Education · 1 of 5

The path

Medical school, then one general clinical year, then four years devoted entirely to treating cancer with radiation.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Biology, chemistry, physics and math. Physics matters more here than in almost any other medical specialty.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Any major with the pre-medical science courses finished, plus the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test).

3. 3

   Medical school

   4 years

   Classroom science then hospital rotations. You graduate as a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).

4. 4

   Preliminary clinical year

   1 year

   A general year in internal medicine or surgery before the specialty training starts.

5. 5

   Radiation oncology residency

   4 years

   Cancer biology, radiation physics, treatment planning and clinic. You learn to aim a beam at a tumor while sparing what is next to it.

6. 6

   Board certification

   During and after residency

   Written qualifying exams during residency, then an oral certifying exam from the American Board of Radiology.