- What does a Radiation Therapist Do?
- What does an Ultrasound Technician Do?
- Is Radiation Therapist Salary Higher Than Sonography Salary?
- How to Become a Radiation Therapist vs. Sonographer?
- Radiation Therapist Programs by State
- Pros and Cons
Radiation Therapists and Diagnostic Medical Sonographers are both Allied Health positions, but they have quite different job responsibilities. The Radiation Therapist treats cancer and other diseases that may respond to radiation treatments through the delivery of external beam therapy. The Diagnostic Medical Sonographer focuses on using ultrasound equipment to take images of soft tissues and systems for diagnostic purposes. The positions are similar in that both use sophisticated medical equipment, work directly with patients, and are employed in a variety of medical settings that include hospitals, physician offices and clinics.
What does a Radiation Therapist Do?
Radiology Technicians or Therapists spend a large part of their time at work performing radiation treatments on patients who have cancer. Most states require the Therapist to be licensed, and licensing requires certification by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Main job duties for Radiation Therapists include:
- Consult with patients, explaining treatments and answering questions
- Adhere to safety procedures and protect patient from all unnecessary radiation exposure
- Assist patients on and off x-ray tables
- Take x-rays of patient to determine exact treatment location
- Operate medical linear accelerators (LINACS), setting equipment to deliver the right doses of radiation to the correct location on the patient’s body
- Maintain patient history, updating records to record treatment details
- Consult with radiologist, oncologist, dosimetrist, physicians and other medical team members
Typically, the radiation procedures are for treating all types of cancer and are often part of a treatment regimen that also involves surgery and/or chemotherapy. The professional may work at a hospital, cancer treatment center, clinic, mobile radiology units and other medical facilities.
What does an Ultrasound Technician Do?
The ultrasound technician is also called an ultrasound technologist or Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. The typical job duties are as follows:
- Discuss medical history with patients and review and document current health issues
- Record the patient history and imaging procedures
- Operate the ultrasound equipment, expertly using controls and settings to obtain the best images for diagnostic purposes
- Help the patient physically get on and off the imaging table and help them position their body so that images are as ideal as possible
- Complete the sonograms, checking each one for clarity and accuracy
- Analyze the images taken and use critical thinking skills and experience to make decisions concerning the need for additional images
- Ensure images are properly recorded and the procedure documented
- Interpret sonographs to perform diagnostic responsibilities
- Ensure patient history is updated
- Consult with physicians, nurses and other hospital staff as necessary
The Diagnostic Medical Sonographer must have the knowledge and skills to expertly study the images produced and recognize the difference between normal and abnormal tissue and systems. Depending on their training and credentials, sonographers usually take images of the abdomen, breast, musculoskeletal system, female reproductive systems and cardiovascular system.
Is Radiation Therapist Salary Higher Than Sonography Salary?
Radiation Therapists earned more than Ultrasound Technologists as of May 2016 per the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational survey. Professionals working in radiation therapy are potentially exposed to radiated solutions during treatments, so it is not surprising they are paid more than Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. The Radiation Therapy Technologist earned a median salary of $80,160 or $38.54 per hour compared to the sonographers average salary of $69,650 per year or $33.49 per hour. However, there were significantly more sonographers employed (65,790) compared to radiology technicians (17,450). | See Job Openings
How to Become a Radiation Therapist vs. Sonographer?
Radiation Therapists can earn an Associates degree or Bachelors degree in radiation therapy by completing radiation therapist programs. There are also certificate programs offered mainly at vocational schools, but employers will consider those with degrees before applicants with certificates. Attending ARRT recognized radiation therapist schools recognized ensures the students obtain the best knowledge and skills needed to pass the exams for earning the radiation therapist certification. Anyone starting a program after 2014 should note that only those who have earned an Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree from a training program accredited and recognized by ARRT will be eligible to sit for the exam for Certification in Radiography.
A List of Best Radiation Therapist Programs by State
| State | City | School | Zip | Contact Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Birmingham | University of Alabama | 35294-0001 | Kerry L Glasscock | (205)934-7368 |
| Alabama | Mobile | University of South Alabama | 36688-0002 | Patricia A Brewer | (251)445-9346 |
| Arizona | Phoenix | Gateway Community College | 85034-1704 | Julia Jacobs | (602)286-8483 |
| Arkansas | State University | Arkansas State University | 72467-0910 | Tracy B White | (870)972-3073 |
| Arkansas | Little Rock | Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute | 72205-6523 | Sheila R Randolph | (501)660-7621 |
| California | San Francisco | City College of San Francisco | 94112-1821 | Kyle R Thornton | (415)239-3767 |
| California | Duarte | City of Hope | 91010-3012 | Christine J Homan-Forell | (626)301-8247 |
| California | Loma Linda | Loma Linda University | 92354-2804 | Carol A L Davis | (909)558-7368 |
| California | Costa Mesa | National University | 92626-1502 | Cheryl R Young | (714)429-5118 |
| Colorado | Denver | Community College of Denver | 80230-0000 | Don P Mc Coy | (303)981-0860 |
| Connecticut | New Haven | Gateway Community College | 06510-3304 | Gina M Finn | (203)285-2392 |
| Connecticut | Manchester | Manchester Community College | 06045-1046 | Nora Gervais Uricchio | (860)512-2730 |
| District of Columbia | Washington | Howard University | 20059-1024 | Marquise D Frazier | (202)806-5576 |
| Florida | Cape Coral | 21st Century Oncology Inc | 33990-3213 | Claire M Skowronski | (239)573-5972 |
| Florida | Coconut Creek | Broward College | 33066-1615 | Kathryn A Almquist | (954)201-2152 |
| Florida | Jacksonville | Florida State College | 32218-4436 | Jane A Wiggins | (904)766-6643 |
| Florida | Tampa | Hillsborough Community College | 33630-0000 | Karen M Nelson | (813)253-7372 |
| Florida | Delray Beach | IAMP Cambridge Institute | 33484 | Jacqueline K Mylan | (561)381-4990 |
| Florida | Lakeland | Keiser University | 33805-2316 | Jennifer L Hsu | (863)682-6020 |
| Florida | Melbourne | Keiser University | 32901-1853 | Shawn D Zaicek | (321)586-9841 |
| Florida | Miami | Miami Dade College | 33127-0000 | Richard Prentiss | (305)237-4030 |
| Georgia | Savannah | Armstrong State University | 31419-0000 | Pamela C Cartright | (912)344-2834 |
| Georgia | Augusta | Augusta University | 30912-2613 | Myra Lynne Eggert | (706)721-4179 |
| Georgia | Atlanta | Grady Health System | 30303-3031 | Kevin E Kindle | (404)616-5024 |
| Georgia | Atlanta | IAMP Cambridge Institute | 30342 | Leigh A Akley | (404)255-4500 |
| Illinois | Glen Ellyn | College of DuPage | 60137-6708 | Jeffrey A Papp | (630)942-2074 |
| Illinois | Chicago | Northwestern Memorial Hospital | 60611-2908 | Heather Z Mallett | (312)926-2733 |
| Illinois | Carbondale | Southern Illinois University | 62901-2583 | Kevin S Collins | (618)453-8800 |
| Illinois | Joliet | University of Saint Francis | 60435-6169 | Leia D C Levy | (815)768-8356 |
| Indiana | Indianapolis | Indiana University Department of Radiation Oncology | 46202-5116 | Maria C Walker | (317)944-1343 |
| Indiana | Gary | Indiana University Northwest College of Health and Human Services | 46408-1101 | Amanda G Sorg | (219)981-4204 |
| Indiana | Bloomington | Ivy Tech Community College | 47404-9772 | Karlee Renee Wyatt | (812)330-6288 |
| Indiana | South Bend | Radiological Technologies University VT | 46601 | Mellonie F Brown | Unknown |
| Iowa | Iowa City | University of Iowa | 52242-1009 | Jared Lee Stiles | (319)356-8286 |
| Kansas | Topeka | Washburn University | 66621-0001 | Becky J Dodge | (785)670-1440 |
| Kentucky | Louisville | Bellarmine University | 40205-1863 | Carol M Scherbak | (502)272-8355 |
| Louisiana | New Orleans | Delgado Community College | 70119-4399 | Robin L Wegener | (504)671-6230 |
| Maryland | Baltimore | Community College of Baltimore County | 21237-3855 | Adrienne M Dougherty | (443)840-1505 |
| Massachusetts | Milton | Laboure College | 02186-4253 | Pauline E Clancy | (617)296-8300 |
| Massachusetts | Boston | MCPHS University | 02115-5804 | Kelly A Ebert | (617)224-3322 |
| Massachusetts | Boston | Suffolk University | 02108-5302 | Lisa A Crouse | (617)973-5315 |
| Massachusetts | Worcester | UMass Memorial Medical Center | 01655-0002 | Patricia E Webster | (774)442-5551 |
| Michigan | Jackson | Baker College | 49202-1230 | Terilynn K Fedchenko | (517)780-4562 |
| Michigan | Grand Rapids | Grand Valley State University | 49503-3314 | Le Shell J Palmer | (616)331-5949 |
| Michigan | Flint | University of Michigan | 48502-1907 | Julie A Hollenbeck | (810)424-5368 |
| Michigan | Detroit | Wayne State University | 48201-2427 | Adam F Kempa | (313)577-1137 |
| Minnesota | Eagan | Argosy University Twin Cities | 55121-1756 | Jennifer M Rems | (651)846-3437 |
| Minnesota | Rochester | Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences | 55905-0001 | Leila A Bussman-Yeakel | (507)284-4148 |
| Minnesota | Minneapolis | University of Minnesota Medical Center Fairview | 55455-0363 | Patricia Fountinelle | (612)273-5107 |
| Missouri | Saint Louis | Saint Louis University Doisy College | 63104-1111 | Kathleen Oelke Kienstra | (314)977-8630 |
| Nebraska | Omaha | University of Nebraska Medical Center | 68198-4545 | Lisa A Bartenhagen | (402)559-4236 |
| Nevada | Las Vegas | College of Southern Nevada | 89146-1139 | James W Godin | (702)651-7370 |
| New Hampshire | Concord | NHTI - Concord's Community College | 03301-7425 | Amy C Vonkadich | (603)271-0700 |
| New Jersey | Paramus | Bergen Community College | 07652-1508 | Carol A Chovanec | (201)493-5034 |
| New Jersey | Livingston | Saint Barnabas Medical Center | 07039-5672 | Jennie S Lichtenberger | (973)322-5628 |
| New York | Buffalo | Erie Community College City Campus | 14203-2601 | Jean E Wood | (716)270-4726 |
| New York | Bronx | Manhattan College | 10471-4004 | Kayla M Valentino | (718)862-7834 |
| New York | New York | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | 10065-6007 | Linda D Schaaf | (212)639-6835 |
| New York | Garden City | Nassau Community College | 11530-6719 | Carolyn Confusione | (516)572-9640 |
| New York | Brooklyn | New York Methodist Hospital | 11229-2093 | Myriam Soto | (718)645-3500 |
| New York | Stony Brook | SUNY | 11794-7028 | Samantha D Skubish | (646)574-9958 |
| New York | Syracuse | SUNY Upstate Medical University | 13210-2306 | Joan O'brien | (315)464-6937 |
| North Carolina | Charlotte | Carolinas College of Health Sciences | 28232 | Ronald L Braswell Jr | (704)355-6937 |
| North Carolina | Winston Salem | Forsyth Technical Community College | 27103-5150 | Christina R Gibson | (336)734-7184 |
| North Carolina | Greenville | Pitt Community College | 27835-0000 | Freida E Spencer | (252)493-7452 |
| North Carolina | Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina | 27514-4220 | Robert D Adams | (919)445-5210 |
| Ohio | Salem | Kent State University | 44460 | Victoria L Migge | (330)337-4133 |
| Ohio | Columbus | Ohio State University | 43210-1240 | Ruth M Hackworth | (614)293-6203 |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma City | University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center | 73117-1215 | Stacy L Anderson | (405)271-6477 |
| Oregon | Portland | Oregon Health & Science University | 97201-5042 | Kristi L Tonning | (503)494-6708 |
| Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh | Community College of Allegheny County | 15212-6003 | Kelli A Collette | (412)237-2752 |
| Pennsylvania | Gwynedd Valley | Gwynedd Mercy University | 19437-0901 | Rose Marie Troutman | (267)448-1429 |
| Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Thomas Jefferson University | 19107-5211 | Matthew F Marquess | (215)503-1434 |
| South Dakota | Mitchell | Mitchell Technical Institute | 57301-4900 | Paula A Freeman | (605)995-7162 |
| Tennessee | Clarksville | Austin Peay State University | 37044-0001 | Amy Freshley Lebkuecher | (931)221-7240 |
| Tennessee | Memphis | Baptist College of Health Sciences | 38104-3110 | Julia L Lasley | (901)572-2644 |
| Tennessee | Chattanooga | Chattanooga State Community College | 37406-1018 | Lisa D Legg | (423)697-3336 |
| Tennessee | Nashville | Vanderbilt Center of Radiation Oncology | 37232-0002 | Karen K Munyon | (615)343-9239 |
| Texas | Amarillo | Amarillo College | 79178-0001 | Anthony M Tackitt | (806)354-6063 |
| Texas | El Paso | El Paso Community College | 79998-0000 | (915)831-2000 | |
| Texas | Galveston | Galveston College | 77550-7447 | Hubert Callahan | (409)944-1492 |
| Texas | San Marcos | Texas State University | 78666-4684 | Reynaldo G Lozano | (512)245-1345 |
| Texas | Houston | University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center | 77030-4000 | Shaun T Caldwell | (713)792-3455 |
| Texas | Dallas | UT Southwestern Medical Center | 75390-9082 | Kameka L Rideaux | (214)648-1512 |
| Utah | Ogden | Weber State University | 84408-3925 | Robert J Walker | (801)626-7156 |
| Vermont | Burlington | University of Vermont | 05405-1743 | Wade M Carson | (802)656-0341 |
| Virginia | Richmond | Virginia Commonwealth University | 23284-3057 | Melanie C Dempsey | (804)828-9104 |
| Virginia | Roanoke | Virginia Western Community College | 24038-4007 | Matilda A Conner | (540)587-6104 |
| Washington | Bellevue | Bellevue College | 98007-6406 | Linda S Schinman | (425)564-3058 |
| West Virginia | Morgantown | West Virginia University Hospitals | 26506-9234 | Christina M Paugh | (304)598-4715 |
| Wisconsin | La Crosse | University of Wisconsin La Crosse | 54601-3742 | Melissa R Weege | (608)785-6979 |
There is a variety of schools and colleges offering sonography programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP), with many leading to an Associates degree or Bachelors degree. For those who have a degree in an Allied Health program, there are also certificate programs that take a year to 18 months to complete. Accredited ultrasound technician programs include didactic and clinical training. Licensing is not mandatory except in a few states, so the ultrasound technician should take the ultrasound technician certification exams offered by American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) after completing a CAAHEP accredited program. Credentialing is now required by most employers.
Making the Right Career Choice
There are two considerations when choosing the right Allied Health career. The first concerns position growth over the next decade. For the period 2014 to 2024, there is a growth of 2,300 new positions projected for Radiation Therapists compared to 16,000 job positions for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. The other major consideration is the fact that radiation therapists do work with hazardous materials, while exposure is limited for ultrasound technicians.
What are Pros and Cons of Becoming a Radiation Therapist?
Following are some advantages of becoming a Radiation Therapist:
- Works as a member of a medical team to devise customized patient treatment plans
- Able to deliver treatments for serious medical conditions, and that can be very rewarding when the person recovers or their life is extended
- Normally has a regular work schedule and day shifts unless working in an emergency department or facility
- Can pursue ARRT post-primary pathways to certification in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography, Bone Density, Quality Management, Sonography and Vascular Sonography
Following are some disadvantages of become a Radiation Therapist:
- Potential exposure to hazardous radioactive materials and radiation from equipment
- Requires standing 80 percent of the time and must frequently turn and lift patients unable to help themselves, so it is a physically demanding job
- Can be emotionally draining job since many patients are often seriously ill and under a lot of stress
What are Pros and Cons of Becoming an Ultrasound Tech?
Following are some advantages of becoming an Ultrasound Technician:
- Ideal career choice for those who want to work in the medical field but prefer to have a limited scope of responsibility
- Interesting and varied work requiring professional judgment concerning the type, number and scope of images required based on the patient’s medical issues
- Since using ultrasound is a non-invasive procedure, sonographers may find the projected employment growth could potentially be even higher due to the rollout of the national health care program
- Can choose to specialize as a cardiac sonographer, vascular sonographer or musculoskeletal sonographer through a combination of completing additional educational requirements and sitting for ARDMS specialty exams
Following are some disadvantages of becoming an Ultrasound Technician:
- Often required to work rotating shifts or to be on call during various times throughout each month
- Requires long periods of standing on feet and must physically assist patients, so it is a physically demanding job
- Sonographers have higher rates of occupational musculoskeletal injuries and pain due to physical exertion than other health professions
- Is a lower paying occupation compared to radiation therapy, nursing and several others
Both the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and the Radiation Therapist deliver important medical procedures. One of the main deciding factors when choosing a career path is the fact the ultrasound technologist does not work with radiation. Any potential exposure to hazardous materials would be a result of working in a medical facility. Both are excellent and rewarding careers with great employment opportunities. | See Job Openings