Are you looking for a fascinating, rewarding and health-related job that is in demand? MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) jobs pay well and are more in demand than ever. MRI technicians are respected and play an integral role in modern medical imaging. MRI is a type of medical imaging system that uses magnetic fields to depict internal organs and structures. This guide will help you learn more about becoming an MRI tech.
Training and Education Requirements
You can get your MRI training either online or off, but learning online can make a course go much faster as you can work independently and at your own pace. Online study also has the advantage of convenience and comfort—you can study when and where you like, save on transportation costs and may not even have to get dressed! Online studies are proving to be an increasingly efficient and accepted way to get career training. Many online schools have MRI technician training as part of their curriculum.
To get the training you need to get into this field, you must find a good training program with the right school; you must also check to be certain that the school is accredited and your transcripts can be easily transferred. Schools that offer MRI tech programs, both online or offline, have to be accredited by the American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (ARMRIT). Some states require that you have only an associate's degree in a medical or health field, but others are more stringent. Before starting a course, make sure to check your state's education requirements to be sure. You can also get the necessary certification with a bachelor’s degree—your bachelor’s degree can be in any field, but it might make good sense to get a degree in some related field such as biology, health, health physics or anatomy. With an approved training program and a bachelor’s degree, you will also need to have a minimum of 1,700 hours (42.5 weeks) of full-time experience with MRI. Without an approved MRI tech training program or a bachelor’s degree, you would need at least three years of full-time experience! If you are currently employed in a medical field, there are cross-training opportunities where 1,000 hours of experience are required. Sonographers, physicians, nurses, physician’s assistants and medical technologists are some fields where cross-training opportunities exist.
So, even though the bulk of your studies can be done online, you'll need to be prepared for some hands-on training, as most courses require this. Your internship will include working with MRI scanners, learning to deal with different types of MRI equipment and working directly with patients, all under the watchful eye of an instructor. During this phase of your MRI training, you will be working with up-to-date medical imaging technologies and computer programs. This training will make it easier for you to find a job in the field.
Most MRI training courses last from one year to eighteen months, but as mentioned before, if you study online, you may complete the course quite a bit faster and that will put you in a job that much faster. After you have completed the coursework and the hands-on experience, you can apply for certification from ARMRIT at its website. The examination is made of three sections on physics, clinical applications and safety and patient care. They are true-false and matching questions.
Continuing Education Credits
Once you've become an MRI tech, you'll find that the technology is still evolving and changing and you will want to keep up with it. Continuing education can also be done online or by attending various seminars or classes.
Career Outlook and Salary Expectations
Just how much you can make as an MRI technician will change as your experience grows, but the school from which you obtain your degree will also make a difference. It is very important that you choose an accredited school, whether it is a physical location or online. Starting salaries for an MRI tech are around $30,000 a year. This can increase to $60,000 with experience.
Although many MRI technicians work for hospitals, because equipment costs are decreasing, more and more individual doctors and medical clinics own their own MRI equipment and will need experts to operate them. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for MRI techs will grow by 17% until 2018.
If becoming an MRI tech is appealing to you, now is the time to get the training you need to get the job you want. MRI techs perform a vital and growing role in medical imaging—it can be a rewarding and well paying career choice for you!