Radiation therapy is the careful administration of highly focused forms of radiation to treat cancer and other diseases. Our JRCERT-accredited program will help you gain the knowledge, skills, and clinical experience to pass the ARRT national certification board exam and become a certified radiation therapist.
In addition to your classes, you’ll participate in 1,200 hours of hands-on clinical work alongside radiation therapists at Boston’s top healthcare facilities. Along the way, you’ll receive individualized support and mentorship from our faculty and clinical coordinator to help you graduate and start your career. More than a third of the radiation therapists working in most of our clinical partner hospitals today — including Massachusetts General Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute — are graduates of our program.
Students in our radiation therapy program will:
You won’t just study your major—you’ll experience it through hands-on learning opportunities.
Our radiation therapy program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), the national governing body for radiation education programs. The program’s current award is 8 years. General program accreditation information and the current accreditation award letter can be found on the JRCERT website.
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
Phone: 312-704-5300
Email: [email protected]
The mission of the Radiation Therapy program is to provide a rigorous, comprehensive, and inclusive education to students interested in pursuing careers in radiation therapy. Students will receive instruction and hands-on training from faculty with expertise in diverse clinical and didactic settings while using the most advanced technologies to develop exceptional clinical skills that will prepare them for entry level positions. Graduates of our program will think critically, communicate effectively, and appreciate the importance of continued education in maintaining their competence.
Radiation science majors in their sophomore year who have achieved the minimum prerequisite grade requirements and cumulative GPA can apply to the radiation therapy major. Students will receive guidance and support from the radiation therapy program to prepare for the application process starting their freshman year. The Radiation Therapy Committee will review all of your application material, interview you, and decide whether you can enroll. If accepted, the program starts your junior year. Once completed, you'll be eligible to take the national ARRT certification exam and can begin working upon graduation. Most states require students to graduate from a JRCERT-accredited program and to apply for a state license.
Students in other majors, as well as transfer students who have fulfilled the minimum requirements at another institution are also eligible to apply. We recommend connecting with our program to ensure you are on track to complete all coursework needed to apply.
View the Radiation Therapy Major Curriculum
Data provided through Class of 2023. Data updated one year after graduation for prior graduating class, once data is available.
This data can also be found on the JRCERT website.
JRCERT
20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
Phone: (312) 704-5300
Fax: (312) 704-5304
Institution Name: Suffolk University
Program Type: Radiation Therapy
Degree Type: Bachelor's Degree and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
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. The information can be found directly on the JRCERT webpage.
The number of students who pass, on the first attempt, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam, 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 | number passed on 1st attempt divided by number attempted within 6 months of graduation |
|---|---|
| Year | Results |
| Year 1 - 2019 | 3 of 3 - 100% |
| Year 2 - 2020 | 8 of 8 - 50% |
| Year 3 - 2021 | 6 of 6 - 100% |
| Year 4 - 2022 | 4 of 5 - 80% |
| Year 5 - 2023 | 3 of 5 - 60% |
| Program 5-Year Average | 20 of 27 - 74% |
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 | number employed divided by number actively seeking employment within 12 months of graduation |
|---|---|
| Year | Results |
| Year 1 - 2019 | 3 of 3 - 100% |
| Year 2 - 2020 | 4 of 4 - 100% |
| Year 3 - 2021 | 6 of 6 - 100% |
| Year 4 - 2022 | 5 of 5 - 100% |
| Year 5 - 2023 | 5 of 5 - 100% |
| Program 5-Year Average | 23 of 23 - 100% |
The number of students who complete the program within the stated program length. The annual benchmark established by the program is 80%.
| Program Completion Rate | number graduated divided by number started the program |
|---|---|
| Year | Results |
| Year 1 - 2023 | 5 of 5 |
| Annual Completion Rate | 100% |
Learning goals and objectives reflect the educational outcomes achieved by students through the completion of this program. These transferable skills prepare Suffolk students for success in the workplace, in graduate school, and in their local and global communities.
| Learning Goals | Learning Objectives |
|---|---|
| Students will... |
Students will be able to... |
| Know critical thinking and problem-solving skills. |
|
| Know principles that demonstrate clinical competence. |
|
| Understand how to communicate in a clinical setting. |
|
| Understand the importance of professionalism, growth, and development. |
|
December 1 (Fall Entry Round 1)
April 1 (Fall Entry Round 2)
June 15 (Fall Entry Round 3)
The program does not guarantee admission for students who meet minimum grade and GPA requirements and are successful on their RT program math assessment. However, the program does guarantee an interview for these students.
All applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to apply:
A 2-hour radiation therapy shadow will be coordinated by the radiation therapy program at one of our affiliate hospitals during the fall of sophomore year.
Over the course of eight clinical rotations, you'll learn from leaders in the field at some of the finest oncology facilities in the country. Students can complete their clinical rotations at three to five different sites – gaining invaluable exposure to both fast-paced urban hospital settings and smaller community cancer centers. You'll participate in the daily responsibilities of radiation therapists, including patient care and the operation of treatment machines.
Clinical rotations begin in the fall semester of the first year of the program. Students are advised that there is a total of three required evening sessions held during the first two weeks of fall semester in year one. The clinical schedule is as follows:
Fall: Tuesday and Thursday — 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Spring: Tuesday and Thursday — 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Fall: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday — 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. or 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Spring: Tuesday and Thursday — 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. or 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
All students are required to comply with various requirements of our clinical affiliates to be cleared to start clinical rotations. This includes submitting information required for background checks such as the Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), Sexual Offender Record Information (SORI), and providing proof of required immunizations.
In addition to immunizations mandated by Suffolk, students are also required to obtain an annual flu shot, a TB/PPD test, and be fully Covid-19 vaccinated at their own expense based on the schedule determined by their clinical site.
Students are required to provide and pay for their own transportation. When assigned to clinical sites that are not easily accessible via public transportation, including MGH North Shore Cancer Center (Danvers, MA), MGH Emerson Hospital (Concord, MA), and MGH Newton-Wellesley Hospital (Newton, MA), students will need to arrange alternative personal transportation.
In addition to transportation costs, students will also be responsible for purchasing scrubs to wear while in the clinic.
The Phillips Family Fund offers an opportunity to apply for a stipend starting at $100 up to $2,500 available to Suffolk undergraduate students pursuing an unpaid internship, including the clinical rotations. Due to federal financial aid requirements, this fund is only available to domestic students to apply.
A Malpractice Blanket Liability Insurance policy will be provided through Suffolk University. Students must be supervised by a registered radiation therapist at all times when with patients and operating radiation therapy computers and equipment inside as well as outside of the treatment room.
“Suffolk contributed immensely to my professional development and job search! During my last year at Suffolk, we were given many opportunities to connect with employers, and I had a job secured before even graduating. If it was not for Suffolk, I do not think I would be where I am now. I would highly recommend starting your path here as the program is very small and the professors are very helpful in your growth!”
Suffolk University’s undergraduate Radiation Therapy program meets the educational requirements qualifying graduates to apply for state licensure in the following states, subject to satisfactorily meeting all other requirements for licensure in each state: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
The following states and district do not have state licensure requirements for practicing in radiation therapy, but do have minimum educational requirements, which the undergraduate Radiation Therapy program meets, subject to satisfactorily meeting all other requirements for practice in each state or district: Alaska, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania.
As of January 2022, the following states do not have state licensure or minimum educational requirements for practicing in radiation therapy: Alabama, Idaho, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Each employer is entitled to make individual decisions regarding minimal standards for employment in radiation therapy.
Here's a sampling of recent graduates’ current job titles and employers.
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