Health Careers
Published on Health Careers (https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk)

Home > Explore roles > Allied health professionals > Roles in the allied health professions > Therapeutic radiographer

Therapeutic radiographer

You’ll be a source of hope and care for those diagnosed with cancer. Using radiotherapy [1], you’ll collaborate with other healthcare professionals to create individual treatment plans that blend technical expertise with emotional support for your patients.

"I’ve already secured my job at Royal Stoke University Hospital for when I graduate so that’s where I will kick start my career!" Lily, a therapeutic radiography student

Read Lily's story in full [2]

Watch this video to see what both therapeutic and diagnostic radiographers do. 

Working life

As a therapeutic radiographer, you’ll be part of a team helping people who are dealing with cancer. Based in a hospital, you’ll work with patients and colleagues to design treatment programmes and support patients until their treatment ends. From taking an initial X-ray, to using a CT scanner or a linear accelerator, you’ll use some of the most complex and advanced technology to treat tumours. Therapeutic radiographers are also central to a wider multidisciplinary team, working and consulting with colleagues across various departments.

Entry requirements 

To become a therapeutic radiographer, you must first successfully complete an approved degree or masters in radiotherapy [1]. Degree courses take three or four years full time, or up to six years part time. There are also some postgraduate programmes that can take two years. Once you’ve completed your degree, you need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC [3]) before you can start practising. The other option is to apply for an apprenticeship degree.

Apprenticeships logo

Entry requirements for an undergraduate course are typically:

  • two or three A levels, including physics, chemistry or biology/human biology
  • five GCSEs (grades A-C [4]), including English language, maths and science.

Or the equivalent qualifications:

  • a BTEC, HND or HNC, including science
  • a relevant NVQ
  • a science-based access course
  • Equivalent Scottish or Irish qualifications.

New annual payments

You’ll receive at least £5,000 a year to help fund your studies, through the NHS Learning Support Fund. And because therapeutic radiography is a shortage specialism you’ll receive an additional £1,000 a year. The best part? You won’t have to pay a penny back.

Degree apprenticeship

A degree apprenticeship is another way to become a therapeutic radiographer. Apprenticeships give you the chance to earn a living while gaining your qualification. Your employer and the government will pay the tuition fees, so apprenticeships aren’t eligible for student grants.

Must-have skills 

Don’t forget - academic qualifications aren't everything. You’ll need to be interested in new technologies, be safety-conscious and have excellent observational skills. But this isn’t just a role for the technologically-minded. Along with planning and delivering treatments, you’ll offer emotional support to patients and their carers and will need to have an easy-going manner to reassure patients who are nervous about their treatment.

Training and career development

Once you’ve qualified, you’ll have annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) check-ins, where we’ll discuss your career aspirations and plan how we can help you to achieve them, so you’re always moving forward. You’ll be encouraged to join the Society of Radiography where you can take courses, conferences and seminars. 

You may also choose to specialise in treating certain cancers, work with children or with new, emerging technologies such as proton beam therapy. Research, teaching or management are other career pathways.

Pay and benefits

Your standard working week will be around 37.5 hours and may include a mix of shifts, such as nights, early starts, evenings and weekends. As a therapeutic radiographer, you’ll be paid on the Agenda for Change (AFC) pay system [5], typically starting on band 5.

You’ll also have access to our generous pension scheme and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.

  • Live vacancies
    • View Vacancy [6]

      Therapeutic Radiographer

      Cheltenham, GL53 7AN

      • Salary:

        £24907.00 to £30615.00 a year

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [7]

      Therapeutic Radiographer

      New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, WV10 0QP

      • Salary:

        £24,907 - £30,615 per annum

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [8]

      Therapeutic Radiographer

      Southampton, SO14 2AA

      • Salary:

        £24907.00 to £30615.00 a year

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [9]

      Therapeutic Radiographer

      Southampton, SO14 2AA

      • Salary:

        £31365.00 to £37890.00 a year

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [10]

      Band 6 Therapeutic Radiographer

      Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ

      • Salary:

        £31,365 - £37,890 per annum pro rata

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [11]

      Band 6 Therapeutic Radiographer

      Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ

      • Salary:

        £31,365 - £37,890 additional 5% RRP (reviewed annu

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

      • View Vacancy
  • Find your course to become a therapeutic radiographer
    Displaying 6 - 10 of 15 matches

    BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Radiography

    London, St George's University of London

    View course Opens in a new window
    [12]

    Region
    London

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    3 years

    Contact details
    admissions@sgul.ac.uk [13] 020 3897 2032

    Course webpage
    http://sgul.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-courses/radiography-therapeu… [12]

    Admissions address

    The Admissions Office
    Cranmer Terrace
    London
    SW17 0RE

    Course webpage
    http://sgul.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-courses/radiography-therapeu… [12]

    BSc (Hons) Radiotherapy & Oncology

    Ulster, University of

    View course Opens in a new window
    [14]

    Region
    Northern Ireland

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    3 years

    Contact details
    j.edgeworth@ulster.ac.uk [15] 028 9036 6029

    Course webpage
    https://www.ulster.ac.uk/courses/202021/radiotherapy-and-oncology-19219 [14]

    Admissions address

    Jordanstown Campus
    Shore Road
    Newtownabbey
    Co. Antrim
    BT37 0QB

    Course webpage
    https://www.ulster.ac.uk/courses/202021/radiotherapy-and-oncology-19219 [14]

    PgDip/MSc Radiotherapy and Oncology

    Edinburgh, Queen Margaret University

    View course Opens in a new window
    [16]

    Region
    Scotland

    Type of course
    Postgraduate/accelerated programme

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    2 years

    Contact details
    studentrecruitment@qmu.ac.uk [17] 0131 474 0000

    Course webpage
    https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/postgraduate-study/2019-postgraduate-courses/pg… [16]

    Admissions address

    Queen Margaret University Drive
    Musselburgh
    EH21 6UU

    Course webpage
    https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/postgraduate-study/2019-postgraduate-courses/pg… [16]

    Accelerated courses are for graduates with a relevant degree. See our FAQ for more information [18].

    PgDip Radiotherapy/MSc Radiotherapy (top up)

    Liverpool, University of

    View course Opens in a new window
    [19]

    Region
    North West

    Type of course
    Postgraduate/accelerated programme

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    2 years (PgDip). Up to an additional 12 months for MSc (top up)

    Contact details
    shs@liverpool.ac.uk [20] 0151 794 5901 / 9490 / 5712

    Course webpage
    http://www.liv.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught/diploma-in-radiotherapy/overview/ [19]

    Admissions address

    Thompson Yates Building
    Quadrangle
    Brownlow Hill
    Liverpool
    L69 3GB

    Course webpage
    http://www.liv.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught/diploma-in-radiotherapy/overview/ [19]

    Accelerated courses are for graduates with a relevant degree. See our FAQ for more information [18].

    BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Radiography and Oncology

    Liverpool, University of

    View course Opens in a new window
    [21]

    Region
    North West

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    3 years

    Contact details
    shs@liverpool.ac.uk [20] 0151 794 5927

    Course webpage
    http://www.liv.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/radiotherapy-bsc-hons/overview/ [21]

    Admissions address

    Thompson Yates Building
    Quadrangle
    Brownlow Hill
    Liverpool
    L69 3GB

    Course webpage
    http://www.liv.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/radiotherapy-bsc-hons/overview/ [21]

    • Load more [22]

Register for more details about becoming a therapeutic radiographer

We’ll email you a step-by-step guide to help you on your way to joining us

Let's go [23]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Diagnostic radiographer [24]
  • Radiography assistants and imaging support workers [25]
  • Radiotherapy physics [26]
  • Radiation physics and radiation safety physics [27]

Source URL: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/therapeutic-radiographer?page=1

Links
[1] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Radiotherapy
[2] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/therapeutic-radiographer/real-life-story-lily-aston
[3] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#HCPC
[4] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Grades_A-C
[5] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/working-health/working-nhs/nhs-pay-and-benefits/agenda-change-pay-rates
[6] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916385525
[7] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916397357
[8] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916412115
[9] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916412167
[10] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916367965
[11] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916374578
[12] http://sgul.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-courses/radiography-therapeutic-bsc-hons
[13] mailto: admissions@sgul.ac.uk
[14] https://www.ulster.ac.uk/courses/202021/radiotherapy-and-oncology-19219
[15] mailto: j.edgeworth@ulster.ac.uk
[16] https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/postgraduate-study/2019-postgraduate-courses/pgdipmsc-radiotherapy-and-oncology-pre-registration/
[17] mailto: studentrecruitment@qmu.ac.uk
[18] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/i-am/looking-course/faqs-about-our-course-finder
[19] http://www.liv.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught/diploma-in-radiotherapy/overview/
[20] mailto: shs@liverpool.ac.uk
[21] http://www.liv.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/radiotherapy-bsc-hons/overview/
[22] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/print/548?page=2
[23] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/allied-health-professionals-registration
[24] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/diagnostic-radiographer
[25] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-support-worker/roles-healthcare-support-worker/radiography-assistants-and-imaging-support-workers
[26] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-science/roles-healthcare-science/physical-sciences-and-biomedical-engineering/radiotherapy-physics
[27] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-science/roles-healthcare-science/physical-sciences-and-biomedical-engineering/radiation-physics-and-radiation-safety-physics