How to become Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist in 2024

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist Operate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. Monitor patient safety and comfort, and view images of area being scanned to ensure quality of pictures. May administer gadolinium contrast dosage intravenously. May interview patient, explain MRI procedures, and position patient on examining table. May enter into the computer data such as patient history, anatomical area to be scanned, orientation specified, and position of entry.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist is Also Know as

In different settings, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist is titled as

  • MRI Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Coordinator)
  • MRI QA Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quality Assurance Coordinator)
  • MRI Radiographer (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Radiographer)
  • MRI Specialist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Specialist)
  • MRI Tech (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technician)
  • MRI Technologist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist)
  • Research MRI Technologist (Research Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist)

Education and Training of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist is categorized in Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Experience Required for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Education Required for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Degrees Related to Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist

Training Required for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Related Ocuupations

Some Ocuupations related to Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist in different industries are

What Do Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist do?

  • Attach physiological monitoring leads to patient's finger, chest, waist, or other body parts.
  • Calibrate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) console or peripheral hardware.
  • Conduct screening interviews of patients to identify contraindications, such as ferrous objects, pregnancy, prosthetic heart valves, cardiac pacemakers, or tattoos.
  • Connect physiological leads to physiological acquisition control (PAC) units.
  • Create backup copies of images by transferring images from disk to storage media or workstation.
  • Develop or otherwise produce film records of magnetic resonance images.
  • Explain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures to patients, patient representatives, or family members.
  • Intravenously inject contrast dyes, such as gadolinium contrast, in accordance with scope of practice.
  • Inspect images for quality, using magnetic resonance scanner equipment and laser camera.
  • Operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners.
  • Position patients on cradle, attaching immobilization devices, if needed, to ensure appropriate placement for imaging.
  • Provide headphones or earplugs to patients to improve comfort and reduce unpleasant noise.
  • Select appropriate imaging techniques or coils to produce required images.
  • Troubleshoot technical issues related to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner or peripheral equipment, such as monitors or coils.
  • Conduct inventories to maintain stock of clinical supplies.
  • Instruct medical staff or students in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures or equipment operation.
  • Operate optical systems to capture dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images, such as functional brain imaging, real-time organ motion tracking, or musculoskeletal anatomy and trajectory visualization.
  • Place and secure small, portable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners on body part to be imaged, such as arm, leg, or head.
  • Schedule appointments for research subjects or clinical patients.
  • Take brief medical histories from patients.
  • Test magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment to ensure proper functioning and performance in accordance with specifications.
  • Write reports or notes to summarize testing procedures or outcomes for physicians or other medical professionals.
  • Review physicians' orders to confirm prescribed exams.
  • Comfort patients during exams, or request sedatives or other medication from physicians for patients with anxiety or claustrophobia.

Qualities of Good Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist

  • Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
  • Fluency of Ideas: The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
  • Rate Control: The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
  • Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
  • Visual Color Discrimination: The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
  • Time Sharing: The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
  • Originality: The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Hearing Sensitivity: The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
  • Memorization: The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
  • Speed of Closure: The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
  • Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
  • Number Facility: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  • Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Extent Flexibility: The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
  • Response Orientation: The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
  • Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Depth Perception: The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
  • Gross Body Coordination: The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
  • Wrist-Finger Speed: The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
  • Stamina: The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
  • Gross Body Equilibrium: The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
  • Dynamic Strength: The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
  • Speed of Limb Movement: The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
  • Explosive Strength: The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting), or to throw an object.
  • Spatial Orientation: The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
  • Peripheral Vision: The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.
  • Dynamic Flexibility: The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Night Vision: The ability to see under low-light conditions.
  • Glare Sensitivity: The ability to see objects in the presence of a glare or bright lighting.
  • Sound Localization: The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.

Tools Used by Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist

  • Capnographs
  • Carbon dioxide monitors
  • Clinical imaging workstations
  • Crash carts
  • Dosimetry badges
  • Emergency contrast reaction kits
  • Fluoroptic thermometry systems
  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging fMRI scanners
  • Image capturing and transmission systems
  • Intravenous IV infusion pumps
  • Intravenous IV line sets
  • Laser cameras
  • Magnetic resonance imaging MRI audio and visual intercommunication systems
  • Magnetic resonance imaging MRI calibration devices
  • Magnetic resonance imaging MRI calibration phantoms
  • Magnetic resonance imaging MRI coils
  • Magnetic resonance imaging MRI compatible fire extinguishers
  • Magnetic resonance imaging MRI consoles
  • Magnetic resonance imaging MRI monitors
  • Magnetic resonance imaging MRI positioning sandbags
  • Magnetic resonance imaging MRI printers
  • Magnetic resonance imaging MRI systems
  • Medical magnetic resonance imaging MRI patient tables
  • Medical nasal cannulas
  • Non-magnetic pulse oximeter units
  • Oxygen delivery equipment
  • Patient lifting equipment
  • Patient positioning devices
  • Personal computers
  • Photoplethysmographs
  • Portable magnetic resonance imaging MRI scanners
  • Power injectors
  • Protective eye shields
  • Protective medical face masks
  • Sphygmomanometers
  • Telemetry leads
  • Venipuncture needles

Technology Skills required for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist

  • Appointment scheduling software
  • eClinicalWorks EHR software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
  • Medical image processing software
  • MEDITECH software
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Word
  • Radiology information systems (RIS)
  • Teleradiology systems
  • Web browser software