School of Radiation Therapy

Pre-requisite university/college courses are required to be successfully completed before applying for entry into Year II of the Radiation Therapy program. These courses can be taken at any accredited educational college or university that is recognized by The University of Winnipeg and CCMB. Click here to view a listing of those courses currently recognized. The University of Winnipeg reserves the right to modify the pre-requisite equivalent course approval.

New Brunswick students are chosen by their provincial program and are required to meet the same pre-entrance requirements.

Manitoba students apply through the University of Winnipeg, with applications forwarded to CancerCare Manitoba Selection Committee once all documentation is complete. Deadline for applications is March 1^st for the upcoming academ�ic year.

1. Do I need to complete all the first year courses before applying to the program?

• You are required to have completed the 24 credits listed by June 1st of application year. If courses are not completed when you submit your application, you must provide proof of registration that indicates the completion date of the course and a letter of support from the course instructor. This allows prospective students the fall, winter and spring sessions to complete courses. No students are formally accepted into the program unless they have successfully completed the required courses. This means that completing the pre-requisite courses during the summer session in July - Aug would not be possible in the same calendar year as acceptance into the RT program.
• We recommend taking the courses through U of Winnipeg, our partner in the 4 year degree program. This is to help you in meeting the University residency requirements in order to complete your degree, if you have completed other courses you think may be equivalent for the pre-requisite courses, you can apply to have courses assessed by the University.

2. Any Pre-Requisites Hints?

• If you are going to University full time (a full course load is 30 credits): In addition to our 24 required credits, it is recommended that students take 6 credits in chemistry. This is to keep options with other allied health professional programs open. For example, Medical Radiological Technology at Red River College requires 27 credits--the same 24 credits as Radiation Therapy--plus 3 credits of chemistry. Medical Laboratory Technology, also at Red River College, requires 24 credits; however, instead of 6 credits of physics, 6 credits of chemistry are required. Therefore 30 credits permits the most flexibility. Many professional programs require 30 credits be taken in one year.

3. Do you accept applications from other provinces and countries?

• The University of Winnipeg does not limit applications into Pre-radiation Therapy, noting that admission to The University of Winnipeg does not guarantee admission to Radiation Therapy. Due to high demand, at this time the CCMB components of this program are open to Manitoba residents only.

4. What is the application process?

• There is a new selection process each year - no waiting list. If you are unsuccessful your application will not be held over from one year to the next, you must re-apply. Once applications are completed through the University of Winnipeg they will be forwarded to the School of Radiation Therapy at CCMB. The paper submissions will then be reviewed by the Selection Committee.
• Applications are processed by The University of Winnipeg. Only when the file is complete are they forwarded to CCMB.

5. Is there a minimum GPA required?

• There is a minimum of 2.5 GPA to accept an application. Selection criteria are weighted by the marks on the pre-requisite courses, with overall GPA also considered.
• If you have less than a "C" in any pre-requisite, it is suggested you take the course again. The second mark will be used for assessment. If you have all the pre-requisites or only need 1-2 courses, you should consider taking some of the fourth year courses that are part of the degree program. This does not guarantee your acceptance in the program, but is looked upon favourably when reviewing the paper submission. It also puts you one step closer to completing the degree!

6. How many applications do you receive each year?

• On average there are 20-30 candidates per year who have successfully completed the Year One courses.

7. How many students are accepted each year?

• As much of the training is provided in the clinical setting, enrollment is limited by the number of clinical placements available at CCMB. The largest class to date has been 8 students, on average 5 - 6 students per year are accepted.

8. What are my odds?

• There is no way to tell as it depends on the application pool in that particular year. In general, if your GPA is over 3.0, and if you have experience in health care and strong interpersonal skills (demonstrated through working or volunteering), then you would be a suitable candidate.
• Although it is not required, if you do not have experience in a health care setting and would like to volunteer at CCMB the number is (204)787-2121.

9. What is the job market?

• There is no guarantee of employment at CCMB upon completion of the program; however, the majority of CCMB graduates find employment either at CCMB or elsewhere within the first year after graduation.

10. Can I work anywhere in the world?

• The 4 year degree program has accreditation in both Canada and the United States.
• Most European countries, Australia, and New Zealand require degree level education as entry to practice. Some will accept a Radiation Therapist who has graduated from a diploma program if they also have a degree (Arts or Science).

11. Where else is this program offered?

• The Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) has a list of all educational programs offered across Canada.

12. Where can I find more information about this career?

• The CAMRT website has information about this career, as does the Manitoba Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (MAMRT) website (www.mamrt.ca/site/careerinfo).

13. What are the costs for this program?

• Costs are comparable to other post-secondary programs. See the University of Winnipeg website for a listing of fees. Note that this includes all CCMB tuition, books and supplies.