MRI Technician | MRI Tech Jobs And Schools

How to Become an MRI Tech in Arizona

Considering a career in becoming an MRI tech but need more info? Here you will find answers to the most common questions people want answers to including, How much MRI techs get paid, how long it takes to go to get the training, where you can go to school, job availability after graduation and more.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging is what MRI stands for and this technician takes images of different parts of the body as ordered by the doctor for diagnosing different health conditions. The images are produced by large magnets.

The radiographer is the common name known for the training program you would want to enter. From there you can get the specialized training that it takes to move into magnetic resonance.

Formal training programs lead to a certificate, an associate degree, or a bachelors degree. Most people in this field recieve a bachelors degree. Certificate programs last around 21-24 months.

Currently in the country their are 213 programs leading to a certificate, 397 programs resulting in an asociate degree, and 35 resulting in a bachelor’s degree in 2009. Some of the classes you will be taking involve anatomy, and physiology, patient care procedures, radiation physics, radiation protection, principles of imaging, medical terminology, positioning of patients, medical ethics, radiobirology, and pathology.

If you are still in high school take classes in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. Some of this coursework can probably be taken on-line if you are already graduated from high school. Check with the school listings listed below for the prerequisites needed to get in.

Radiographer jobs are continuing to be needed and are expected to be needed through the year 2018 according to the job occupational outlook as stated for 2010-2011, so this training appears to offer good job potential once you have finished. The pay range for full time technicians is anywhere from $43,000 to $63,000 per year.

Arizona Radiology Accredited Schools/Training Programs
Central Arizona College – Apache Junction
Pima Medical Institute – Mesa
Apollo College – Westside DeVry Institute – Phoenix
Gateway Community College – Phoenix
Pima County Community College – Tucson
Pima Medical Institute – Tucson
Arizona Western College – Yuma

How To Become An MRI Tech in California

MRI technicians in California are some of the highest paid in this state. There is still a need for these professionals whether the economy is good or bad because people still need health care. Also, the senior citizen community continues to grow and most of these folks are on Medicare, so if you are wanting to go to school now and be sure you will have a job position when you finish, the radiographer, or magnetic resonance imaging tech, (mri tech) might be the best option for you.

If you are already employed in an allied health career field, you may qualify for training of a one year certificate to become certified. The pay range is usually anywhere from $40,000 to $63,000 per year if you work full time.

You most likely will need to attend an accredited training program after getting your prerequisites (required classes for entry) done for at least two years to earn an Associate Degree. There are one year certificate programs for those who qualify.
With additional experience and training, a staff technologist can become a specialist, performing CT scanning, MR, mammography, or bone density testing.

If you decide you would like to get started in this direction because health care jobs seem to thrive in difficult economic circumstances, you may be interested also in moving into the California Dental Hygiene program, or the California Ultrasound program, or the California Surgical Technician program. The California Surgical Technician training can be done in as little as 9 months in some cases.

If you decide that going to college is a little too much right now and you need a job right away, you might consider going to become a California CNA, or California Certified Nursing Assistant. The jobs are in abundance and you can sometimes get the training for free.

California Accredited College Radiography/MRI Tech Programs and Schools in California

Cabrillo College – Aptos
Bakersfield College – Bakersfield
Peninsula Medical Center – Burlingame
Pima Medical Institute – Chula Vista
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center – Colton
Orange Coast College – Costa Mesa
Cypress College – Cypress
Fresno City College – Fresno
Loma Linda University – Loma Linda
Foothill College – Los Altos Hills
Charles Drew – Los Angeles
East Los Angelos Occupation Center – Los Angeles
Los Angeles City College – Los Angeles
Yuba Community College – Marysville
Merced College – Merced
Moorpark College – Moorpark
Kaplan College – North Holllywood
California State University – Northridge
Merritt College – Oakland
Pasadena City College – Pasadena
Chaffey College – Rancho Cucamonga
Canada College – Redwood City
Kaiser Permanente – Richmond
San Diego Mesa College – San Diego
City College of San Francisco – San Francisco
Central California School of Continuing Education – San Luis Obispo
Santa Barbara City College – Santa Barbara
Santa Rosa Junior College – Santa Rosa
San Joaquin General Hospital – Stockton
El Camino College – Torrance
LA County Harbor/UCLA Medical Center – Torrance
Mt. San Antonio College – Walnut

Becoming an MRI Tech is pretty easy once you find the right program that works for you. Some questions you might be asking are probably, Which are the best schools to go to for an MRI technician. How much does it cost to go to school to become an MRI Tech? Can I get a degree to be an MRI Technician online instead of locally?

Of course not all of these questions will apply to you, but you may be wondering why some people are able to get degrees so fast through an accelerated learning program. Online MRI Tech courses generally go a lot faster than if you join a typical class because the information is presented straight to you as you should have it if you want to complete the course.

Because Medical resonance imaging is still evolving, there will continue to be new classes to teach students how to operate the MRI equipment. While different colleges have slightly different course and manners of training, the best ones to attend are those that will provide you with the most hands on training. Also those which have the latest equipment to practice on will give you quite an edge in the nursing world.

The difference between a course in Indiana compared to that of Pennsylvania will have a lot to do with the state requirements as well as laws which will vary some medically from state to state. If you do plan on going to a school nearby then you will want to make sure you register well in advance. This may give you the extra needed opportunity to get accepted if classes fill quickly, or are based on grades.

If you decide to go with an online course to become an MRI tech, then you will want to carefully weigh your options with the school you choose since this can also have a bearing on how your grades are calculated, and the transferring of transcripts. Which ever option you take, just keep in mind that the pay for an mri tech is pretty decent, but your main priority in this medical field should be that of helping people.

Helping the injured by taking X-rays and radiation therapy for those troubled by cancer are some of the tasks that a radiology technician, also known as an MRI technician, performs. This position is a high stress job due to the medicine being so naturally deadly. In other words, MRI technicians, if not having the proper training and know how, may kill a patient the same way one might help the patient, with radiation. Of course, if performed properly, radiation will help the patient rather than kill him or her. In Illinois, there are several steps in sculpting the perfect MRI technician.

The first step in Illinois is the same for other states—proper schooling must be found, be it at a college or university. In fact, Illinois declares that completing this educational step is required and mandatory before moving onward in this career. Taking an average of two years to accomplish, there are four colleges boasting radiology classes: Southwestern Illinois College, Lewis and Clark Community College, Kishwaukee College, and Rend Lake College.

It must be noted that Illinois only accepts admissions toward radiology programs in the fall. Although many states provide loopholes and other dates, Illinois is strict in allowing only one due date. Because of this, many potential students may become confused as to why they have not been accepted. However, these issues may always be resolved when students fully understand the system of radiology education they are trying to enter through the necessary readings, be it on school websites or otherwise. Once one has applied, registered, and been accepted, a physical exam, not to mention the required prerequisites, as in any educational program, must be completed for a student on the path of becoming an MRI technician based in Illinois.

Next, clinical hours must be fulfilled. Illinois, unlike other states where clinic hours are done before becoming licensed, requires the clinic to be one with the licensing program; merging book smarts with street smarts is how Illinois prepares its potential MRI technicians.

The state exam is the next registering station so that a student may receive the Illinois radiology license. Note that in Illinois, a license is mandatory. Afterwords, one may finally work as an MRI technician. Basic information regarding the state exam is as follows: fill the same form used to simply register for this state licensing exam forty days in advance of the date of test, and pay the two hundred dollar fee, one hundred for the exam and the other hundred for the license application, which may be done via the Illinois Emergency Management Agency website.

Accredited Radiography Training Programs in Illinois
Southwestern Illinois College – Belleville
Kaskaskia College – Centralia
Parkland College – Champaign
Advocate Trinity Hospital – Chicago
Malcolm X College – Chicago
Northwestern Memorial Hospital – Chicago
Wilbur Wright College – Chicago
Danville Area Community College – Danville
Sauk Valley Community College – Dixon
Elgin Community College – Elgin
St. Francis Hospital – Evanston
College of DuPage – Glen Ellyn
College of Lake County – Grayslake
McDonough District Hospital – Macomb
Kishwaukee College – Malta
Heartland Community College – Normal
Olney Central College – Olney
Harper College – Palatine
Moraine Valley Community College – Palos Hills
Illinois Central College – Peoria
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center – Peoria
Blessing Hospital – Quincy
Triton College – River Grove
Trinity College – Rock Island
Rockford Memorial Hospital – Rockford
Swedish American Hospital – Rockford
Northwestern College – Rosemont
South Suburban College – South Holland
Lincoln Land Community College – Springfield

In the medical world, one of the most important jobs has been brought to a greater light in the past few years thanks to medical shows and media attention. The MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, requires a technician to scan the body for an accurate x-ray of a certain body part. This lucrative job is one of the reasons that medical technology is as expansive as it is today, but many aspiring techs have trouble discovering what school is best for them.

Among the major colleges, the University of Texas Southwest has an extensive fellowship program for those who compete a basic Radiology Technician program at any college, preferably at University of Texas. Their program allows the up and coming technician to see the vast use of MRI and how it can diagnose multiple conditions in both an in-patient and outpatient setting. Both facilities have up to date technology, including the Phillips ASCII, which is highly noted. Their program lasts two years as a fellowship, and it gives the intern extensive knowledge and experience within the field. For further questions, the college requests that you contact their coordinator, Sandra Davis, via email or phone.

However, programs like these require a prerequisite of radiology major. This can be obtained at almost any college, including University of Texas, University of Houston, and almost any school that offers a medical program of some sort. These programs do require a lot of time invested, as with any medical program. Courses that a student will have to take include, Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and basic core classes, such as Composition I and Algebra.

On the other side of the tracks, for people who are already running a busy lifestyle and have limited time for school, there is the technical school route. While many technical schools are offering MRI and other radiology, the online Medical Training Dictionary and the medical training directory recommends one Texas school; The South Texas Vocational Technical Institute. They have three locations, at Brownsville, McAllen, and Weslaco, sporting state-of-the-art facilities. Like most colleges, South Texas offers financial aid, as well as hands-on experience to go along with their thirty-plus years of experience. Once you graduate from their program, they also promise to help you find a job, giving them a slight nudge over the standard school.

No matter what your status in life is, if you are striving to get a jump in the medical field as an MRI technician, there are multiple colleges and technical schools around Texas to give you a jump into the medical world.

The following is a list of local schools in Texas which provide MRI technician degrees and programs.

Abilene Christian University - Abilene
Alvin Community College - Alvin
Amarillo College - Amarillo
Angelina College  -Lufkin
Angelo State University – San Angelo
Austin Community College District - Austin
Baylor University - Waco
Blinn College - Brenham
Brookhaven College - Farmers Branch
Central Texas College - Killeen
Cisco Junior College - Cisco
Clarendon College – Clarendon
Coastal Bend College Beeville
College of the Mainland - Texas City
Collin County Community College District - Plano
Del Mar College - Corpus Christi
East Texas Baptist University - Marshall
El Centro College - Dallas
El Paso Community College - El Paso
Galveston College - Galveston
Grayson County College - Denison
Hardin-Simmons University - Abilene
Hill College - Hillsboro
Houston Baptist University - Houston
Houston Community College - Houston
Howard College - Big Spring
Kilgore College  - Kilgore
Lamar State College  – Orange Orange
Lamar State College -Port Arthur Port Arthur
Lamar University - Beaumont
Laredo Community College - Laredo
Lee College - Baytown
Lubbock Christian University Lubbock
McLennan Community College Waco
McMurry University Abilene
Midland College Midland
Midwestern State University - Wichita Falls
Navarro College Corsicana
North Central Texas College Gainesville
North Harris Montgomery Community College District The Woodlands
Northeast Texas Community College Mount Pleasant
Odessa College Odessa
Panola College Carthage
Paris Junior College Paris
Prairie View A & M University Prairie View
San Antonio College San Antonio
San Jacinto Community College Pasadena
South Plains College Levelland
South Texas College McAllen
Southwest Texas Junior College Uvalde
Southwestern Adventist University Keene
St Philips College San Antonio
Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches
Tarleton State University Stephenville
Tarrant County College District Fort Worth
Temple College - Temple Texas
Texarkana College - Texarkana
Texas A & M International University Laredo
Texas A & M University -Corpus Christi
Texas A & M University-Texarkana
Texas Christian University Fort Worth
Texas Southmost College Brownsville
Texas State Technical College-West Texas Sweetwater
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock
Texas Woman’s University Denton
The University of Texas at Arlington - Arlington Texas
The University of Texas at Austin - Austin
The University of Texas at Brownsville - Brownsville
The University of Texas at El Paso - El Paso
The University of Texas at Tyler - Tyler Texas
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
The University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston
The University of Texas-Pan American - Edinburg
Trinity Valley Community College - Athens Texas
Tyler Junior College - Tyler
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor - Belton Texas
University of the Incarnate Word - San Antonio Texas
Vernon College - Vernon
Victoria College - Victoria
Weatherford College - Weatherford
West Texas A & M University - Canyon
Western Texas College - Snyder
Wharton County Junior College - Wharton

If you see any cities we missed, please feel free to mention them to us so we can add them to the current list.