The mission of the Radiation Therapy Technology Program is to provide a comprehensive
education and emphasize excellence by incorporating extensive didactic learning, professional
courses and clinical experiences necessary to prepare students to: become entry-level
radiation therapists; provide quality patient care; be active participants in the
profession; and to pursue life-long learning.
Program Description
The Radiation Therapy Program offered at SUNY Erie is designed to provide students
with the knowledge and cognitive skills necessary for competent performance as an
entry-level radiation therapist.
Radiation Therapists and Radiologic Technologists, as their job titles imply, both
work with radiation equipment. They use X-rays in different ways, however, radiologic
technologists perform imaging studies that are used for diagnosis, while radiation
therapists treat patients who have cancer. Radiation Therapy Career
The Radiation Therapist is directly responsible for the actual daily treatment of
patients with the use of sophisticated radiation-producing equipment. The Radiation
Therapist is responsible for delivering ionizing radiation (X-rays, gamma rays, electrons
and protons) according to the treatment plan as prescribed by the radiation oncologist.
SUNY Erie’s Radiation Therapy program is one of a few Radiation Therapy programs that
offer Virtual Environment Radiotherapy Training (VERT) for students. Students learn to set up virtual patients, utilizing real machine controls
that operate life size Virtual treatment machine(s). Students can see the radiation
beams and treatment prescription dose applied to patient anatomy within the 3D images..
Program graduates will have demonstrated numerous academic and clinical competencies
consistent with the individual course objectives required within the program. Course
objectives and competencies are developed from information provided by accreditation
bodies, licensing agencies, and professional societies.
Career Opportunities/Further Education
Employment opportunities for radiation therapy technologists exist in hospitals, physicians'
private practices, specialized veterinary radiation oncology practices and government
agencies. With additional training and/or advanced degrees, a therapist has career
opportunities in a variety of areas such as medical physics, dosimetry, and management.
Opportunities also exist in the field of support, training and sales for major vendors
of radiation therapy equipment. BLS Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
Program Details
Campus: City
Application to the program is available online September until February 15th. All
required pre reqs must be completed prior to this date for consideration for the following
Fall program start.
Pre-Admission Recommendations: College Applicants:
minimum GPA of 3.0 at all undergraduate colleges attended within the last five years
appropriate college math: MT 125 Algebra level required or higher: pre Calculus or
Calculus (excludes statistics)
two (2) laboratory science courses within the last five years of anticipated program
Fall start each with a minimum grade of C
Anatomy and Physiology I with lab or transfer equivalent MUST be one of the two required
pre-req sciences courses (completion of Anatomy and Physiology is recommended to be
done during a full academic semester)
second science courses with a lab (Anatomy and Physiology II, Chemistry or Physics)
High School Applicants:
applicant must be a high school graduate or equivalent and have a high school average
of at least 88 percent
college level Math documented on transcript: Algebra level required (MT 125) or higher:
pre Calculus or Calculus (excludes statistics) at time of graduation from high school
with Min C grade.
applicant should have completed two years of high school laboratory science courses
(such as chemistry with lab, or physics with lab) with a minimum grade of C, or completed
anatomy and physiology course with lab within the past five years of anticipated program
start date
Qualified applicants (meeting prerequisites by December 31st) may be invited to interview with the program in Spring for final selection.
Admission Requirements:
High School and College Applicants: It is strongly recommended interested students
meet with the program director or program counselor, as admission into the program
is based on academic qualifications and interview process. SUNY Erie college application
must be completed through the Admissions Department.
**Application to the program is available online September until February 15th.ALL required pre reqs must be completed prior to this date for consideration for the following FALL program start.
Meeting program admission requirements does NOT guarantee acceptance into the Radiation Therapy Program. Qualified candidates (meeting
the above pre-reqs) are invited for an interview to help determine final selection
for admission.
Admission is based on the academic qualifications of the student (transcript rubric,
entrance essay rubric, three character reference forms sent to qualified candidates
in interview packet) as well as soft skills of the candidate (as determined through
interview rubric). Admission is also based on space availability.
students are required to purchase health and accident insurance;
all students accepted into the program must submit a completed Health Science Division
Report and Physician’s Certificate. The college reserves the right to deny acceptance
into the Radiation Therapy Technology Program to students who have incomplete or unacceptable
physical reports;
students should initiate the processing of all transfer credits for any courses indicated
in the Radiation Therapy Curriculum Outline while in General Studies and/or before
acceptance into the Radiation Therapy Program. Students should meet with a General
Studies adviser for advisement and processing of transfer credits. Acceptance into
General Studies does not guarantee future entrance into the Radiation Therapy Program;
and
the Radiation Therapy Program is committed to accepting the most qualified candidates regardless of gender, religion, age, race and other demographic factors. The departments
acceptance committee shall be charged with screening applicants, reviewing and evaluating
application files, interviewing the applicants, rating and ranking each candidate
to establish a new class.
Admission and Retention Requirements: Safety and Technical Skills: Candidates seeking enrollment into the Radiation Therapy Program must meet the safety
and technical skills in the following areas: observation-communication, motor and
behavioral-social attributes.
Observation-Communication: The student must possess the ability to communicate effectively and read, write and
use the English language. In addition, the student must have the functional use of
the senses of vision, touch, hearing, and smell which are essential in assisting patients,
gathering data, and maintaining their safety. Examples of observation-communication
include but are not limited to:
appraise and report, within the Scope of Practice for Radiation Therapists, the clinical
progress of the patient undergoing radiation therapy;
accurately interpret data from medical records and treatment plan; and
demonstrate professional attitudes in the work environment (e.g. cooperation, teamwork,
attendance and punctuality).
Sensory/Motor:
The student is required to perform gross and fine motor movements, maintain consciousness
and equilibrium, and possess the physical strength and stamina which are necessary
to provide safe delivery of radiation treatments. Examples of sensory/motor skills
include but are not limited to:
transferring patients;
responding rapidly to emergency situations (cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, falls);
protecting and removing patients from an area in the event of a fire or disaster;
utilizing a keyboard to input data;
distinguishing equipment and background sounds and hear a variety of pitches;
seeing in dim light;
visually monitoring patients via video monitors;
monitoring patients via audio monitors;
reading and applying appropriate instructions in patient charts, notes, and records;
lifting 30 pounds of weight from the floor to shoulder height;
pushing a patient in a standard wheelchair;
having good strength in both upper extremities; and
using good body mechanics to bend, stretch, reach, stoop, kneel, and twist in performance
of job duties.
Behavioral-Social attributes: The student must possess emotional stability and flexibility, which will enable him/her
to develop the ability to function effectively in stressful situations. This includes
the ability to adapt to changing environments, exercise sound judgment, complete assessment
and intervention activities and develop sensitive interpersonal relationship with
patients, families and other responsible for health care. Examples of these behavioral
and social attributes include but are not limited to:
ability to think and act rationally during a crisis;
demonstrate appropriate behavior towards staff, peers and patients according to societal
norms; and
apply principles of confidentiality of medical records and HIPPA regulations.
Unsafe Practice: Unsatisfactory clinical practice is defined as a failure to perform up to the minimum
standards established for the specific clinical experience. Unsafe or unethical clinical
practice is defined as behavior observed by or reported to faculty that is actually
or potentially detrimental to the patient, the patient’s family, and/or to the health
care facility and staff. Every student in the program is expected to act in a safe
and ethical manner consistent with the ARRT Code of Ethics for all Radiologic Technology Medical Fields
Trajecsys Clinical Management System: $150 Textbooks: Approximately $500 Uniforms Scrubs: Approximately $250 NYS License Application Fee: $120 ARRT Examination Fee: $225 ASRT Student Membership: $35 Review Sessions: $30 CPR: $35 Liability insurance: Varies Travel expenses to and from off-campus clinical sites
Cancer Care of WNY 3085 Harlem Road Cheektowaga, NY 14225
Cancer Care of WNY 117 Foote Avenue
Jamestown, NY 14701
Cancer Care of WNY 3850 Saunders Settlement Road Suite 100 Cambria, NY 14132
Rochester General Hospital 1425 Portland Avenue Rochester, NY 14621
Linden Oaks 20 Hagen Drive Suite 100
Rochester, NY 14625
Lipson Cancer Center @ Unity 1561 Long Pond Rd Suite 120 POB Greece, NY 14626
UPMC Erie 2500 West 12th street Erie, PA 16505
Lipson Cancer Institute-United Memorial 127 North Street Batavia, NY 14020
Associated Medical Professional (AMP) 1226 East Water Street Syracuse, NY 13210
Mildred Millman Radiation Medicine 1415 Buffalo Street Olean NY 14760
An Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S) degree is granted to each student who successfully
completes all coursework, required clinical hours and ARRT competencies with grades
of "C" or better defined by the program.
New York State licensure is required for employment in New York State. Upon graduation
from the program, an individual is eligible to apply for licensure. Passing the national
ARRT certification exam is recognized in numerous states but some states require separate
applications for additional/required state licensure which must be filed within that
state.
SUNY Erie Community College Radiation Therapy Technology curriculum and its program
of study meets the educational requirements by the Board of Regents in New York State
to award an Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS) with a major in Radiation Therapy
Technology. Graduates are eligible to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
(ARRT) credentialing exam for Licensure as a Registered therapist and apply for Radiation
Therapy licensure in New York. Other states may have different educational requirements
for program completion and licensure requirements. SUNY Erie Radiation Therapy Program
has not made a determination of whether the curriculum meets the educational requirements
for licensure in states other than in New York. If seeking licensure in a state other
than New York, please review the requirement of that American Registry of Radiologic
Technologists. To search a particular State’s licensure information please visit:
ASRT State Licensures
SUNY Erie Community College is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle
States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) www.msche.org. SUNY Erie Community College's accreditation status is Accreditation Reaffirmed.
MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education
and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
The following is the most current program effectiveness data. Our programmatic accreditation
agency, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT),
defines and publishes this information. Click here to go directly to the JRCERT webpage.
Credentialing Examination: The number of students who pass, on the first attempt, the American Registry of Radiologic
Technologists (ARRT) certification examination, or an unrestricted state licensing
examination, compared with the number of graduates who take the examination within
six months of graduation. The five-year average benchmark established by the JRCERT
is 75%.
Credentialing Examination Rate:
Year
Number passed on 1st attempt divided by number attempted within 6 months of graduation
2019
7/7 - 100%
2020
4/4 - 100%
2021
7/7 - 100%
2022
2/2 - 100%
2023
7/8 - 88%
Program 5 Year Average
27/28 = 96.4%
Job Placement: The number of graduates employed in the radiologic sciences compared to the number
of graduates actively seeking employment in the radiologic sciences within twelve
months of graduating. The five-year average benchmark established by the JRCERT is
75%.
Job Placement Rate:
Year
Number employed divided by number actively seeking employment within 12 months of
graduation
2019
7/7 - 100%
2020
4/4 - 100%
2021
6/6 - 100%
2022
2/2 - 100%
2023
8/8 - 100%
Program 5 Year Average
27/27 - 100%
Program Completion: The number of students who complete the program within the stated program length.
The annual benchmark established by the program is 75%.
Program Completion Rate:
Year
Number graduated divided by number started the program
2023
8/8
Annual Completion Rate
100%
*Job placement rate is defined as the number of graduates employed in the radiologic
sciences compared to the number of graduates actively seeking employment in radiation
therapy. The JRCERT has defined not actively seeking employment as: 1) graduate fails
to communicate with program officials regarding employment status after multiple attempts,
2) graduate is unwilling to seek employment that requires relocation, 3) graduate
is unwilling to accept employment due to salary or hours, 4) graduate is on active
military duty, and/or 5) graduate is continuing education
