What is Medical Physics?
Medical physics is the application of radiation science in medical diagnosis and treatment. It combines radiation interactions, X-ray production and radioactivity with radiobiology, anatomy and patient care to ensure safe and accurate imaging and therapy.
What do medical physicists do?
Medical physicists work with advanced technologies to support the diagnosis and treatment of disease. They collaborate closely with clinicians, researchers, regulators, hospital administrators, and industry partners to ensure safe and effective care.
Most medical physicists focus on one of two main specialties:
- Therapeutic medical physics involves the use of radiation to treat cancer. Typical tasks include treatment planning, patient quality assurance, chart checks and ensuring radiation safety.
- Diagnostic medical physics focuses on medical imaging technology such as CT, MRI, ultrasound, fluoroscopy and nuclear medicine. Physicists may review imaging protocols, test equipment and ensure image quality and patient safety.
How to become a medical physicist
Step 1: Earn a bachelor’s degree in physics or a related field
Start with a bachelor’s degree in physics. You can also major in a related field such as engineering, biophysics, biomedical sciences or math, along with a minor in physics or equivalent coursework. You’ll need a strong background in physics to be ready for graduate study and clinical training.
Step 2: Complete a graduate program in medical physics
After your bachelor’s degree, earn a graduate degree in medical physics from a CAMPEP-accredited program. Programs provide training in:
- Radiation therapy
- Diagnostic imaging
- Nuclear medicine
- Magnetic resonance imaging
OHSU offers CAMPEP-accredited programs that prepare you for a career in radiation therapy or diagnostic imaging:
Step 3: Gain hands-on experience through a clinical residency
After your graduate degree, complete a clinical residency where you’ll apply your training in medical technology to patient care.
OHSU offers CAMPEP-accredited residencies:
Some OHSU graduates choose nonclinical paths, including Ph.D. training, research positions or industry roles in medical physics. These careers focus on research and technology development rather than clinical practice and do not require a clinical residency or board certification.
Step 4: Earn board certification
Medical physicists practicing radiation therapy or diagnostic imaging earn board certification through the American Board of Radiology (ABR).
You’ll complete three ABR exams during your training:
- Part 1: Written exam taken after completing a CAMPEP-accredited graduate program.
- Part 2: Written exam taken after completing a clinical residency.
- Part 3: Oral exam taken after passing Part 2 and meeting clinical experience requirements.
Medical physicists who specialize in other areas, such as nuclear medicine or health physics, may pursue certification through the American Board of Medical Physics, the American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine or the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine, depending on their training and career focus.
OHSU’s programs prepare graduates for ABR certification and careers in therapeutic or diagnostic medical physics.
Medical physicist salary
Most medical physicists earn between $120,000 and $230,000 per year depending on experience, specialty and location, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This range spans entry-level to senior positions.
Medical physics jobs
Medical physics offers strong employment opportunities with growing demand across health care settings. Many of OHSU's medical physics graduates work in hospitals, clinics, consulting firms, medical device companies and research institutions.
Hospitals
Work in clinical, research and academic roles, or a combination of all three, supporting radiation medicine and diagnostic radiology departments. Graduates may work as clinical medical physicists or diagnostic physicists. They often collaborate closely with radiologists, radiation oncologists and other clinicians to ensure safe, effective patient care.
Outpatient clinics
Work at cancer centers and imaging centers, supporting patient care, imaging quality and treatment planning. Roles can include diagnostic physicist, therapeutic physicist or consulting physicist.
Consulting firms
Provide specialized services like safety audits, shielding, and quality assurance testing in hospitals and outpatient clinics that don’t have regular medical physics staff. Positions may be consulting medical physicist, diagnostic physicist or junior physicist.
Medical device companies
Work for equipment manufacturers in product development, clinical training and customer support roles. Therapeutic physics graduates often work for companies that manufacture machines such as radiation medicine devices and linear accelerators. Diagnostic physics graduates work for companies that develop CT scanners, MRIs, ultrasound devices, nuclear medicine scanners and more. Roles can include applications scientist, clinical specialist or medical physics specialist.
Research
Work in academic institutions, national laboratories and private research organizations, advancing research in medical imaging, radiation therapy and patient safety. Positions may include research scientist, diagnostic physicist, therapeutic physicist or faculty researcher.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many years does it take to become a medical physicist?
It takes 8 to 10 years after high school to become a board-certified medical physicist. That includes four years for a bachelor’s degree, two to five years for a graduate degree and about two years of clinical residency.
The OHSU M.S. in Medical Physics takes 21-months to complete. Many graduates then complete a two-year residency before starting clinical practice.
How much does a medical physicist make?
Most medical physicists earn between $120,000 and $230,000 per year depending on experience, specialty and location, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This range spans entry-level to senior positions.
OHSU graduates go on to clinical residencies, research positions, and roles in hospitals and industry that offer strong starting salaries and long-term career stability.
Is a medical physicist a doctor?
Medical physicists are not medical doctors, but they hold graduate degrees such as an M.S. or Ph.D. in medical physics. Their work supports physicians by ensuring the safety and accuracy of imaging and radiation treatments.
Are scholarships available for medical physics?
Yes. OHSU offers a variety of scholarships that can help fund your education.
Scholarships available
OHSU offers a variety of scholarships that can help fund your education.
Schedule a visit
Schedule an in-person or virtual visit to learn more. Email us at mpadmissions@ohsu.edu.
Contact us
- Email mpadmissions@ohsu.edu
- Call 503-494-7461