Onboarding plan

Radiation Therapist Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)

A practical, printable plan to take a new radiation therapist from first day to full productivity.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Radiation Therapist onboarding at a glance

Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.

Before day one

  • Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
  • Verify required credentials: ARRT Radiation Therapy certification, State license (as applicable)
  • Prepare equipment and access: linear accelerators; CT simulators; immobilization devices; image-guidance systems
  • Assign a buddy or preceptor
  • Enroll the new hire in Radiation Therapist training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

  • Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
  • Follow radiation safety and ALARA
  • Verify patient identity and plan
  • Check safety interlocks
  • Never treat after a failed QA
  • Shadow an experienced radiation therapist through a full shift
  • Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)

Days 1–30: learn

Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.

  • Supervised practice: set up a patient for treatment
  • Supervised practice: support a patient through treatment
  • Supervised practice: run daily machine QA
  • Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
  • 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins

Days 31–60: contribute

Goal: handle a regular workload independently.

  • Position patients for treatment: independently
  • Use imaging to verify setup: independently
  • Operate linear accelerators: independently
  • Deliver prescribed radiation doses: independently
  • Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
  • Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
  • 60-day check-in

Days 61–90: own

Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.

  • Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
  • Begin cross-training on a secondary task
  • Agree on a credential goal (for example, ARRT Radiation Therapy certification)
  • Discuss the career path: Radiation Therapist → Senior Therapist → Medical Dosimetrist
  • 90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or taskTrainedObservedSigned off
Set Up a Patient for Treatment
Support a Patient Through Treatment
Run Daily Machine QA
Patient positioning
Linear accelerator operation
Image guidance
Radiation safety

How to measure onboarding success

  • Days until the new hire works without a preceptor
  • Competency sign-offs completed on time
  • Documentation or charting error rate
  • 90-day retention

How Radiation Therapist training maps to this plan

  1. Introduction to the Radiation Therapist Role
  2. A Day on the Job
  3. Essential Radiation Therapist Vocabulary
  4. Core Duties and Responsibilities
  5. Common Tasks, Step by Step
  6. Tools, Equipment and Technology
  7. Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
  8. Skills Employers Look For
  9. Launching Your Radiation Therapist Career
  10. Final Knowledge Check
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