r/RadiationTherapy

(NYC/NJ BASED)

I I currently have a bachelor degree in an unrelated field (not science) I am really interested in being either a radiation therapist or medical lab scientist. I’m trying to choose between Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) and Radiation Therapy and would love some input from people in either field. I am located in NYC/NJ area.

I’m looking for a career that is:
AI-resistant
Good pay + strong job demand
Low burnout/stress
Not constantly rushed or high-pressure
Active, but not physically exhausting
Good work-life balance (when I clock out, I’m DONE)
Low emotional/trauma exposure. This is where I am struggling with radiation therapy because I definitely absorb emotions..
Safe for my body
Flexible scheduling / possible travel contracts

Basically, I want a career where I can work at my own pace, have energy after work, and actually see myself being happy long-term.

Could you tell me more about your happiness/dissatisfaction in radiation therapy?

Honest thoughts please; I'm 45, I haven't been working since about 2014 - we immigrated here from Canada in '14 and I wasn't allowed to work under my husband's visa - my career back home was phlebotomist. Now that we have our green card and I'm able to work, I really want to do something meaningful, and radiation therapist sounds about right. The thing is, I don't have a degree. My phlebotomy was only a certificate. Where I'm currently located, they only offer a B.A. for rad therapy and because of the admission points system they have, already having an associate degree would very much help me get in (among other requirements on this same list) I haven't done any math or science since high school, so it seems as though I'd need to catch up in order to even take any sort of college math. The closest pre req I have is anatomy and physiology and even then, both of those were taken over 20 yrs ago. I know theoretically "anyone can do anything," but honestly am I kidding myself here? Even typing this, I'm feeling like this could be me biting off more than I can chew 😐

basically the title. i’m canadian and got into a 3yr rad therapy program. i find the career interesting and like the work life balance it brings while having a stable healthcare job. i have a biology degree so this will be a further education for me.

i am terrified of the amount of physics we have to take. there’s one class per semester and some other courses incorporate it as well. i genuinely don’t know if i’ll pass - i was always really bad at math and physics growing up. if you fail one course they pull you back a year and you have to redo the entire semester.

is fear of failing a valid reason to decline my offer? i’m thinking i should just apply to other healthcare programs that don’t require these subjects like accelerated nursing or respiratory therapy.

Hi, Im a first year med tech student from Myanmar. We have to submit our major priorities this month, and I'm really interested in Radiation Therapy. It seemed niche and felt like an ideal career for me in healthcare. The problem is that my country is poor and government jobs dont pay well. Recent graduates can make around $130/month. The Radiation Therapy course itself only started in 2018 here. Lab Techs have significantly better job opportunities and fewer risks because they can get hired at private clinics and hospitals easily. We also dont have postgraduate programs for Radiation Therapy. So now I'm kinda stuck between choosing something I find interesting vs choosing lab because it seems much more practical financially and career-wise.

Hi everyone,

I’ve never had a full time job before, as I have only been a tutor which never required a job interview, only a professor recommendation. That said, I graduate in a year and I don’t have much interview experience.

Could I possibly ask what kinds of questions everyone else has been asked :) ?

Passed my boards today! Can’t even begin to express the relief I feel. Cheers to a new chapter!

I take my boards in 2 weeks and I’m SHOOK. How hard is the registry? I feel like I’m studying and not absorbing anything because of my freaking nerves.

Clinicals don’t start til May 2027 and I’m currently on my summer break. But when I start my next semester I’ll have 3 GE’s and one intro to RTT class. Do you think I can hit a joint tonight or should I skip it.

Back ground context I’m 18f starting uni in September, I feel like this is the classic question but I wanted answers from people who have done/doing this course. I’m unsure of whether to get a laptop(I have one but it’s heavy and I’d most likely try to sell it and get something different) or an iPad. I’ve seen pros and cons to both but I wanted to get some answers from students,
Any advice and help appreciated thankyou!

My partner is a rad tech considering going to rad therapy school. The problem is that we both want to start traveling (I am a nurse) and we don’t know how common rad therapy contracts are.

What’s the usual gender ratio within workplaces, obviously there’s mostly women but how often do you work with other males? Also how’s the dynamic usually if it is mostly women? Asking mainly because I’d want to make friends (hopefully long term) within my career

Hi all! Does anyone who attended Thomas Jefferson’s radiation therapy program have any quizlets or study material they would be willing to share? I’m starting the program this year and I really want to be as prepared as possible and make sure I don’t miss any material that needs to be studied!

And I don’t mean now, but generally. Next 5 years.

I’m burnt out from tech and design, the job market is truly unstable. I want a more human-centered and stable job, so I came across RT. My moms in healthcare and seems fulfilled as well.

I have no problem getting a degree and diving into this field, I’m just concerned if the job market isn’t reliable. Thanks!

It seems for a while now there has been an increased interest in radiation therapy and dosimetry careers. I’ve been in the field nearly 20 years and students were different back then without the impact of social media. Do you think students are just doing it for the money? Do you think it will produce good therapist/dosimetrist for the future? Is this good exposure to our career to help this field grow? Are programs more competitive these days since now since so many students want this path? Positive or negative what are your thoughts? How did you learn about this career and how do you feel about people wanting to do this career because they saw it on TikTok/Instagram?

Hello, I got accepted into my program, and it begins this month. I have been taking notes early, and I plan to start reading the textbooks this week just to stay ahead of the class schedule and not raw-dog it. Passing the program is my number one goal, and it is super important to me, so I wanted to see if any tutors are available. Price is not an issue; I'd give almost anything to pass, and I learn best in one-on-one settings. If there is anyone interested, please let me know.

Hello everyone,
I was wondering about protection during the sessions. As I go into my treatment I asked if my head wasn't going to be protected, they had me lying on a table with my hand just above my head. Then the answer I got (in a rather not so kind manner) was that the radiation is extremely localized, I said okay, keep going, but why then in X-ray exams we often get a heavy blanket to protect other body parts and why do they leave the room? What exactly is the extra harm Im being exposed to?

A clarification from the professionals would be greatly appreciated!

I passed! Very happy, and ready to put the journey behind me.

I'm considering applying to a radiation therapy program in Chicago and ideally would love to stay in the city. I want to get a sense of how opportunities look though before I commit. TIA!

Me (26) lives near a community college and hour away that offers a radiography 2 year associates program but it is extremely difficult to get in. I actually don’t even have priority Registration anymore because I haven’t been a student there for a while. I only need 1 more class and that’s just to apply. Doesn’t even guarantee that I’ll get in and every other school is 2+ hours away. Living with family is slowly but surely not becoming an option.

This shit is super frustrating because I made the switch from thinking I wanted to be a nurse. I like healthcare because of the flexibility and many different paths but I’m also ready to make serious money and start on a career where it’s not super patient focused, but I still get the satisfaction of being useful to someone in need.

I’m seriously considering ditching this radiology shit and doing something else useful like mechanics. At least they don’t have to wipe ass.