Program Details
Program Details

Program Details

Associate of Applied Science in Radiation Oncology

Associate of Applied Science
Virginia Western Community College

The Radiation Oncology Program prepares students to perform as an entry-level radiation therapist as part of a cancer fighting team.


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
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External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree Did you know that the Radiation Oncology Program at Virginia Western Community College prepares you to be a part of a cancer fighting team? Begin your journey today to a career that provides the opportunity to impact the lives of cancer patients through the delivery of radiation.
Considerations When Selecting Courses

There are many program specific requirements for admission to the Radiation Oncology Program at Virginia Western Community College.  Students interested in applying to this program should consult their academic advisor for specific guidance on courses to take for this program.  

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Virginia Western Community College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses In addition to the traditional classroom setting, this program requires hours in a clinical setting. Students accepted into the Radiation Oncology program will be required to have a clear criminal background check, clear drug screening and other requirements established by the clinical agencies. Please be aware that any felony conviction or positive drug screen for illegal drug use will prevent the student from attending the hospital clinical sites and completing the program. Students will be required to travel to clinical sites and are responsible for their own transportation. There are additional costs for this program such as uniforms, student instrument kits, license requirements, physical examinations and certification exams that are the responsibility of the individual student.
Doing More With Your Degree This curriculum is designed to prepare selected students to perform the responsibilities of an entry-level radiation therapist. Upon completion, graduates will be eligible to apply to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) examination leading to certification as a registered Radiation Therapist, RT(T). While not designed for transfer, students interested in transferring should verify program requirements with specific four-year institutions.
Program Successes & Highlights To be eligible for licensure as a radiation therapist requires graduation from an accredited program and successful completion of the ARRT examination. The number of students who pass, on the first attempt, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination, or an unrestricted state licensing examination, compared with the number of graduates who take the examination within six months of graduation. The five-year average benchmark established by the JRCERT is 75%. The five-year average for the VWCC program is 85%.
Related Programs & Certifications
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Credential That Prepares You For This Program
Credential
Career Studies Certificate in Health Professions: Introduction to Radiation Oncology
Link
Program Credit Requirements
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Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. lf you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.

The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.

The program map provided below is an estimate based on courses identified as a result of reviewing your portfolio and the requirements for the selected program.

A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
Requirements
Required Credits
Associate of Applied Science in Radiation Oncology
72
Associate of Applied Science in Radiation Oncology Degree
72
Radiation Oncology
72
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Up to 54 credits may be transferred in to this program. A GPA of 2.0 or greater is required for graduation.
SDV 101 - Orientation to Health Professions
2
SDV 101 - Health C+
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
HLT 105 or EQUIVALENT
1
HLT105 RQ
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
HLT 141ac RQ
1
HLT 141ac RQ
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
ROC 110
2
ROC110 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 115
2
ROC 115 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 142
2
ROC 142 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 125
2
ROC125 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ENG 111
3
ENG111_C RQ
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
MTH 161 PreCalculus I C+
3
MTH 161 PRECALC C+
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
ROC 120
3
ROC120 RQ
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 131
4
ROC 131 RQ
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 145
2
ROC 145 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 151
2
ROC 151 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 132
5
ROC132 RQ
5
Earn 5 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PHI 220
3
PHI 220 C+
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 121
3
ROC121 RQ
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 141
2
ROC 141 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 231
5
ROC 231 RQ
5
Earn 5 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 242
2
ROC 242 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 232
5
ROC 232 RQ
5
Earn 5 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 241
2
ROC 241 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 243
2
ROC 243 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ROC 244
3
ROC 244 (3cr)
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PSY 200 (or PSY 230 or SOC 200)
3
PSY 200, PSY 230, SOC 200
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
BIO 141 or EQUIVALENT
4
BIO 141 RQ
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
BIO 142 RQ
4
BIO 142 C+
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
GPA Req Radiation Oncology 113
72
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion To discuss how your previous degree can be incorporated into your new long term goals, please meet with an advisor.

BIO 141 and MTH 161 must be completed with a "C" or better and within five years of beginning the program. The required CPR certification is American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR which includes hands-on training with infant, child, adult and AED.
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School To discuss how your previous degree can be incorporated into your new long term goals, please meet with an advisor.
Credit for Prior Learning Yes
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Virginia Western Community College
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
Visit our transfer site for more information
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
Transfer Students - Apply Here
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
Financial Aid for Transfer Students
External Link
Number of Transfer Students
519
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? Virginia Western Community College's service region includes the cities of Roanoke and Salem, along with Roanoke County, Craig County, Franklin County, and southern Botetourt County. Virginia Western was the first college established in the Virginia Community College System, in 1966, and has grown from an initial enrollment of 1,352 to its current annual enrollment of more than 8,500 students in credit courses and more than 1,200 enrollments in accelerated career training and continuing education courses.
Transfer Student Catalog Year A student's catalog year is determined by their first semester of attendance in the major.
First Year Student Catalog Year A student's catalog year is determined by their first semester of attendance in the major.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions https://www.virginiawestern.edu/transfer/transfer-agreements/
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Averett UniversityBachelor of Arts in Biological SciencesBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Averett UniversityBachelor of Science in Biological SciencesBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
25-1071.00Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
29-2099.00Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherAll health technologists and technicians not listed separately.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2036.00Medical DosimetristsGenerate radiation treatment plans, develop radiation dose calculations, communicate and supervise the treatment plan implementation, and consult with members of radiation oncology team.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2099.01Neurodiagnostic TechnologistsConduct electroneurodiagnostic (END) tests such as electroencephalograms, evoked potentials, polysomnograms, or electronystagmograms. May perform nerve conduction studies.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2099.05Ophthalmic Medical TechnologistsAssist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2099.08Patient RepresentativesAssist patients in obtaining services, understanding policies and making health care decisions.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-1124.00Radiation TherapistsProvide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2034.00Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansTake x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
Cost To Complete
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 72 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Associate of Applied Science in Radiation Oncology at Virginia Western Community College
These costs are based on an estimated 5 semesters or 2.5 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $161 Per Credit $11,592 $0 $11,592 Includes Dual Enrollment
Fees
Fees $15 Per Credit $1,080 0 $1,080
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.