CARTI, the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute, operates an accredited, one-year radiation therapy program designed to build a pipeline of qualified radiation therapists in Arkansas as demand for cancer care grows. The program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, described as the only agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation for traditional and distance delivery educational programs in radiography, radiation therapy, magnetic resonance and medical dosimetry. Learners complete comprehensive classroom instruction at CARTI’s flagship cancer center in Little Rock and participate in clinical rotations three days a week for 12 consecutive months at five CARTI locations under the supervision of registered radiation therapists. Training covers oncology, pathology, patient care, psychology, radiobiology, radiation physics, radiation protection and safety, treatment planning and technical radiation therapy. Over the past five years, graduates reported a 100% credentialing exam passage rate and a 100% job placement rate. Since inception, the program has helped nearly 300 radiation therapists enter Arkansas’ healthcare field with hands-on experience in dosage delivery, documentation and multidisciplinary cancer care.
