Radiation Therapy - Overview

Program Information
Radiation Therapist Duties
Program Faculty
Prerequisite Requirements
Physical Requirements
Graduation Requirements
Programmatic Accreditation

Program Information

The 18-month (6 quarters)continuous Radiation Therapy program provides didactic and clinical education in radiation therapy. Clinical practice occurs at our partnering medical centers and oncology clinics in Northern California . Participants of the program can expect substantial off-campus study and preparation for program courses. Major holidays are observed and break periods are observed between academic quarters. Annual academic calendars are published in advance.
Upon completion of this program graduates are eligible to sit for State and National certification examinations.

Radiation Therapist Duties

Radiation Therapy utilizes ionizing radiation in a strictly controlled environment to treat disease, primarily cancer. High energy x-rays, gamma rays, and electron beams are common forms of ionizing radiation used. Ionizing radiation can be administered using external beam therapy or by placing a radioactive material directly into a body tissue or cavity. The ultimate goal of radiation therapy is to destroy all abnormal cells while sparing the surrounding normal tissue.

Radiation Therapists are part of a multi-disciplinary cancer management team. They are responsible for accurately positioning the patient for treatment, equipment operation, quality assurance, and calculating radiation dose to be delivered. Radiation Therapists also have considerable responsibility for providing competent, concerned patient care. The therapist monitors patients throughout treatment, which often lasts several weeks.

Program Faculty

Program Director
Roma-Dakini Alexander, M.S., (R) (T) (F) C.R.T.
Clinical Coordinator/Instructor
Bert C. Christensen RT (R)(T)

Prerequisite Requirements

All prerequisite requirements must be completed prior to applying to the program.
Applicants must be graduates of an 18-24 month accredited Allied Health Degree Program with current certification/registration. Allied health occupations include, but are not limited to, Radiologic Technologist, Sonographers, Certified Medical Technologist, and Registered Nurses.

- OR -

Applicants must have completed a minimum 60 college credits with a cumulative minimum grade point average of 2.75 or higher.

All applicants must complete the following college-level courses with a grade of “C” or better. Courses must be a minimum of 3 units.

Human Anatomy & Physiology with a lab (college level)
Intermediate Algebra
Written Communication
Oral Communication
General Physics
Medical Terminology

The following courses are suggested additional courses (college level):

Computer Science
Ethics
Pathology

Note: All foreign diplomas and transcripts must include a notarized translation in English and must be evaluated by a foreign transcript agency prior to submission.

Note: Course descriptions of prerequisites are provided on pages D and E of the 2008 application packet. Prerequisite requirements differ for each program. Please review your programs prerequisite requirements.

Physical Requirements

You must be physically able to:

Stand and/or walk up to 6½ hours throughout an 8-hour shift
Lift and move a maximum of a 290-pound patient in a 2-person/3-person transfer
Must be able to operate and manipulate all radiation therapy equipment
Reach forward 18 inches holding an object up to 15 pounds
Bend, crouch, or stoop 20 times per hour
Push a patient in a wheelchair or gurney 300 feet or further, as required by structural design of the building
Move loads of up to 45 pounds 25 times per hour.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate with a certificate of completion from any of the KPSAHS programs, students are required to successfully complete all didactic and clinical education courses and hours, including co-requisites if applicable. In addition, all financial obligations to the program must be fulfilled.

Programmatic Accreditation

The Radiation Therapy program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).

Please Note: The information provided in this website is subject to change without notice.

Radiation Therapy Program