Who are Medical Dosimetrists?

By: Nida Azeemi

Medical dosimetrists are healthcare professionals many individuals may not have heard of. They’re important members of the radiation oncology side of healthcare, and they hold more of an analytical role. Their main role is to design and calculate the radiation treatment plan for cancer patients.

Medical dosimetrists are essential in making sure cancer patients receive correct doses of radiation. They work in hospitals or healthcare offices and spend most of their time on the computer and work closely with radiation therapists, medical physicists, and radiation oncologists. Clinical medical dosimetrists usually specialize in either external beam radiation therapy or brachytherapy. During a regular day of a dosimetrist, they begin with going over the tasks they need to complete and they communicate with physicians to discuss upcoming plans. Dosimetrists need to be able to prioritize tasks and have good time management skills. Other additional skills they need are organization, multitasking, detail oriented, and critical thinking. They need to have strong communication and interpersonal skills as they’re always collaborating with other healthcare professionals, and they need to be experienced in working with computers and different softwares. 

Other than those general skills needed to pursue a career in medical dosimetry, some subjects that dosimetrists need to be knowledgeable in are anatomy, clinical oncology, math, radiation physics, radiation safety, and radiobiology. To become certified, you first have to complete a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or post-graduate certificate in medical dosimetry at an accredited program, and then pass the National Medical Dosimetry Certification Exam. There’s more than one pathway one can use to become a medical dosimetrist; it’s common for many individuals to first get a bachelor’s degree in radiologic technology, a certificate in radiation therapy, and then become certified in medical dosimetry. It’s important to note, though, that many medical dosimetry programs are full-time, which might be hard for some who still have to work. After you’re certified, the average pay is around $138,000 per year or $66 per hour.

Many individuals might not know where to start if they’re interested in medical dosimetry. If you're curious, it’s recommended to try and get a shadowing position with a dosimetrist to get an idea of what it’s really like. There might be some stuff you’ll learn that you won’t be able to learn simply searching online. Overall, medical dosimetrists are an essential role in healthcare despite not being as well known.

Works Cited

“How to Become a Medical Dosimetrist.” American Association of Medical Dosimetrists, https://www.medicaldosimetry.org/about/becoming-certified/. Accessed 1 July 2025.

“Medical Dosimetrists : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S.” Bureau of Labor Statistics, 18 April 2025, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-dosimetrists.htm. Accessed 1 July 2025.

“What is a Medical Dosimetrist?” American Association of Medical Dosimetrists, https://www.medicaldosimetry.org/about/medical-dosimetrist/. Accessed 1 July 2025.