Full-time Bachelor of Technology 8650btech

Overview

The treatment of cancer involves three main modalities: surgery, chemotherapy (drugs) and radiation therapy. Radiation therapy may be used alone or in conjunction with surgery and chemotherapy, often curing the patient or offering an increased quality of life. The radiation therapist (RT) is a health-care professional responsible for delivering a therapeutic dose of ionizing radiation in the treatment of malignant disease. As an RT you will work within a team of other health-care professionals including radiation oncologists, medical physicists, nurses, nutritionists, and many other allied health professionals.

The field of radiation therapy is exciting and challenging, and one that is changing dramatically. As an RT you will be involved in using advanced computer software for treatment planning in 3 dimensions, CT scanners and MRI for identifying critical structures and tumour volumes, and state-of-the-art linear accelerator equipment to deliver treatment.

Suitable candidates for the program will be those individuals who are committed to delivering the highest standard of patient care, have a strong aptitude for physics and math, and a desire for a challenging and rewarding career.

The Program

The Radiation Therapy Technology program is comprised of a required academic portion of courses delivered at BCIT and clinical experience scheduled at BC Cancer Agency treatment centres.

Program Entry

Entrance requirements

  • One year of university level academics (30 credits) including a minimum grade of 60% in the following:
    • 6 credits math (preferably calculus-based)
    • 6 credits physics
    • 6 credits English
    • Further Biology credits are an asset but not required
  • Biology 12 (C) or BHSC 0100 or equivalent*
  • Physics 12

Note: English language proficiency at an English 12 (C+) level is required for Category B applicants.

Entrance requirements must have been completed within the last five years -or- candidates must have kept their skills current through work tasks or furthering education. For expired (beyond 5 years) entrance requirements, candidates should include in their resume how their academic skills are applied and maintained in current employment responsibilities. Assessment of currency of academic knowledge is at the discretion of the program head.

Applicants who completed post-secondary studies outside of Canada, United States or England will require a comprehensive evaluation of their credentials by the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES).

*BCIT assesses, on an individual basis, the acceptability of Biology prerequisites for applicants who have successfully completed Human Biology courses at a post-secondary level. The Human Biology equivalent courses must include the following course content: cytology, the structure and function of the following organ systems: digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, renal/urinary and reproductive.

Biology courses must have been successfully completed within the past five years and meet the letter grade required for this program. BHSC 0012 - Biology 12 Challenge Exam is acceptable for applicants who do not meet the five year recency requirement.

Please ensure that you submit the following documents to support your application:

  • High school transcript
  • Official post-secondary transcripts
  • Proof of registration for any courses in progress

Additional Requirements

  • Letter of intent (cover letter) and resume
  • Two letters of professional reference
  • Letter supporting volunteer service
  • Basic keyboarding and computer skills
  • CPR Health Provider (HCP) Level C (upon acceptance to program)

Candidates must show a commitment to patient care by completing a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer work in a hospital or care facility -or- have previous work experience in healthcare or other equivalent experience. Examples of relevant volunteer experience include: senior care homes, community centres (dealing with clients with special needs), hospitals, medical clinics, children's camps, rehabilitation centres, etc. Relevant volunteer experience includes frequent, personal interactions with clients or patients requiring special attention.

One letter of reference is required to confirm the volunteer experience (this may or may not include a character reference). Two letters of character reference must be provided from past or current professor/instructor, past or current employer/supervisor, volunteer supervisor or coordinator, or of similar status. Letters from family or family friends are NOT acceptable.

Face Respirator Fit Testing

A face piece respiratory fit test is required before students are permitted to enter the clinical practicum. Upon successful completion of the fit test, the original certificate must be presented to the program and annual re-fitting is required. Students are expected to carry their certificate with them at all times during their practicum.

For the Respirator Fit Testing, fit testing with a N95 respirator (1860, 1860s or 1870) is required and must be performed, in accordance with CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.4-02. Fit Testing must also include, inspection, cleaning, maintenance and storage of protective equipment. Students will be given specific instructions in preparation for their fit testing by the provider they choose.

Additional Information

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted to complete a screening interview and take home physics test. Successful candidates will be notified after the interview. Applicants accepted into the program are required to:

  • Submit completed health forms. Applicants must undergo a medical examination by their own physician and have a complete updating of immunizations.
  • Sign a consent form for full participation in labs held at BCIT and clinical experience at affiliated clinical sites.

Provisional Acceptance

If you have been provisionally accepted to BCIT you will be notified through myCommunication and the following information will be required in order to be fully accepted into the program:

Once these and any other outstanding provisions have been met, you will receive notification of your full acceptance.

Apply to program

Please review Applying to Health Programs at BCIT [PDF].

Submit an application: online or by mail [PDF].

You can check the status of your application online at any time using the Student Information System.

Scheduled intakes

September each year.

Application processing

October 1 of the previous year until April 1*

Applications are considered for a specific intake.

*Or next business day

Application Deadline
Deadline for submission of completed applications is April 1st for the following September intake. All program requirements must be completed and documentation received by Admissions prior to the final selection confirmation. We recommend that you submit interim marks and updates for any courses that are in progress.

Selection Process
The selection process is competitive. Based on the documentation submitted, selected applicants will be invited for an interview conducted by members of the Radiation Therapy program to assess the applicant's suitability for the field and communication skills. Not all qualified applicants will be offered a seat as capacity for each intake is 22 students.

Out-of-province and international applicants should review BCIT's applicant priority information.

myCommunication

Within 2 to 3 weeks of applying to a program, you will be sent a letter in the mail confirming receipt of your application. The letter will identify your student number, BCIT e-mail address and instructions on how to login to your myBCIT account.

All official BCIT correspondence will be sent to your myBCIT account. Check myCommunication often during the application process and throughout your studies at BCIT.

You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within 2 to 8 weeks.

Costs & Supplies

Tuition fees

Please see the Fees, Payments and Refunds section of the website for more information on full-time tuition fees.

Books and supplies

Level 5:  $800
Level 6:  $600
Level 8:  $400
Level 9:  $200

(general estimated cost, subject to change)

Face respirator fit testing: approx $25 per year, annual re-fitting required.

CPR certification: approx $150-200 (certification valid 3 years)

BCIT requires students to pay for transportation and parking costs during clinical experience scheduled at the Vancouver, Fraser Valley (Surrey) or Abbotsford Cancer Centres. Students may also be required to obtain clinical experience in Victoria or Kelowna at the student's own expense.

In order to become a registered radiation therapist in Canada, students are required to write the certification exams after successfully graduating.

Cost to write the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) certification exams is CAD $800 (subject to change).

Financial assistance

Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.

Courses

Program matrix

Level 5 (15 weeks) Credits
  BHSC 5101 Anatomy and Physiology 1 5.5
  COMM 5105 Communication 1 for Radiation Therapy 2.0
  LIBS 7001 Critical Reading and Writing 3.0
  NURS 5102 Patient Care 3.5
  PHYS 5103 Physics for Radiation Therapy 1 4.5
  RADT 5001 Clinical Orientation 1.5
  RADT 5104 Radiation Therapy 1 3.5
  RADT 5105 Treatment Planning 1 3.0
 
Level 6 (16 weeks) Credits
  BHSC 5102 Applied Social Science 1 3.0
  BHSC 6101 Anatomy and Physiology 2 4.0
  BHSC 6103 Pathology 3.0
  HMGT 7180 Canadian Health System 3.0
  MATH 6105 Statistics for Radiation Therapy 3.0
  PHYS 6104 Physics for Radiation Therapy 2 5.5
  RADT 6104 Radiation Therapy 2 3.0
  RADT 6105 Treatment Planning 2 3.0
 
Summer (8 weeks) Credits
  RADT 6001 Clinical Experience 1* 12.0
 
Level 7 (16 weeks) Credits
  RADT 7001 Clinical Experience 2* 24.0
 
Level 8 (16 weeks) Credits
  BHSC 6102 Applied Social Science 2 4.0
  BUSA 7250 Management Skills and Applications 3.0
  RADT 6106 Clinical Techniques 3.0
  RADT 6109 Project Research 1 4.0
  RADT 7103 Radiation Biology and Safety 4.0
  RADT 7104 Clinical Oncology 1 5.5
  RADT 7105 Treatment Planning 3 5.5
 
Summer (8 weeks) Credits
  RADT 8001 Clinical Experience 3* 12.0
 
Level 9 (15 Weeks) Credits
  COMM 6105 Communication 2 for Radiation Therapy 2.0
  LIBS 7002 Applied Ethics 3.0
  MIMG 6106 Imaging Technology CT/MR 2.0
  RADT 7109 Research Project 2 3.0
  RADT 8103 Care of the Oncology Patient 3.0
  RADT 8104 Clinical Oncology 2 5.0
  RADT 8105 Treatment Planning 4 6.0
  RADT 8250 Total Quality Management 3.0
 
Level 10 (17 weeks) Credits
  RADT 8002 Clinical Experience 4* 25.5
*BCIT may require students to be assigned to any of the available clinical sites to gain the required competencies and experience.
Liberal Studies Electives:
In addition to LIBS 7001 and LIBS 7002 all students will be required to achieve an additional 6.0 credits of Liberal Studies in accordance with the BCIT policy on Liberal Studies course requirements. Information regarding topic areas and/or eligibility for transfer credits may be obtained from the Advanced Placement and Degree Programs office at 604-432-8230.
 
Total Credits: 189.5

Transfer credit

Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.

Program Details

Introduction


Safety


Teamwork


Profession


Program length

33 months, full-time

Vacation breaks include approximately:

  • 2–3 weeks in December/January for Christmas and New Years
  • 8 weeks in May/June (1st year students)
  • 8 weeks in July/August (2nd year students)

Grading

All didactic courses have a pass mark of 60%. All clinical experience has satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Canadian Medical Association Conjoint Committee for accreditation.

Graduating & Jobs

Job Opportunities

Approximately 70% of graduates are employed within British Columbia through the BC Cancer Agency. The remaining graduates often find employment in other provinces or overseas. All new graduates hired by the BC Cancer Agency will start in casual positions and as permanent positions become available they will be eligible to apply for them. In BC, there are five radiation therapy departments located in Abbotsford, Vancouver, Surrey, Kelowna, and Victoria. A new treatment facility is scheduled to open in Prince George (Centre of the North, BCCA) in 2012.

Professional associations

Graduates of the BCIT program are awarded a Bachelor of Technology in Radiation Therapy and are eligible to take the National certification examinations set by the CAMRT. Successful candidates may use the designation Registered Technologist Radiation Therapy (RTT) and work as registered radiation therapists anywhere in Canada and in many other parts of the world.

Faculty, Advisors & Staff

Clinical Educators (BCCA)
  • Neil McParland
  • Luminita Nica
  • Jenny Soo (Vancouver)
  • Sarah Kristensen
  • Tara Volpatti (Fraser Valley)
  • Gillian Long
  • Del Leibel (Abbotsford)
  • Veronica Patenaude (Victoria)
  • Student clinical education is supported by preceptors, radiation therapists, medical physicists, physics assistants, radiation oncologists and other healthcare professionals.

Faculty (BCIT)

  • Lorraine Clarke Roe, AC(T), M.Ed: Program Head
  • Laura Bushell, RN, AC(T), M.Ed, Clinical coordinator
  • Maryna von Aulock, ND (THER)

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Testimonial

Radiation therapy is a fast paced challenging environment. It is an area that is constantly changing and evolving as technology and treatment techniques improve year after year...It's a pursuit where you can feel every day that you made a difference in someone's life, helping them through a difficult time, giving them the hope of beating [cancer].
> Mike Johnston, radiation therapist, Vancouver