bls.gov). You'll answer patients' questions, take X-rays, make sure they have no unexpected reactions and keep records of their treatments. The BLS states that you must have at least an associate's degree and adds that most states require that you have a license. According to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), you must pass a background check, have completed an academic degree in the last five years and successfully take the ARRT certification exam (www.arrt.org).

Career and Salary information for Radiation Therapists in Texas

The BLS projected that the national employment of radiation therapists would increase by 20% between 2010 and 2020. This is much faster than the average 14% growth rate expected for all occupations that decade. Nearly 1,000 radiation therapists worked in Texas as of May 2011. That year, they made a mean annual salary of around $76,000, according to the BLS.

Certificate Program in Radiation Therapy in Texas

Galveston College

  • Program Name: Certificate in Radiation Therapy Technology
  • Program Length: 34 credits, about two years part-time
  • Tuition: $318 per credit for district residents, $366 per credit for Texas residents and $618 per credit for non-residents (cost as Summer 2012)
  • Prerequisites: Complete a program application, conduct a background check, take a drug test and acquire immunizations, have ARRT certification and interview with the program coordinator
  • School Type: 2-year, public; roughly 2,400 students (all undergraduate)
  • Address: 4015 Avenue Q, Galveston, Texas 77550
  • Phone: (409) 944-4242

This program begins with the spring semester and assumes that you already have related training. Your first semester of courses will familiarize you with methods and instruments, trends in the field, dosimetry and oncology. You'll also learn how to use the imaging equipment to take images of specific parts of the body. During the last three semesters of the program, you'll complete clinical practicums to acquire experience and learn the inner workings of the radiation therapy profession.

Texas Associate's Degree Programs in Radiation Therapy

Amarillo College

  • Program Name: Associate in Applied Science in Radiation Therapy
  • Program Length: Two years, full-time
  • Tuition: $90 per credit for district residents, $126 per credit for Texas residents and $275 per credit for non-residents, and lab costs ranging from $24 to $83 for certain classes (cost as of Fall 2012)
  • Prerequisites: High school diploma and at least 18 years old
  • Admissions Requirements: Assessment test and immunizations
  • School Type: 2-year, public; 10,632 students (all undergraduate)
  • Address: 2011 South Washington, Amarillo, Texas 79190
  • Phone: (806) 371-5000

This radiation therapy program incorporates lecture-based courses, simulated labs and practicums, which work to provide you with a theoretical base and practical experience. Courses cover radiographic anatomy and physiology, quality assurance in radiation therapy, laws and ethics, medical imaging, medical terminology and oncology. You must also complete several practicums. After you complete the program, you're eligible for the ARRT's certification exam.

El Paso Community College - Valle Verde

  • Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Radiation Therapy Technology
  • Program Length: Two years, full-time
  • Tuition: $81 per credit for Texas residents and $210 per credit for non-residents (cost as of Fall 2012)
  • School Type: 2-year, public; approximately 30,700 students (all undergraduate)
  • Address: 919 Hunter, El Paso, Texas, 79915
  • Phone: (915) 831-2000

Your introductory courses will familiarize you with anatomy, physiology and technical procedures within the field of radiation therapy. You'll build upon that foundation by studying the instruments you'll use, radiological physics, oncology, dosimetry, radiation biology, safety and psychology. You'll also gain field experience by completing practicums.

Galveston College

  • Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Radiation Therapy Technology
  • Program Length: 60 credits, about two years full-time
  • Tuition: $318 per credit for district residents, $366 per credit for Texas residents and $618 per credit for non-residents (cost as Summer 2012)
  • Prerequisites: Complete a program application, conduct a background check, take a drug test and acquire immunizations
  • School Type: 2-year, public; roughly 2,400 students (all undergraduate)
  • Address: 4015 Avenue Q, Galveston, Texas 77550
  • Phone: (409) 944-4242

Start this program by taking courses in anatomy, physiology and medical terminology. The first year of the program focuses on the basics of radiation therapy, radiation biology, using radiation safely, radiologic physics, patient care and trends in the field. You'll also study oncology and dosimetry, learn how the equipment works and use it to take whole body images or sectional images to locate tumors. During your summer semester, you'll begin completing practicums at local facilities, which you'll continue during the final year of the program.

Radiation Therapy Bachelor's Degree Program in Texas

Texas State University - San Marcos

  • Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy
  • Program Length: Four years, full-time
  • Tuition: $676 per credit for Texas residents and $1,027 per credit for non-residents (cost as of Spring 2013)
  • Prerequisites: Letters of reference, career goals, interview and 40 hours of clinical observation
  • School Type: 4-year, public, around 29,000 undergraduate students and 5,100 graduate students
  • Address: 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas 78666
  • Phone: (512) 245-2111

This program will prepare you to use radiation as part of a cancer treatment program. The program will prepare you to interact with patients, handle certain medical responsibilities, evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and learn how treatment affects patients psychologically. You'll complete studies in radiation oncology, radiobiology, radiation sciences, radiation therapy, quality assurance and operational issues. You'll also complete a series of clinicals that will have you working with patients during the last two years of the program, providing you with valuable real-world experience.

To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:

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