RADIATION THERAPY PROGRAM
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2024
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Radiation Therapy, one of the most sophisticated tools of modern medicine, plays a major role in the treatment of cancer. Over 50% of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy at some point during their treatment, and more than half of all radiotherapy patients are considered to be potentially curable.
What do Radiation Therapists do?
The radiation therapist, in addition to delivering the prescribed treatments, is responsible for recording and auditing treatment records, observing patient reactions, assisting in nursing care, and providing the patient with nutritional guidance. Along with the radiation oncologist and the radiation physicist, the radiation therapist takes an active role in planning and implementing the course of therapy, and is a key member of the cancer treatment team.
Exciting and rewarding professional opportunities await those who successfully complete the program. In addition to the field of radiation oncology, graduates may develop careers in administration, research, dosimetry, education, or technical consultation. Graduates may be employed in hospitals, cancer centers, private offices, laboratories or medical equipment companies.
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Accreditation & Licensure
ACCREDITATION
CAHE’s Radiation Therapy Program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) and is recognized by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).
Accreditation is granted by JRCERT on a programmatic review and site visit. The Radiation Therapy program at Center for Allied Health Education received an accreditation award of 8 years from JRCERT, which is the maximum accreditation length. Recognition by JRCERT qualifies the program’s graduates for eligibility to apply for and take the certification exam for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
JRCERT
JOINT REVIEW COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION IN RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY
20 N. WACKER DR., SUITE 2850
CHICAGO, IL 60606-3182312.704.5300
WWW.JRCERT.ORGARRT
AMERICAN REGISTRY OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGISTS
1255 NORTHLAND DRIVE
ST. PAUL, MN 55120-1155651.687.0048
WWW.ARRT.ORG
Program Highlights
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
CAHE’s Radiation Therapy Program is an accredited 22-month program, noted for excellence of its classroom teachers and clinical instructors, as students benefit from a full and varied curriculum with both didactic and clinical experience components.
The Radiation Therapy program at Center for Allied Health Education received an accreditation award of 8 years from JRCERT, which is the maximum accreditation length.
The program curriculum prepares students to sit for the ARRT registry examination upon completion of all coursework. Pursuant to New York State Public Health Law, only licensed Radiation Therapists may practice radiation therapy in New York State. A temporary permit to practice radiation therapy (pending an examination) is issued at the time of graduation. Graduates should take the licensing examination as soon as possible after graduating, since the temporary permit expires after 180 days. Click here for licensure requirements for all other states. The course of instruction follows the latest Standards for an Accredited Education Program in Radiologic Sciences.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Graduates of the program are qualified to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists’ national certification exam, allowing them to receive licensure from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). The course of instruction follows the latest Standards for an Accredited Education Program in Radiologic Sciences.
In order to graduate from the Radiation Therapy Program, a student must:
- Meet all academic requirements
- Meet all clinical requirements and attain all required competencies
- Meet all financial obligations
- Periodically review radiation monitoring reports
- Participate in an exit interview
- Return radiation badge holder, student ID, swipe access card, etc.
Students who have not fulfilled their graduation requirements have one (1) year from their originally scheduled graduation date to complete all missing graduation requirements.
A C+ average – an index (GPA) of 2.5 – is required for graduation.
CAMPUSES THAT OFFER THE Radiation Therapy PROGRAM
Brooklyn CAMPUS
CAHE’s Brooklyn campus offers a wide range of programs and flexible schedules that accommodate our student’s lifestyle.
CAMPUS LOCATIONS
CENTER FOR ALLIED HEALTH EDUCATION (BROOKLYN)
1401 Kings HighwayBrooklyn, NY 11229
admissions@cahe.edu
718.645.3500
ACCREDITATION
PROGRAM INFORMATION
- Program Overview
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Accreditation
ACCREDITATION
CAHE’s Radiation Therapy Program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) and is recognized by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).
Accreditation is granted by JRCERT on a programmatic review and site visit. The Radiation Therapy program at Center for Allied Health Education received an accreditation award of 8 years from JRCERT, which is the maximum accreditation length. Recognition by JRCERT qualifies the program’s graduates for eligibility to apply for and take the certification exam for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
JRCERT
JOINT REVIEW COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION IN RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY
20 N. WACKER DR., SUITE 2850
CHICAGO, IL 60606-3182312.704.5300
WWW.JRCERT.ORGARRT
AMERICAN REGISTRY OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGISTS
1255 NORTHLAND DRIVE
ST. PAUL, MN 55120-1155651.687.0048
WWW.ARRT.ORG - Mission & Goals
- Course Schedule
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Program Curriculum
Course Number Course Title Hours GEN 1100 Medical Terminology 15 RTT 1100 Introduction to Radiation Therapy I 20 RTT 1121 Anatomy & Physiology I 30 RTT 1130 Introduction to Physics 30 RTT 1140 Patient Care I 20 RTT 1151 Simulation Procedures 30 RTT 1151L Simulation Procedures Lab 30 GEN 1200 Ethics and Law in the Health Professions 20 GEN 1210 Research Methods and Information Literacy 30 RTT 1200 Introduction to Radiation Therapy II 30 RTT 1221 Anatomy & Physiology II 30 RTT 1230 Radiation Physics I 30 RTT 1240 Patient Care II 20 RTT 1251 Treatment Procedures I 30 RTT 1251L Treatment Procedures I Lab 25 RTT 1321 Anatomy & Physiology III 30 RTT 1330 Radiation Physics II 30 RTT 1340 Radiation Oncology Nursing 30 RTT 1351 Treatment Procedures II 30 RTT 1351L Treatment Procedures II Lab 25 RTT 1370 Radiation Protection 25 RTT 1380 Medical Imaging & Processing 25 RTT 1391 Introduction to Clinical Education 90 RTT 1400 Professional Capstone I 45 RTT 1430 Radiation Therapy Physics 30 RTT 1470 Radiation Biology 30 RTT 1480 Cross-sectional Anatomy 30 RTT 1491 Clinical Education I 210 RTT 1520 Pathophysiology 30 RTT 1530 Treatment Planning I 30 RTT 1550 Radiation Therapy Techniques I 20 RTT 1581 Principles of CT in Radiation Therapy 20 RTT 1591 Clinical Education II 210 RTT 1630 Treatment Planning II 30 RTT 1650 Radiation Therapy Techniques II 20 RTT 1650L Procedures Lab Terminals I 20 RTT 1681 Principles of MRI in Radiation Therapy 20 RTT 1691 Clinical Education III 140 RTT 1700 Professional Capstone II 45 RTT 1710 Quality Management and Operational Issues 30 RTT 1740 Career Development 15 RTT 1750 Radiation Therapy Techniques III 20 RTT 1750L Procedures Lab Terminals II 20 RTT 1791 Clinical Education IV 153 RTT 1800 Registry Review 45 -
Progression Policy
PROGRESSION POLICY
A student must pass all courses in the program in order to graduate from the program.
A student must pass all courses in a quarter/quarter in order to progress to the next quarter/quarter in the program.
If a student fails one course in a quarter/quarter the following policy is in effect:
Progression Course: they face termination from the program. A progression course is defined as a course that is delineated as a pre-requisite course for a course in the following quarter/quarter. All required pre-requisite courses are listed in the Academic Policy as published in the Catalog Addendum.
Non-Progression Course: the course must be made up as per the Make-Up Policy published in the Institutional Catalog.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography program students are required to sit for the ARDMS Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) exam by the end of their fourth quarter in order to progress to their fifth quarter.
Comprehensive Exam:
A student who fails up to two didactic courses in a quarter may qualify for a comprehensive exam(s) for each of the failed courses. The results of the comprehensive exam(s) will determine the student’s requirements to meet the objectives of the failed course.
Qualifying for a Comprehensive Exam
In order to qualify for a comprehensive exam a student’s course average must be a minimum grade of 65.
Results of the Comprehensive Exam
90 to 100 – the student will be considered to have passed the course and will receive the minimum passing grade as their recorded score
80 to 89 – the student will be required to complete an independent course of study that meets the objectives of the course. A learning contract will be signed by the student detailing the objective criteria they are required to complete. Once complete the minimum passing grade will be recorded as their score
79 or below – Progression Course: the student has failed the course.
Non-Progression Course: the student will need to make-up the course as per the Make-Up Policy as published in the Institutional Catalog
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Grading Scale
Letter Grade Numerical Equivalent Quality Points Legend A 90-100 4.0 Excellent B+ 85-89 3.5 Very Good B 80-84 3.0 Very Good C+ 75-79 2.5 Satisfactory C 70-74 2.0 Satisfactory D 65-69 1.0 Unsatisfactory F 0-64 0 Failure P – – Pass TF – – Transfer Credits INC – 0 Incomplete W – – Official Withdrawal FW – 0 Failure due to Unofficial Withdrawal FT – 0 Failure due to Termination - Program Outcomes
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Clinic Policy
CLINIC POLICY
Patient Care Procedures
CPR Certified
Vital signs – Blood pressure
Vital signs – Pulse
Vital signs – Respiration
Viral signs – Temperature
O2 Administration
Patient transferQuality Control Procedures
Linear accelerator
- Laser alignment
- Beam output and symmetry
Simulator
- Laser alignment
Simulation Procedures
Brain
Head and neck
Thorax
Breast
Abdomen
Pelvis
SkeletalDosimetry
Single field
Parallel opposed fields
Weighted fields
Wedged fields
Computer generated isodose plan
Electron field
Treatment Accessory Devices
Custom block
Custom bolus
Custom immobilization devices
Thermoplastic moldParticipatory Procedures
Total body irradiation (TBI)
Craniospinal irradiation (CSI)
BrachytherapyRadiation Treatment Procedures
Brain
- Primary
- Metastatic
Head and Neck
- Multi-field
Thorax
- Multi-field non-IMRT
- IMRT or ARC therapy
Breast
- Tangents only
- Tangents with supraclavicular
- Tangents with supraclavicular and posterior axillary boost
- Special setups
Abdomen
- Multi-field non-IMRT
- Multi-field IMRT or ARC therapy
Pelvis
- Multi-field supine
- Multi-field prone
Skeletal
- Single field spine
- Multi-field spine
- Extremity
Electron fields
- Single
- Abutting
- Alumni Spotlight
