Certificate Details

Program Effectiveness Data

The following is the most current program effectiveness data. Our programmatic accreditation agency, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), defines and publishes this information . The information can be found directly on the JRCERT webpage.

Credentialing Examination: The number of students who pass, on the first attempt, the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) certification examination, or an unrestricted state licensing examination, compared with the number of graduates who take the examination within the next testing cycle after graduation. The five-year average benchmark established by the JRCERT is 75%.

Credentialing Examination Rate	number passed on 1st attempt divided by number attempted within next test cycle after graduation
Year	Results
Year 1 – 2022	2    of     2     –   100%
Year 2 – 2021	4    of     4     –   100%
Year 3 – 2020	2     of    6     –    33%
Year 4 – 2019	3    of    3    –    100%
Year 5 – 2018	5    of    5    –    100%
Program 5-Year Average	16   of  18    –   80%

 

Job Placement: The number of graduates employed in medical dosimetry compared to the number of graduates actively seeking employment in medical dosimetry within twelve months of graduating. The five-year average benchmark established by the JRCERT is 75%.

Job Placement Rate	number employed divided by number actively seeking employment within 12 months of graduation
Year	Results
Year 1 – 2022	2     of    2   –     100%
Year 2 – 2021	5     of    5   –     100%
Year 3 – 2020	3     of    3    –    100%
Year 4 – 2019	3    of    3    –    100%
Year 5 – 2018	5    of    5    –    100%
Program 5-Year Average	18  of  18    –    100%

 

Program Completion: The number of students who complete the program within the stated program length. The annual benchmark established by the program is 100.

Program Completion Rate	number graduated divided by number started the program
Year	Results
Year 1 – 2022	2     of    2   –    100%
Annual Completion Rate	100%

Data Reported for the 2015-2022 period

Admissions Criteria

Admission requirements:

• Individuals who hold a bachelor degree in Radiation Therapy (BSRT), or
• Individuals who hold a bachelor degree in a physical science

Applicants must have completed the following prerequisites prior to enrolling:

• Two semesters of algebra-based physics
• Two semesters of algebra (preferably calculus)
• A medical terminology course or medical experience
• Human anatomy and physiology (whole body-all systems)

Please contact us if you have equivalent coursework that may be considered.

It is the policy of the school and its sponsor to admit students without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin or handicap, unless the handicap would prevent the student from fulfilling clinical requirements.

Application Process

Applications and all supporting documentation must be submitted by March 1. The application form may be downloaded here. The applications are reviewed and scored by the Admissions Committee.

Student Selection

During March, the admissions committee will review all completed applications. The committee will conduct virtual interviews with all applicants who meet the qualifications based on academic achievements, GPA (minimum 3.0), prior training, and personal references. A strong math background is highly recommended. If you are asked to come to the facility for an interview, out-of-town applicants are responsible for their transportation and all costs associated with the interview.

Professional Certification

Graduates of the program are eligible to apply to the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) for the certification examination once they fulfill the MDCB requirements. This examination is designed to improve the practice of medical dosimetry by voluntary testing of the candidate’s competency. For more information, please visit http://www.mdcb.org.

Curriculum

The training consists of 1364 hours of clinical training and 396 hours of formal classroom, laboratory exercises or modules. The curriculum is based on the AAMD curricular guide for training medical dosimetrists. The curriculum consists of 8 hours per day, 5 days a week, of integrated classroom and clinical instruction. Classes and clinical rotations are held within the Cancer Therapy and Research Center at UTHSCSA. Primary faculty for the school consists of board certified Radiation Oncologists, board certified Medical Physicists, and certified Medical Dosimetrists. The annual program is divided into three semesters as follows:

Fall

DOS 100 – Radiation Therapy

DOS 101 – Principles of Treatment Planning I

DOS 102 – Treatment Planning Practicum I

DOS 103 – Whole Body Cross-sectional Anatomy

Spring

DOS 200 – Advanced Radiation Therapy

DOS 201 – Radiation Biology

DOS 202 – Treatment Planning Practicum II

DOS 203 – Dosimetry Research

DOS 204 – Clinical Dosimetry Practice I

Summer

DOS 300 – Clinical Dosimetry Practice II

DOS 301 – Dosimetry Research II

Grading System

Student must maintain a 70% average in all courses to receive credit.  No incomplete grades are awarded, if a course is not completed, the student is dismissed from the program.  The grading scale is as follows:

A: 85 – 100     B: 71-84     C: 61-70     D: 55-60

Academic Calendar

The Medical Dosimetry Program follows the Academic Calendar set forth by the Registrar Office of the School of Medicine. Current academic calendar can be found here. All Holidays will be observed accordingly.

Costs

A $18,000 fee for the one-year certificate program (subject to change without notification). Of this, $500 is paid as a non-refundable deposit upon acceptance into the program. Remaining balance is divided into two equal payments due September 1st and February 1st. There is non-refundable $50 application fee.Please make check or money order payable to: “UT Health San Antonio Radiation Oncology.” The program does not provide health insurance to the students. Students assume the cost of books, meals, housing, transportation, parking, and supplies.

Financial Assistance

The medical dosimetry program does not qualify for federally sponsored or subsidized loans as this is a certificate program. Unsecured loans may be available through some banks. Merit-based scholarships, sponsored by the AAMD, are also available to students at the AAMD Foundation Scholarship Award website.

Housing

No on-site residential accommodations are available. MCC is located in the San Antonio Medical Center, very closely situated to many apartment complexes. Homes are also available for rent or purchase.

Facility

MCC is an outpatient facility located in the San Antonio Medical Center area. The radiation therapy department treats about one hundred patients per day.

Imaging modalities

2 GE LightSpeed™ CT scanners

Linear accelerators

3 Elekta VersaHD with Agility MLC

1 Varian 23EX® (120 Leaf MLC)

1 NovalisTx™ Stereotactic unit with robotic capabilities

Record and verify system

Elekta® Mosaiq™ Multi-Access Software

External Beam Treatment Planning

Virtual simulation using GE Advantage Windows workstation

3D external beam treatment planning using Philips® Pinnacle3 treatment planning system (TPS)

Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) planning using the Pinnacle3 TPS

Monaco™ 3D and IMRT planning (research only)

Velocity software from Varian for deformable image registration

iPlan™ and Brain and Spine Elements from BrainLab® for SRS and SBRT planning

Brachytherapy Treatment Planning

High dose rate brachytherapy using the Elekta® Oncentra™ TPS

CT guided brachytherapy

Transrectal ultrasound prostate seed implants (TRUS) using the Prowess™ TPS

Low dose rate brachytherapy using Pinnacle3 TPS

Special Procedures

Total body photon irradiation (TBI)

Total skin electron irradiation (TSE)

Intravascular brachytherapy