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