Radiation Therapists
Official O*NET title: Radiation Therapists (29-1124.00)
Also called: computed tomography simulation therapist, dosimetrist, radiation therapist, radiation therapy technologist, registered radiation therapist
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Help physicians, radiation oncologists, or clinical physicists to prepare physical or technical aspects of radiation treatment plans, using information about patient condition and anatomy
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing radiation therapists work
2 of 19 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Green (little AI use yet) — 11%.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Help physicians, radiation oncologists, or clinical physicists to prepare physical or technical aspects of radiation treatment plans, using information about patient condition and anatomy (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Position patients for treatment with accuracy, according to prescription (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therapy equipment according to established practices and standards (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and others (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Conduct most treatment sessions independently, following the long-term treatment plan and under the general direction of the patient's physician (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Enter data into computer and set controls to operate or adjust equipment or regulate dosage (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Check radiation therapy equipment to make sure proper operation (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Observe and reassure patients during treatment and report unusual reactions to physician or turn equipment off if unexpected adverse reactions occur (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Educate, prepare, and reassure patients and their families by answering questions, providing physical assistance, and reinforcing physicians' advice regarding treatment reactions or post-treatment care (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Maintain records, reports, or files as required (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Check for side effects (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Prepare or construct equipment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Calculate actual treatment dosages delivered during each session (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Photograph treated area of patient and process film (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Act as liaison with physicist and supportive care staff (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Schedule patients for treatment times (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Provide assistance to other healthcare staff during dosimetry procedures and tumor localization (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Train or supervise student or subordinate radiotherapy technologists (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Put in place appropriate follow-up care plans — no recorded AI use
- Store, sterilize, or prepare the special applicators containing the radioactive substance implanted by the physician — no recorded AI use
- Assist in the preparation of sealed radioactive materials — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification”. Try the prompt for: “Maintain records, reports, or files as required”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and radiation therapists
Will AI replace radiation therapists?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 2 of the 19 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Green rating (little AI use yet). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 20 of the 22 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which radiation therapist tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: help physicians, radiation oncologists, or clinical physicists to prepare physical or technical aspects of radiation treatment plans, using information about patient condition and anatomy; review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification.
Which radiation therapist tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: position patients for treatment with accuracy, according to prescription; administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therapy equipment according to established practices and standards; follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and others. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 29% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a radiation therapist start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Radiation Therapists ranks #452 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #58 of 80 in Healthcare.
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