Why You Should Become an MRI Technologist

An MRI technologist is a healthcare professional who helps and guides patients undergoing a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan. This career falls under diagnostic imaging, which is a medical field that is as engaging and fulfilling as any.

MRI technologists work with patients every day. They become in charge of a patient when they enter the examination room. These professionals make them feel comfortable and fully at ease throughout the procedure.

Most patients have little to no knowledge about what happens when they undergo an MRI scan. It is then the job of the MRI tech to inform them what they need to know about the procedure and what to expect.

It’s true that being an MRI technologist can be challenging. But it is also quite rewarding. Generally speaking, MRI techs work with people from all walks of life. They also get to operate a piece of highly sophisticated equipment, which is the MRI scanning machine.

MRI scanners give doctors a peek at what’s happening inside the body. As an MRI technologist, you must be adept with human anatomy to generate the best possible images of the human body and assist with accurately diagnosing the patient’s disease or injury.

Since an MRI machine is a highly advanced technological equipment, MRI techs are sometimes regarded as the tech geeks who sit behind the console most of the time. That’s possibly true, as they are well-versed not just with computers but with electromagnetic fields as well.

If there are challenges associated with an MRI technologist’s job, there are a lot of benefits that go with it as well. For starters, the salary of an ARRT-accredited MRI technologist can go higher than $70,000 annually. That amount is expected to increase even more in the coming years.

There’s also the assurance of job security, as the current employment trend shows that the demand for these professionals increases to 14% yearly. Furthermore, ARRT MRI accreditation is widely accepted, meaning professionals can freely choose the state they want to practice.

There are also a lot of new developments expected in the field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This means that there are a lot of opportunities that will present themselves in the future. These high-tech scanners are expected to stay and improve in the next few decades.

It’s fairly easy to be an ARRT MRI technologist. While the length of most programs varies, certain two-year courses are enough to get your foot in the door. Once you obtained a relevant associate degree, the next step is to take an ARRT MRI program with clinical training that will make you eligible for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists certification examination.

If you pass that test, you become a registered MRI tech, and you can practice in any hospital or clinic you choose. To be a full-fledged MRI technologist, you are encouraged to enlist with the American Society of Radiologic Technologists as well and renew your certification and membership to both organizations regularly.