Getting MRI certification in the United States typically involves completing a formal education program, meeting clinical experience requirements, and passing a national exam. The most common credential is offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), though a second certifying body, ARMRIT, also exists. The path you take depends largely on whether you’re entering the field fresh or already work as a radiologic technologist.
Two Main Certification Pathways
The ARRT offers MRI certification through two distinct routes: primary and post-primary. MRI is one of only a few disciplines where both options are available, which gives you some flexibility in how you enter the field.
The primary pathway is designed for people pursuing MRI as their first ARRT credential. You’ll need to earn an associate degree or higher and complete an ARRT-approved educational program specifically in MRI. This is the route most people take when they know from the start that MRI is where they want to work.
The post-primary pathway is for technologists who already hold an ARRT credential in another discipline, most commonly radiography. If you’re a working rad tech looking to add MRI to your skill set, this is your route. You’ll need to complete 16 discipline-specific structured education credits, which can come from academic courses or approved continuing education activities. You’ll also need to document hands-on clinical experience before sitting for the exam.
Education and Clinical Requirements
If you’re going the primary route, your education program will bundle didactic coursework and clinical training together. Program lengths vary. Certificate programs for those who already hold a qualifying degree can run as short as six months. The University of Utah’s MRI Technologist Program, for example, is a six-month certificate that requires applicants to already have at least an associate degree. Associate degree programs that include MRI training from the ground up generally take about two years.
Regardless of the pathway, the ARRT requires you to complete a minimum of 21 different clinical procedures with a total of 125 repetitions across all procedures. These cover the range of MRI exams you’d perform on the job: brain, spine, musculoskeletal, abdominal, and vascular imaging, among others. Your program or clinical site will track these on a competency checklist, and everything must be documented before you can apply for the exam.
The ARRT MRI Exam
The certification exam is a computer-based test covering four content areas, each weighted differently:
- Image Production: 35% of the exam. This covers pulse sequences, image contrast, spatial resolution, and artifacts.
- Procedures: 35%. Expect questions on protocols for specific body regions, contrast administration, and positioning.
- Patient Care: 15%. Covers screening, patient preparation, and managing emergencies.
- Safety: 15%. Focuses on MRI-specific hazards like ferromagnetic objects, implant screening, and safe practices around the magnet.
Image production and procedures together make up 70% of the test, so your study time should reflect that. The ARRT publishes detailed content specifications on its website that break each category into specific topics, which is the closest thing you’ll get to an official study guide.
Costs and Fees
The ARRT application fee is $225, whether you’re applying through the primary or post-primary pathway. One exception: if you’re using an ARDMS credential (from the diagnostic ultrasound field) as your supporting category for the post-primary pathway, the fee jumps to $450. If you don’t pass on your first or second attempt and need to reapply, the reapplication fee is $200.
These fees cover only the exam itself. Your total investment will also include tuition for your education program, which ranges widely depending on whether you’re attending a community college, university, or hospital-based certificate program. Certificate programs for existing technologists tend to be significantly less expensive than full degree programs.
ARMRIT: An Alternative Credential
The American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (ARMRIT) offers a separate certification that some employers accept. ARMRIT certification is open to qualified technologists across imaging fields who can document MRI clinical experience or formal MRI education through dedicated training programs. This credential is particularly relevant in states that recognize ARMRIT alongside or instead of ARRT for MRI practice. However, the ARRT credential is more widely recognized nationally and is what most employers and state licensing boards look for.
State Licensing Requirements
Passing a national certification exam doesn’t automatically mean you can practice in any state. More than 75% of states have licensing laws covering radiologic technology, and you’ll need to obtain a state license before working. Many states use ARRT exam scores or credentials when making licensing decisions, so holding ARRT certification often satisfies part or all of the state requirement. But this isn’t universal. Some states have additional requirements, and earning an ARRT credential doesn’t guarantee eligibility in every state. Contact your state’s licensing board directly to confirm what’s needed where you plan to work.
Keeping Your Certification Active
Once you’re certified, maintenance is straightforward but non-negotiable. Every two years, you must complete and report a set number of continuing education activities to ARRT. Your personal two-year cycle, called a biennium, is tied to your birth month. All CE activities must be finished by the last day of the month before your birth month, and you report them during your renewal, which is due by the last day of your birth month.
Salary and Job Outlook
MRI technologists earned a median annual wage of $88,180 as of May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment is projected to grow 7% between 2024 and 2034, which is faster than average for all occupations. The continued expansion of diagnostic imaging in healthcare, along with an aging population that needs more imaging studies, drives that demand. MRI technologists generally earn more than general radiologic technologists, making the additional certification a financially worthwhile investment for those already in the imaging field.