Program Curriculum

The complete MRI technologist curriculum

Every course module, simulator scanning body part, and clinical competency in the ARMRIT-accredited, 18-month Tesla MR program. It's the same curriculum our incoming students share with their clinical sites.

  • ARMRIT-Approved 18-Month Certificate
  • Accredited by the ARMRIT COA
  • U.S. DOL Registered Apprenticeship
Download PDF Program & pricing
18
Month program
3
Structured phases
25
Course modules
33
Video lectures
1,000
Clinical hours
93
Competencies

Course Modules

25 modules · 3 phases
Phase 1

Academics: MRI Foundations

Months 1–2
01

Introduction to MRI. Foundations of MRI technology and its role in medical imaging.

02

Medical Terminology. Prefixes, suffixes, root words, abbreviations, and positioning terms.

03

General Anatomy & Physiology. Core anatomy and physiology concepts for MRI technologists.

04

Subatomic Principles of MRI. Magnetism, electromagnetic waves, resonance, and precession.

05

Instrumentation I: Magnets. Magnet types, superconductivity, cryogens, and imaging hardware.

06

MRI Safety I: Magnetic Fields. Zones, projectile and cryogen hazards, screening, contraindications.

07

MRI Safety II: RF & Gradient Fields. RF burns, SAR management, implant safety, and acoustic-noise hazards.

08

MRI Procedures & Set-Up I: Neuro. Brain and spine positioning, landmarks, and protocols.

09

MRI Procedures & Set-Up II: Body. Body-region positioning, landmarks, and imaging procedures.

10

MRI Procedures & Set-Up III: MSK. Knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, and wrist positioning and coverage.

11

Patient Care & Management. HIPAA, patient rights, vitals, infection control, and communication.

12

Cross-Sectional Anatomy I: Neuro. Brain structures, vessels, and pathology across all planes.

13

Image Contrast Mechanisms. How T1, T2, and PD weighting and TR/TE create image contrast.

Phase 2

Simulator: Advanced Imaging & Scanning

Months 3–7
14

Instrumentation II: Gradients. Gradient amplitude, rise time, and slew rate in imaging.

15

Instrumentation III: Surface Coils. Transmit/receive coils, phased arrays, SNR, and coil safety.

16

Pulse Sequences I. Spin echo: TR, TE, k-space, contrast weighting, and scan time.

17

Cross-Sectional Anatomy II: Body. Chest, abdomen, and pelvis anatomy across all planes.

18

Pulse Sequences II. Inversion recovery (STIR, FLAIR), gradient echo, and fast spin echo.

19

Image Quality & Parameter Selection. TR, TE, FOV, matrix, and bandwidth trade-offs.

20

Image Artifacts. Identifying and correcting motion, aliasing, chemical-shift, and more.

21

MRI Safety III: Contrast Agents. Gadolinium chemistry, administration, reactions, NSF, screening.

22

Cross-Sectional Anatomy III: MSK. Shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle anatomy.

Phase 3

Clinicals: Advanced Applications

Months 8–18
23

MR Angiography. Time-of-flight, phase-contrast, and contrast-enhanced MRA.

24

Advanced Applications: EPI. Diffusion (DWI/DTI), perfusion, and functional MRI.

25

Advanced Applications: Spectroscopy. Metabolite identification, voxel placement, and clinical use.

Simulator Scanning Body Parts

25 body parts · 5 batches
1Beginner
  • Brain
  • Cervical Spine
  • Lumbar Spine
  • Knee
  • Ankle
2Intermediate
  • Bony Pelvis
  • Wrist
  • Shoulder
  • Elbow
  • Hips
3Advanced
  • Thoracic Spine
  • Prostate
  • Breast
  • Abdomen
  • Soft Tissue Neck
4Expert
  • IACs
  • Pituitary
  • Orbits
  • Hand
  • Foot
5Supplemental
  • Head / Circle of Willis
  • Carotid Arteries
  • Thumb
  • Brachial Plexus
  • Liver

Students progress through the batches in order on the MRI simulator. Four passing simulator studies count as one clinical hour (up to ~250 hours) toward the 1,000-hour clinical requirement.

Clinical Competencies

93 skills · 7 domains

Each competency is demonstrated on live equipment during the clinical internship and scored 1–5 by the student's mentor.

MRI Foundation

3
Accurately uses medical terminology
Demonstrates knowledge of relevant A&P
Properly handles medical equipment

Safety

14
Monitors the MRI environment for safety hazards
Prevents RF burns with proper patient setup
Properly screens and documents implants
Explains MRI safety zones
Verifies MRI-safe equipment for Zone IV
Follows MRI safety guidelines
Identifies correct contrast mediums
Screens for contrast contraindications
Calculates eGFR per facility policy
Performs IV insertions safely
Administers IV contrast per orders
Sets injector flow rates
Explains how to get approval for contrast
Administers non-IV contrast per orders

Patient Care & Management

38
Takes and records patient vitals
Performs BLS and CPR
Verifies patient identity
Assesses patient communication needs
Obtains and documents medical history
Confirms and interprets physician orders
Verifies physician order requirements
Explains MRI procedures to patients
Communicates safety concerns to technologists
Documents patient information in the EMR
Ensures HIPAA compliance
Measures and records patient weight
Prepares table and positioning aids
Selects and positions correct coil
Understands minor patient care workflow
Positions patient safely and comfortably
Provides hearing protection
Verifies hearing protection is adequate
Explains noise communication procedures
Applies padding properly
Provides and explains alert bulb use
Landmarks and centers patient correctly
Releases patient per protocols
Maintains patient communication during exam
Monitors patient for distress
Assesses patient comfort and anxiety
Attaches monitoring devices correctly
Enters patient information into MRI system
Selects correct scan protocols
Explains scan parameter principles
Identifies anatomy and pathology on images
Adjusts parameters for image quality
Pulls prior exams for comparison
Gives and documents post-exam instructions
Updates patient records in the EMR
Cleans magnet room per protocol
Processes images per protocol
Describes exam charges correctly

Image Quality

19
Explains SNR and scan-time optimization
Performs QA procedures
Performs MRI system startup
Troubleshoots MRI system issues
Optimizes a scan sequence
Selects the correct pulse sequence
Explains how to improve image quality
Explains what an artifact is
Identifies common artifacts
Determines artifact root cause
Explains how to fix an artifact
Prevents artifacts before scanning
Performs scans per protocol
Performs neuro scans per protocol
Performs MSK scans per protocol
Performs abdominal scans per protocol
Performs pelvis scans per protocol
Performs MRA scans per protocol
Performs breast scans per protocol

Equipment & Quality Control

9
Positions QA phantom correctly
Landmarks and loads a QA phantom
Completes a QC phantom scan
Performs system boot-up and shutdown
Logs magnet pressure
Logs helium levels
Reports system issues per protocol
Inspects coils and equipment for damage
Logs room temperature and humidity

Emergency Response Handling

5
Handles emergencies per protocol
Evacuates Zone IV in emergency
Explains quench procedures and indications
Docks and undocks tables
Performs emergency table egress

Infection Control

5
Washes hands properly
Identifies appropriate PPE
Disinfects MRI equipment
Maintains clean work environment
Handles and disposes hazardous materials

Have the full curriculum on hand

Download the 2-page PDF to review offline or forward to your clinical site.

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