About This Career

Generates radiation treatment plans, develops radiation dose calculations, communicates and supervises the treatment plan implementation, and consults with members of radiation oncology team.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Designs the arrangement of radiation fields to reduce exposure to critical patient structures, such as organs, using computers, manuals, and guides.
• Identifies and outlines bodily structures, using imaging procedures, such as x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or positron emission tomography.
• Plans the use of beam modifying devices, such as compensators, shields, and wedge filters, to ensure safe and effective delivery of radiation treatment.
• Calculates the delivery of radiation treatment, such as the amount or extent of radiation per session, based on the prescribed course of radiation therapy.
• Calculates, or verifies calculations of, prescribed radiation doses.
• Develops radiation treatment plans in consultation with members of the radiation oncology team.
• Supervises or performs simulations for tumor localizations, using imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or positron emission tomography scans.
• Creates and transfers reference images and localization markers for treatment delivery, using image-guided radiation therapy.
• Records patient information, such as radiation doses administered, in patient records.
• Advises oncology team members on use of beam modifying or immobilization devices in radiation treatment plans.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel