Medical Dosimetrists

What the job really is

Generate radiation treatment plans, develop radiation dose calculations, communicate and supervise the treatment plan implementation, and consult with members of radiation oncology team.

At a glance

• Sector: Healthcare Practitioners
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-2036
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 4

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Design the arrangement of radiation fields to reduce exposure to critical patient structures, such as organs, using computers, manuals, and guides.
• Plan the use of beam modifying devices, such as compensators, shields, and wedge filters, to ensure safe and effective delivery of radiation treatment.
• Identify and outline bodily structures, using imaging procedures, such as x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or positron emission tomography.
• Calculate the delivery of radiation treatment, such as the amount or extent of radiation per session, based on the prescribed course of radiation therapy.
• Calculate, or verify calculations of, prescribed radiation doses.
• Develop radiation treatment plans in consultation with members of the radiation oncology team.
• Supervise or perform simulations for tumor localizations, using imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or positron emission tomography scans.
• Create and transfer reference images and localization markers for treatment delivery, using image-guided radiation therapy.
• Record patient information, such as radiation doses administered, in patient records.
• Advise oncology team members on use of beam modifying or immobilization devices in radiation treatment plans.
• Fabricate beam modifying devices, such as compensators, shields, and wedge filters.
• Perform quality assurance system checks, such as calibrations, on treatment planning computers.

Tools and technology

Eclipse IDE, Epic Systems, MEDITECH software, Medical condition coding software

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Radiation Therapists
• Nuclear Medicine Technologists
• Radiologists
• Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
• Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
• Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
• Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Medical Dosimetrists — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.