RADIATION THERAPY PROGRAM
Become a vital member of the medical team
MISSION & GOALS
MISSION STATEMENT
Center for Allied Health Education’s Radiation Therapy Program has made a firm commitment to the education of students in the field of Radiation Therapy. Our mission is the training of radiation therapists who are skilled individuals, qualified by technical education, to provide treatment to radiation oncology patients.
GOALS
The Radiation Therapy Program offers a program of radiation therapy education at the certificate level. The goals of the program are to have students who will:
- Be clinically competent
- Communicate effectively
- Use critical thinking and problem solving skills
- Grow and develop professionally
The program identifies benchmarks to provide a standard by which the effectiveness of the program in achieving its goals are continually monitored and evaluated. An assessment plan is in place and can be obtained from the program director.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Upon graduation, students are prepared to meet the requirements to sit for the written examination of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and to function as entry level radiation therapists.
Specifically, our objectives are to have our graduates perform effectively by:
- Applying knowledge of radiation protection for patients, self, and others
- Applying knowledge of anatomy and positioning to accurately demonstrate anatomical structures on a digital image
- Applying knowledge of anatomical structures and positioning to be able to reproduce the correct set up of patients
- Examining digital images for the purpose of positioning and other pertinent technical information
- Exercising discretion and judgment in the performance of radiation treatments
- Providing patient care essential to radiation therapy procedures
- Recognizing emergency patient conditions and initiating lifesaving treatment, if necessary, within their scope of practice
- Be clinically competent
- Communicate effectively
- Use critical thinking and problem solving skills
- Grow and develop professionally
The program identifies benchmarks to provide a standard by which the effectiveness of the program in achieving its goals are continually monitored and evaluated. An assessment plan is in place and can be obtained from the program director.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Students will be able to follow written directives
- Students will be able to position patients as directed in a treatment plan
- Students will be able to operate equipment to deliver prescribed therapeutic dose
- Students will be able to operate simulators
- Students will utilize radiation safety
- Students will use effective oral communication skills
- Students will demonstrate written communication skills
- Students will demonstrate effective presentation skills
- Students will be able to interpret a treatment plan
- Students can recognize equipment malfunction and take appropriate action
- Students will demonstrate professional behavior
- Students will understand professional decision making
- Students will understand the importance of obtaining membership in professional organizations
- Students will complete the program
- Students will pass the National Certification on the first attempt
- Graduates will be satisfied with their education and training
- Graduates will be gainfully employed within one year
- Employers will be satisfied with graduates’ training
- Credentialing Examination and Licensure
Center for Allied Health Education’s Radiation Therapy Program graduates are qualified to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists National Certification Exam and New York State Department of Health licensure. The course of instruction follows the latest Standards for an Accredited Education Program in Radiologic Sciences as published by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).
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
