Prerequisites

Qualified applicants must meet one of the following criteria and pass prerequisite courses listed below.

Program Options
Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded a certificate of completion and are eligible to take the National Certification Examination for Radiation Therapy administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology. There are three options for students to become a Radiation Therapist.

A prospective student must follow one of these three paths in order to be eligible for admission:

• Bachelor's Degree Program (3-1)
  This is for applicants who want to earn a bachelor's degree. Students enroll in a three-year academic-affiliated University or College and participate in a 14-month clinical-based internship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The affiliated academia, Benedictine University, Elmhurst College, Lewis University, North Central College and Roosevelt University. provide competitive and required prerequisite and non-clinical professional courses. Students must apply to the 14-month clinical-based internship at Northwestern Memorial and have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher for undergraduate courses (cumulative and prerequisite science courses) and have evidence of successful completion of all prerequisite courses.
   
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program
  This option is for applicants who have completed a bachelor's degree (science-related preferred) from an accredited college or university with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher. Prerequisite courses must be passed with a grade of "C" or higher, and cumulative prerequisite grade point average must be 2.5 or higher.
   
• Certificate Program for Radiologic Technologists
  This option is for applicants who have graduated from JRCERT or an equivalent program in Radiologic Technology and have evidence of successful completion of all prerequisite courses. A successful applicant must be registered by ARRT prior to the start of the program. All applicants must have completed an A.S. degree (or higher) at the time of the program start.

Prerequisite Courses
All applicants must demonstrate successful completion of prerequisite college-level courses. Select courses must have been completed within the last seven years. Transfer credits are not accepted from other radiation therapy programs.

All applicants must demonstrate successful completion of the following prerequisite college-level courses prior to the beginning of the program. A grade of "C" or higher in each course and a cumulative prerequisite GPA of 2.5 or higher is required by June 1. 

Final acceptance is contingent upon successful completion of all prerequisite courses. No remedial-level coursework will be accepted for prerequisite course credit.

• Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab **
• Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab **
• Precalculus Mathematics **
• General Physics I with Lab **
• General Physics II with Lab**
• Written Communication
• Verbal Communication
• Computer Science (course description with content that indicates computer literacy)
• Research Methodology (course description with content that includes research process and protocols, data interpretation, and application of results)

** Must have been taken within seven years from date of application

Admission Criteria

• Bachelor's Degree to include all prerequisites or
• Bachelor's Degree Program (3+1) with one of the program's affiliate universities to include all prerequisites or
• ARRT registered Radiologic Technologist from a JRCERT or equivalent program, plus AS degree, plus all prerequisite courses and
• GPA for prerequisite courses must be 2.5 or higher with no grade lower than a C/2.0
• Overall degree GPA must be 2.5 or higher
• Personal interview, applicant's academic and work background, references and GPA criteria

*The Admissions Committee reserves the right to limit the number of interviews to twice the size of the incoming class.

Prerequisite Course and Degree Checklist
Please read the School of Radiation Therapy Prerequisite Course and Degree Checklist.

School of Radiation Therapy Technical Standards
Applicants must perform medical procedures with accuracy and precision. The nature of the work is such that speed, safety and accuracy are essential skills. While failure to perform these essential functions may not prevent individuals from practicing in the clinical setting, lack of any or all of these abilities may prove challenging to the work experience and may compromise patient safety or the diagnostic value of procedures.

In order to be considered for admission, applicants must, with or without reasonable accommodation, have the ability to meet the following technical standards. These standards are considered essential functions and skills of the profession.

Please read the School of Radiation Therapy Program Technical Standards (pdf).