Radiation Therapy

Curriculum Abbreviations

• CL – Number of lecture/classroom hours per week for the course
• LAB – Number of simulation laboratory, laboratory or clinical hours per week for the course
• CR – Number of credit hours for the course

First Year

Second Year

Fall Semester

¹Indicates major field courses.  

²All students enrolled in a clinical course will be charged a $500 per semester clinical surcharge. The following courses carry this charge: RDTH 190C, RDTH 195C, RDTH 290C, RDTH 293C and RDTH 295C.

Preference will be given to applicants whose applications are complete (with the exception of the interview) and received by the Admissions Office no later than March 3, 2023 for the Fall 2023 semester.

• High school or college biology with lab and chemistry with lab, both with C or higher
• College prep Algebra I with a C or higher, or NHTI’s MATH 092C with a C or higher
• High school-level physics is recommended.
• Applicants must write an essay on their desire to enter the field of Radiation Therapy. You may view the essay directions as a PDF (Radiation Therapy Essay requirement 2022) or request the directions from the Admissions Office.
• Complete a course in CPR and Airway Obstruction Management for the Healthcare Provider/Professional Rescuer before program registration.
• A personal interview with qualified applicants will be arranged by the department after the application deadline.

Admission to the Radiation Therapy program is competitive. Selection is determined by a cumulative point system based on the high school prerequisite courses and grades, and college courses and grades, in addition to the essay and interview. The best qualified candidates will be invited to interview by the department after the deadline.

Students who wish to enter this program and are currently enrolled in General Studies or another NHTI program must complete the Change of Program form prior to the application deadline and submit it to the Admissions Office at NHTIAdmissions@ccsnh.edu.

For additional information on the Radiation Therapy program, please visit our site on Canvas. 

The mission of the radiation therapy program is to educate and produce highly qualified radiation therapists through an objective based didactic education and competency based clinical education. Student growth and professional development will be instilled through the community college system and atmosphere in conjunction with the NHTI’s Mission Statement.

The student/graduate will be clinically competent.

• Student/graduate will select appropriate treatment setup factors.
• Students will practice radiation protection.
• Students will be exposed to a variety of alternate treatment setups.

The student/graduate will communicate effectively.

• Students will articulate the setup procedure to the patient.
• Students will practice effective communication with the radiation therapist community.

The student/graduate will use critical thinking.

• Students will create a reproducible patient position in simulation.
• Students will demonstrate competence when setting up an IMRT treatment.

The student/graduate will demonstrate professionalism.

• Students will examine the importance of continued professional development.
• Students will demonstrate professional and ethical behavior when interacting with patients and members of the healthcare team.

This program boasts excellent job opportunities with high employer satisfaction. Graduates are eligible to take the national certification exam administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and find employment in hospitals and private clinics.

NHTI’s Radiation Therapy degree is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). The Radiation Therapy Program has been awarded 8 years of accreditation with the next site visit scheduled for 12/1/2027. The program will assure continued excellence through accreditation by JRCERT. For further information, please contact:

JRCERT
20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL  60606
Tel: 312-704-5300; fax: 312-304-5304
Email: mail@jrcert.org
www.jrcert.org

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%.

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%.

Program Completion: The number of students who complete the program within the stated program length. The annual benchmark established by the program is 75%.

We offer clinical rotations at eight oncology sites in N.H., six in Maine, and two in Mass. and Vt., offering students broad experience in procedures, equipment, and patients. Students can rotate to a different radiation oncology clinic each semester, enabling versatility.

The student must complete all of the following to receive a clinical pass (P) for the semester:

1. Passing grade on all mandatory competencies for that semester (within 2 attempts)
2. Passing grade (>75%) on end of semester clinical exam
3. >70% average on clinical affective evaluations
4. Completion of required clinical hours for that semester
5. Complete criminal background check as directed through NHTI’s approved vendor. Background checks from previous employers or other vendors are not accepted. Students are required to undergo and meet the Diagnostic Medical Imaging Department’s criteria for a criminal background check. No student is exempt. Students are provided with procedural and cost information and are responsible for all costs associated with these testing procedures. Students will repeat the criminal background check prior to their second year.
6. Complete drug and alcohol testing as directed through NHTI’s approved vendor. Drug testing from previous employers or other vendors are not accepted. Students are required to undergo and successfully meet the Diagnostic Medical Imaging department’s criteria for drug and alcohol screening. No student will be exempt. Students are provided with procedural and cost information and are responsible for all costs associated with these testing procedures. Drug and alcohol screenings are required prior to clinical, prior to the second year, and randomly throughout the program.

If a student does not complete any of the above requirements, they will be issued a no pass (NP).

If a student is dismissed from the clinical semester due to performance or behavioral issues, they will be issued an AF.  Any student receiving a failing grade in a clinical course will be dismissed from the program and is not eligible to reapply. Clinical practice is the essence of the profession and a failure in the clinical environment indicates that the student is not competent to continue in the program.

The student must have sufficient strength and motor coordination to perform the following physical activities:

• Standing for sustained periods of time and walking most of the work day to accomplish tasks
• Frequent reaching and manual dexterity in handling accessory equipment for radiographic purposes
• Frequently transporting, moving, lifting, and transferring patients from a wheelchair/stretcher to and from a radiographic table

In addition, students must have:

• No medical restrictions concerning operation of radiation producing equipment
• Sufficient hearing to distinguish audio signals from equipment and assess patient needs
• Sufficient eyesight to observe patients, manipulate equipment, and evaluate radiographic quality
• Visual acuity to work with analyzing data, figures, and small print, and visual inspection involving small
  details. Vision must be maintained within dim lighting
• Sufficient writing skills to communicate needs promptly and effectively.
• Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word, including activities that convey detailed or important spoken instructions to patients, physicians, families, and other employees
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and respond appropriately to unexpected situations
• Ability to work with wide variations in workload and stress levels
• Approval of the clinical facility if there is any question of meeting essential functions

Download Student Program Manual

• Prior to the start of clinical Radiation Therapy courses, students are required to have on file in the Health Services Office documentation of: current medical insurance; a complete physical examination; current immunizations; current CPR certification for one- and two-person adult, infant. and child. Professional liability malpractice insurance is arranged by the college and will be charged to the student’s account.
• College-level science and technical courses (i.e., Anatomy and Physiology I and II) taken more than five years prior to desired entry into the Radiation Therapy program must be repeated. Courses with virtual/online labs are not accepted, except for labs completed online in 2020-21 due to COVID-19.
• The program integrates all theory coursework with clinical experience. All Radiation Therapy major field courses must be passed with a C- or higher before proceeding to the next level. Grades of C or higher in BIOL 195C and BIOL 196C are required to enter or progress in the Radiation Therapy courses.