Medical Dosimetry

Application Deadline:  January 15, 2021 for Fall 2021 start

The Medical Dosimetry program's Master's Degree (Tracks A & B) is a 12 month clinical internship program. Clinical internships will take place from January through December. The didactic online courses begin in the fall semester prior to starting clinical internship training. This Master's degree program not only delivers the core medical dosimetry curriculum, it also offers advanced professional and research coursework that prepares graduates for future advancement in the profession.  Upon graduation, the student is considered a Route 1 exam applicant by the MDCB. This program adheres to all JRCERT accreditation standards.

Program highlights include:

• online courses with a high degree of interaction with instructors and peers
• 46 credits
• clinical internship sites located throughout the U.S. with new sites established annually 

Track A candidates are Registered Radiation Therapists with a BS/BA degree

Track B candidates are Non-Registered Radiation Therapists with a BS/BA degree

Admission policies and the application/selection process have been developed with the intention to consider each applicant's strengths and select for admission those best qualified to meet the program's requirements and mission.

Application requirements

• Degree:
  Students must hold a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution prior to entering the program.  The degree should be a Bachelor's of Science in the physical sciences or approved by program officials.  The institution must hold the necessary regional accreditation, as verified by the Department of Education, and the degree must meet the requirements of UWL Admissions.  To learn more about accreditation please visit Regional vs. National Accreditation.
• Prerequisite coursework:
  Students must complete all prerequisite coursework by the January 15 application deadline.  Further information regarding course requirements is provided at Prerequisite Coursework
• Healthcare experience:
  Prior direct patient healthcare experience is required.  For further information on the Healthcare Experience requirement please visit -  Healthcare Experience
• Technical standards:
  Technical standards for Medical Dosimetrists

Online application and fee:
Follow the link to the UW System application online.  Register as a new user, unless you already have an account.  Please do not initiate an application until early September.  At that time "Fall 2021" will appear as an "intended start date" option.

The email you enter on this application will be used to send you important information related to completing your graduate school application. You should use a permanent email address that you monitor on a regular basis. 

There is a $56 UW System application fee, which you can pay online at the time of application. Alternatively, you can send a check to the address below.  *Application fee waivers are available to McNair Scholars. 

Graduate Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601

Official Transcripts:
Request that ALL previously attended institutions of higher education send official transcripts to the UW-La Crosse Admissions Office.  This includes transcripts for courses taken for college credit during high school. UWL accepts transcripts mailed directly from the issuing institution(s) or through an electronic secure document sending service.  Transcripts should be sent to:

Graduate Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601
admissions@uwlax.edu

*Current UWL undergraduate students and alumni: Admissions can access your UWL transcript, so you do not need to request a formal copy to be sent.

Medical Dosimetry Program Application Fee :  Mail a completed copy of the Program Application Fee Form and $50 application fee.
UWL Medical Dosimetry Program
1725 State Street
4033 HSC
La Crosse, WI 54601

Supplemental application materials required by the program: 
After your UW System application has been submitted, you will receive two emails. The first email is an invitation to your WINGS Student Center and includes information about your NETID and campus email.

The second email is an invitation to log into your Applicant Dashboard. You can expect this email 2-3 business days after submitting your application. You will use the Applicant Dashboard to submit the additional required application materials (as described below) for this program.

If you do not receive the email about your Applicant Dashboard, check your junk and clutter folders.  If you are unable to locate the email within 4 business days of application submission, contact gradstudies@uwlax.edu.

1. Program application: Submit a completed Program Application - Tracks A & B.  

2. Current ARRT certification: Submit proof of current ARRT certification (Track A only)

3. Letters of recommendation:  Four letters of recommendation using the program's required recommendation form are required.  You will submit your recommendation request(s) using the Applicant Dashboard. You will be asked to provide the name and email address for each reference. Be sure to let your reference/s know to watch for an email from UWL requesting a recommendation letter.  An email confirmation will be sent to you each time one of your references submits a recommendation to your application file.  Additionally, you will receive an email alert 14 days after your initial request if your application is missing recommendation/s.  Please contact gradstudies@uwlax.edu with questions.

4. Observation in medical dosimetry:  Complete a minimum of 40 hours of observation in medical dosimetry.  Submit documentation using the program's required observation form.  Track B candidates are encouraged to accumulate more than 40 hours.

English as a second language:
Students for whom English is a second language must earn a minimum score of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (internet-based on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) within two years of application to the program.

Please be aware that a felony charge may affect your ability to obtain clinical placements and/or sit for the board examination.

We respect that a student may elect to not receive immunizations for personal or medical reasons.  Students who have a medical condition that precludes them from receiving immunizations may be asked to provide additional documentation from a medical provider.  Clinical affiliates must comply with their organization's policy regarding immunizations and as such may decline a student without required immunizations or medical documentation.  Students should be aware that this may impact options for clinical education experiences and progression through the medical dosimetry curriculum.

Application Deadline:  December 1 for Spring start

Track C is the Master of Science degree completion program for Certified Medical Dosimetrists (CMD's) who are currently employed and want to obtain a master's degree.  The online program enables CMD's to earn a master's degree in the profession with minimal disruption to their lives.  The percentage of medical dosimetrists obtaining higher education is increasing.  This flexible online program strongly emphasizes professional and academic growth.  Advanced program courses such as Professional Issues, Protocols & Studies in Radiation Oncology, and Research courses can enhance competitiveness for advanced level positions with increased pay in areas of management, senior medical dosimetry, education, applications, or research. 

The program requires 31 semester hours of credit at UW-La Crosse.  These credits are obtained through web-based online lectures and discussions, independent study, and clinical experience. The program consists of:

• online curriculum, enhancing the ability to "juggle" busy schedules
• practicum experience designed to be completed at the current place of employment

The 31 credit hour program can be completed:

• in 3 semesters (1 year) as a cohort-based program with fellow classmates who start/end at the same time; or
• by taking fewer courses each semester progressing at your own pace (some courses must be taken in sequence).

Only CMD's (or board eligible) with a BS/BA degree can enroll in Track C.

Admission policies and the application/selection process have been developed with the intention to consider each applicant's strengths and select for admission those best qualified to meet the program's requirements and mission.

Application requirements

• Degree:
  Students must hold a Bachelor's degree prior to entering the program.  
• Prerequisite coursework:
  Students must complete all prerequisite coursework prior to entering the program.  Further information regarding course requirements is provided at Prerequisite Coursework

Online application and fee:
Follow the link to the UW System application online.  Register as a new user, unless you already have an account.  Please do not initiate an application until early September.  At that time "Fall 2020" will appear as an "intended start date" option.

The email you enter on this application will be used to send you important information related to completing your graduate school application. You should use a permanent email address that you monitor on a regular basis. 

There is a $56 UW System application fee, which you can pay online at the time of application. Alternatively, you can send a check to the address below.  *Application fee waivers are available to McNair Scholars. 

Graduate Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601

Official Transcripts:
Request that ALL previously attended institutions of higher education send official transcripts to the UW-La Crosse Admissions Office.  This includes transcripts for courses taken for college credit during high school. UWL accepts transcripts mailed directly from the issuing institution(s) or through an electronic secure document sending service.  Transcripts should be sent to:

Graduate Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601
admissions@uwlax.edu

*Current UWL undergraduate students and alumni: Admissions can access your UWL transcript, so you do not need to request a formal copy to be sent.

Medical Dosimetry Program Application Fee :  Mail a completed copy of the Program Application Fee Form and $50 application fee.
UWL Medical Dosimetry Program
1725 State Street
4033 HSC
La Crosse, WI 54601

Supplemental application materials required by the program: 
After your UW System application has been submitted, you will receive two emails. The first email is an invitation to your WINGS Student Center and includes information about your NETID and campus email.

The second email is an invitation to log into your Applicant Dashboard. You can expect this email 2-3 business days after submitting your application. You will use the Applicant Dashboard to submit the additional required application materials (as described below) for this program.

If you do not receive the email about your Applicant Dashboard, check your junk and clutter folders.  If you are unable to locate the email within 4 business days of application submission, contact gradstudies@uwlax.edu.

1. Program application:  Submit a completed Track C program application.

2. Current MDCB certification:  Submit proof of current MDCB certification

3. Letters of recommendation:  Four letters of recommendation using the program's required recommendation form are required.  You will submit your recommendation request(s) using the Applicant Dashboard. You will be asked to provide the name and email address for each reference. Be sure to let your reference/s know to watch for an email from UWL requesting a recommendation letter.  An email confirmation will be sent to you each time one of your references submits a recommendation to your application file.  Additionally, you will receive an email alert 14 days after your initial request if your application is missing recommendation/s.  Please contact gradstudies@uwlax.edu with questions.

4. Current employment: Documentation of current employment.  A signed letter from the facility's administrator/manager demonstrates proof.

English as a second language:
Students for whom English is a second language must earn a minimum score of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (internet-based on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) within two years of application to the program.

Notice to Employers: The Track C student will be required to ask occasional questions of administrative and HR staff for certain courses. In addition, each month the student will be required to submit a clinical case study. The case study will require reporting clinical data from a case they are planning. This will not violate HIPAA rules as the clinical case data does not identify patients or the facility. Any site specific rules should be addressed with the student in advance.

Admissions Policies

• The number of students admitted to the program is dependent on the number of clinical internship sites and their student capacity. Admission to the program is on a competitive basis.
• Applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital or parental status.
• The rigor, intensity of this program, and the skills and responsibility necessary for practice as a medical dosimetrist require the program to seek applicants with a strong academic background, along with refined interpersonal skills and maturity.  Applicants seeking formal enrollment in the program (Tracks A and B) are encouraged to have a minimum GPA of 3.00.  Prior healthcare experience is also an indicator of a career commitment to clinical practice. The program's admission process will consider each applicant's strengths and select for admission those applicants best qualified to meet the program's mission.
• The admission selection process includes the following:
  • Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
  • Science GPA
  • Written application including references
  • Background predictive of potential for future practice in the service areas of the program's partner institutions
  • Knowledge of the profession and the profession's role in the healthcare system
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Quality and Extent of Healthcare related experience.
• Completing more observation time than required for admissions is highly recommended for non-Radiation Therapy professionals (Track B).

Selection

• The selection committee consists of program officials and a panel of professionals at the clinical internship sites.
• Students must request the specific clinical internship sites at which they would like to interview.  Students arrange their own interviews with the respective sites and are responsible for expenses incurred for the interview process at the clinical internship sites.
• After interviews are completed, decisions will be made by the selection committee on placement of students at each site.

Reentry & Readmission

Students who feel they must withdraw from the medical dosimetry program once accepted, are encouraged to speak to the program director prior to withdrawal. Students are not guaranteed placement should they wish to reenter. They must reapply to the program and be considered for placement by the Selection Committee.

Transfer Credits

Pre-requisite/undergraduate credits: courses from regionally accredited institutions are generally acceptable toward the program’s prereq course requirements. The graduate school has policies regarding transfer credit but program directors have discretion in evaluating proposed transfer credits to determine if graduate courses taken at other institutions apply to a student's program of study at UWL.

Medical dosimetry professional core curriculum: transfer credits from other medical dosimetry/physics programs are not accepted. Due to the tight sequencing and integration of the curriculum, we do not accept didactic or clinical credits from other programs/institutions. All students, regardless of their prior background and education, must complete the entire professional/core curriculum at UWL.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse complies with regulations in other states to offer online education and clinical placement opportunities to students.  This is often referred to as "states authorization".  As a result of these regulations the program is not permitted to enroll students residing and/or interning in certain states.  UWL is part of the National Council for States Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA).  A map highlighting the current SARA status of each state is provided at State Authorization.

Due to federal regulations pertaining to distance education and international students with an F-1 visa the program can no longer admit such students.  The regulation is 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(G) and reads as follows:

(G) For F-1 students enrolled in classes for credit or classroom hours, no more than the equivalent of one class or three credits per session, term, semester, trimester, or quarter may be counted toward the full course of study requirement if the class is taken on-line or through distance education and does not require the student's physical attendance for classes, examination or other purposes integral to completion of the class. An on-line or distance education course is a course that is offered principally through the use of television, audio, or computer transmission including open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, or satellite, audio conferencing, or computer conferencing. If the F-1 student's course of study is in a language study program, no on-line or distance education classes may be considered to count toward a student's full course of study requirement.
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) 

Students for whom English is a second language must earn a minimum score of 100 (internet-based) or 600 (paper-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) within two years of application to the program.

If you have further questions please contact the UWL Office of International Education(OIE) at uwlworld@uwlax.edu.