The camaraderie and teamwork among the radiation therapy specialists add to the challenge and satisfaction of the profession. The same characteristic that makes ionizing radiation valuable in killing cancer cells can be a safety concern for radiation workers. Because of this, radiation workers wear dosimeters to measure exposure. Radiation therapists, however, rarely receive measurable doses of radioactive sources. Job opportunities exist in hospitals and free standing radiation therapy facilities.
Radiation therapists enjoy relatively stable work hours and good salaries.
Therapists may specialize in areas such as dosimetry, management, education, sales, and quality assurance. This field should be considered by anyone desiring a challenging career in allied health, with the reward of working with wonderful people. UW-La Crosse, in cooperation with its clinical affiliate sites, currently provides the only training and degree program in radiation therapy in the state of Wisconsin. There are currently less than twenty other baccalaureate programs in the United States. The radiation therapy curriculum at UW-La Crosse benefits from excellent campus courses in science and humanities as well as a specifically designed professional program.