MRI Technician Prerequisites: What You Need Before Enrolling

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $88,180 for MRI technologists as of May 2024, with employment for radiologic and MRI technologists projected to grow 5% through 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. For a career that pays above the national median and takes under two years to train for, the entry requirements are worth understanding before you apply.

MRI tech prerequisites fall into two groups. The first covers what you need to gain admission to a program: a diploma, some foundational coursework, and a set of application materials. The second covers what happens after you enroll, completing an accredited degree program so you qualify for national certification. This page walks through both.

What Are MRI Tech Prerequisites?

Prerequisites are the conditions you must meet before a school admits you and, later, before a certifying body lets you test. Most admission prerequisites are straightforward: proof of secondary education, a few foundational courses, and standard health and background documentation.

The larger requirement sits beyond admission. To earn the field’s recognized credential, you must complete an associate degree from a program approved by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). CBD College’s MRI program is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and recognized by ARRT through the Primary Pathway, which makes its graduates eligible to sit for certification. Choosing an approved program is the prerequisite that determines whether your education leads to a credential at all.

Common Admission Requirements for MRI Tech School

Admission requirements vary by school, but most MRI tech school programs ask for the same core items.

Education Baseline

A high school diploma or GED is the minimum. MRI training rests on science and math fundamentals, so admissions teams want evidence you can handle college-level coursework in anatomy, physics, and medical terminology.

Prerequisite Coursework

Some programs require or recommend coursework in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, college math, and physics before you begin the core curriculum. Others build these subjects into the program. CBD College folds them into its first modules, so confirm the model your school follows, since it affects your start date and total timeline.

Application Materials

Most programs request a predictable set of documents:

Clinical sites set many of these conditions, not the school. Imaging facilities will not place a student without a background check and current immunizations, so programs collect them up front.

Program Format

Format shapes how the prerequisites play out day to day. CBD College runs a hybrid MRI program structured as an 18-month Associate of Applied Science degree, delivered across six 11-week modules with schedule flexibility built in. The hybrid model combines structured coursework with clinical experience at approved sites.

How Long Does It Take to Become an MRI Tech?

Most MRI training takes one to two years, depending on whether you pursue a certificate or an associate degree. CBD College’s Associate of Applied Science takes 18 months from start to graduation.

The timeline breaks into clear phases. Early modules build the foundation: anatomy and physiology, physics, cross-sectional anatomy, and MRI safety. Lab work, including Introduction to Clinical MRI, lets you practice before patient contact. Clinical rotations across the final modules place you in working imaging environments, and the program closes with a registry review to prepare you for the certification exam. The clinical externship guide explains what the clinical phase involves, and this breakdown of how long an MRI program takes covers the timeline in more detail.

Compared with a four-year degree, MRI technology moves you from enrollment to a credentialed role quickly, which is part of its appeal.

MRI Certification: The ARRT Primary Pathway

Completing an ARRT-approved associate degree program makes you eligible for ARRT certification in MRI through the Primary Eligibility Pathway. ARRT certification is the standard credential for MRI technologists in the United States.

ARRT sets three requirements. The education requirement calls for an associate degree plus completion of an approved program in the discipline. The ethics requirement asks candidates to demonstrate good moral character through a review process. The examination requirement is the final step, a comprehensive exam covering MRI practice. Once certified, you renew annually and complete continuing education every two years.

The Primary Pathway is the route for new students. A separate postprimary pathway exists for technologists already certified in radiography, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, or sonography who want to add MRI. For a fuller picture, see this overview of ARRT certification.

Skills and Traits That Support Success

Prerequisites get you in the door. Certain traits help you finish the program and thrive on the job. Attention to detail matters when image quality affects a diagnosis. Comfort with technology and physics concepts helps, since operating MRI equipment and understanding image formation are daily work. Patient communication is central, because many patients feel anxious inside the scanner and need clear reassurance. Composure in a clinical setting rounds out the profile.

None of these are admission requirements, but they predict how well the work will suit you, so an honest self-assessment is worth the time before you commit.

Career Outlook After Certification

Demand stays strong. The BLS projects about 15,400 openings per year for radiologic and MRI technologists through 2034, driven by an aging population and rising use of diagnostic imaging. The median wage for MRI technologists was $88,180 in May 2024.

Certified MRI technologists work in hospitals, imaging centers, diagnostic clinics, and outpatient facilities. For more on pay and the training path, see the MRI tech salary guide and this look at MRI tech school programs.

Start Your MRI Technology Education

If you have researched the prerequisites and the role fits what you want, the next step is an application. CBD College’s ABHES-accredited, ARRT-recognized MRI program prepares you for the certification exam in 18 months, with hands-on lab work and clinical rotations built in. Visit the MRI program page to review start dates and request information from an admissions advisor.