Radiation Therapist to Medical Dosimetrist or Physicist

[Kschoess]

Hello! I’m currently in the process of earning my bachelors of science in radiation therapy. I plan to get my masters in dosimetry, but I was wondering if anyone know if it was possible for a medical dosimetrist to advance their career by earning their PhD in medical physics. Essentially, I’m wondering if someone with a degree in radiation therapy and/or a masters in medical dosimetry would be able to earn a degree in medical physics. Would love any advice! Thanks so much!

 

[gleem]

Sure and your background would help some but you would need to make up a lot of physics and math courses. I have lost contact with current credentialing for medical dosimetrists and have not heard of a masters in dosimetry programs. I would think if you are seriously considering a PhD in medical physics that you should concentrate more on addressing your physics/math course deficiency and skip the dosimetry masters program. It is my observation that BSRT programs do not provide courses in intermediate and advanced physics and math subjects required for a PhD program. I think it would be better to switch majors and take the extra time to get a BS in physics.

Where are you in your BS program.

 

[Choppy]

I concur with @gleem.

You're going to have a hard time getting into a medical physics PhD program without a background in physics or something equivalent like engineering. And even if you could, I'm not sure that would really be the direction you'd want to go.