At least two million workers will be needed in the healthcare industry over the next several years to meet rising demand. MRI technologists are part of that demand.
While many opportunities exist for healthcare specialists, MRI technologist is one of the best options available. MRI tech training allows good flexibility in a growing industry and earn competitive wages.
What is an MRI Technologist?
An MRI tech is a specialist within the radiology diagnostic team. An MRI tech deals with magnetic resonance imaging scans. Magnets are used to align a patient’s atoms, radio waves are bounced off the patient and send a signal to a computer that interprets the image of the patient’s internal anatomical parts.
The MRI technologist places patients into the MRI unit and scans the parts of the body that need a diagnosis. Patient care is important. Keep the patients comfortable and answer their questions about the scan.
These scans are used by physicians to help diagnose diseases or injuries, or how a patient responds to treatment.
As an MRI tech, you are responsible for ensuring that these MRI scans are high-quality. You run the scan based on the instructions from a physician so they can get accurate information about the patient’s needs. This job requires specialized training but offers many benefits to trained techs.
1. Get Started in Your Career Quickly
You need an Associate’s degree and certification to become an MRI technologist. You complete the degree program within one to two years, then you can get started on certification. This means you can get started on your MRI career within two-years.
2. Training Costs Less than Other Careers
You can complete your Associate’s degree at a community college. This costs less than a university degree.
Once you complete these educational requirements, you just have the cost of the certification program. The certification exam costs less than $200 for course materials and the exam fee. The cost is reduced if you don’t have to purchase books to study.
3. Better Shift Management
You can expect more regular working schedules. MRI scans usually get scheduled during regular business hours, however there are exceptions.
This means you don’t have to worry about late-night shifts and can make better plans for personal time. Since scans are scheduled ahead of time, you don’t have to worry about constant schedule changes, either.
4. Choice of Work Environment
As an MRI tech, you can choose your work environment. Technicians are needed in all medical settings.
This means you can choose whether you want to work in a physician’s office, a hospital or outpatient center, a lab, or a government agency. This choice will depend on how much work you want and in what setting makes you feel most comfortable.
5. Good Job Security
MRI techs have one of the fastest job growth rates of any healthcare occupation. Through 2026 MRI tech jobs are expected to grow 13%. This growth rate is higher than average for all tracked occupations, not just healthcare.
6. High Wages for MRI Technologists
MRI techs can expect more than job security. You can also expect higher wages than many in the allied health industry.
The average wage for an MRI tech can be as high as $71,670 per year. This is $12,150 more than general radiologic technologists.
7. Play a Vital Role
We all know job satisfaction is about more than the pay. We also want to feel like we add value with the work we do. As an MRI tech, you can know you play a vital role in the healthcare industry.
The images you take are an important aspect of diagnosing patients. What you do as an MRI tech helps physicians take better care of their patients.
8. A Chance to Play with New Technologies
New advances happen regularly in imaging technology. This means you get the chance to experience new and exciting technological advances in the healthcare industry.
You’ll get the chance to try out new technologies in computers and imaging systems. It’s your job to keep the systems running, so you get hands-on time with these new technologies.
9. Work Anywhere in the United States
Courses for an MRI technologist are certified by an RCEEM or RCEEM+ for The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists® (ARRT®).
Your training prepares you to work anywhere in the United States. If you need to move to another state, your certification goes with you.
10. Less Hectic Work Environment
Since you specialize, you’ll work within specific parameters. This means you always know what to expect from your job.
You’re not responsible for every patient, just the ones scheduled for scans. This makes the job of an MRI tech less physically and emotionally demanding than other healthcare professions.
11. You Get to Work with Patients
Some healthcare professions keep you behind the scenes. This is not the case for an MRI tech. You get to work one-on-one with patients as you complete scans.
Part of your job is comforting patients who are dealing with health problems. You also help answer questions about the procedures. This allows you to take a more active and satisfying role without the demands of some of the other hands-on careers.
So What Happens When You’re Done?
MRI Continuing education can help the MRI technologist keep up-to-date with new technology, feel comfortable in their ever evolving MRI profession and bring that confidence to the patient during their time of need. New technology in medical imaging brings to the imaging arena new tools for healthcare professionals to expand their abilities during procedures. Patients can be examined faster improving image collection and quality while increasing patient comfort. Healthcare decisions can be made faster supportin expedited patient care. Design advances provide incremental and occasionally major breakthroughs which can revolutionize imaging and quality.
Do you want to learn more about the options available for MRI continuing education? Check out the courses available for MRI techs and other diagnostic professionals.
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