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MRI Tech School in Massachusetts

By Susan Maphis, allied health world contributing writer
Published: February, 2 2010

Massachusetts is the top-paying state for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technicians and Radiologic Technologists, according to the U.S. Dept. of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. A radiologic technician in the Commonwealth makes a median salary of $67,000, much higher than the average $53,000 found among radiologic technicians across the United Commonwealths. Salaries are even higher in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy metropolitan area, where radiologic technologists average $70,000 annually. The Commonwealth employs 6450 licensed Radiologic Technicians/Technologists. Under Commonwealth law, only licensed physicians or those who hold a RT license issued by the Commonwealth may practice as a radiologic technologist in the Commonwealth.

MRI Schools/Education in Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires that anyone who takes x-rays, or MRIs, be certified through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). This necessitates graduation from a two-year school's program of radiologic technology.

Following the two-year training and earning your degree or certificate in radiologic technology, you must take an additional year of training in Magnetic Resonance Imaging either online or through campus based Massachusetts MRI technician schools. The total cost for training in both radiology and MRI averages from $3000 to $4000.

Following training in radiology and MRI, you must take certification exams with the AART for both. The AART exam for radiology tests topics such as radiation protection, equipment operation, quality control, image production and evaluation, radiographic procedures, and patient care and education. Questions on the ARRT's specialty exam for MRI are in patient care, imaging procedures, data acquisition and processing, and physical principles of image formation.

Once you are licensed in Massachusetts, the Commonwealth requires you have 20 hours of continuing education courses in a two-year period in order to renew your license to practice radiology. The AART requires 24 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain national radiology certification, and the same amount of continuing education is necessary to maintain your MRI certificate.

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring MRI Technicians in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge and Lowell, Massachusetts may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Massachusetts General Hospital, Winchester Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Marlborough Hospital.