Technologist: MRI/Breast MRI (Revised 12-12-19)

Katie Albus

Modified on: Tue, 10 Jan, 2023 at 8:37 AM

Revision History

All technologists performing MRI examinations must meet all of the minimum criteria for initial qualifications, continuing experience and continuing education outlined in the table below. The ACR recommends that technologists be certified and actively registered in the modality they perform. In addition, the ACR recommends that technologists performing cardiac MRI and breast MRI hold the Current Basic Life Support certification and be capable of using an automatic external defibrillator.

Note: If mammography technologists participate in breast MRI biopsy procedures on an accredited unit, they are not required to meet the qualifications for the MRI technologists performing breast MRI, as long as a qualified MRI technologist is performing the MRI examination during the biopsy.

Initial Qualifications

Any technologist practicing MRI scanning should be licensed in the jurisdiction in which he/she practices, if state licensure for MRI technologists exists.

One of these:

ARRT, ARMRIT or CAMRT registered as an MR technologist OR
ARRT registered or unlimited state license and 6 months supervised MRI clinical scanning experience* OR
Associate degree or bachelor degree in allied health field and certification in another clinical imaging field (such as ARDMS or NMTCB) and 6 months supervised MRI clinical scanning experience* OR
(MRI Only) Performing MRI prior to and continuously since October 1996 and evaluated by responsible physician to assure competence

In addition, all Breast MRI technologists must also meet both of the following:

Licensure in the state in which he/she practices (if required for MRI technologists)
Supervised experience in breast MRI and supervised experience in the intravenous administration of MR contrast (if contrast administration is performed by the technologist)

*Breast MRI: The experience need not be in whole body MRI; supervision may be performed by a radiologist or technologist who is already qualified in breast MRI. The supervisor should be present to observe and correct, as needed, the performance of the individual being supervised while performing the examination. Technologists should document their experience as they would for mammography under MQSA (examples of appropriate documentation include a letter or other document from a training program, or a letter or other document confirming in-house or formal training).

For Cardiac Module

ARRT, ARMRIT or CAMRT registered as an MR technologist

OR

ARRT registered and unlimited state license and 6 months supervised MRI clinical scanning experience and (all technologists):

Cardiac MRI experience supervised by a qualified physician or a qualified technologist (required)
Experience in the intravenous administration of conventional MR contrast, supervised by a qualified physician or a qualified technologist (required)
Maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (recommended)
Be capable of using an automatic external defibrillator (AED) (recommended)

Any technologist practicing MRI scanning should be licensed in the jurisdiction in which he/she practices, if state licensure for MRI technologists exists.

Continuing Experience (Breast MRI Only)

Upon renewal, the technologist must document 50 breast MRI examinations in the prior 24 months. If 2 technologists participate in performing a breast MRI examination, both may count the examination towards their continuing experience.

Technologists no longer qualified in breast MRI because continuing experience was not maintained may requalify by performing a sufficient number of breast MRI examinations to bring the technologist’s total up to 50 breast MRI procedures for the prior 24 months.

Continuing Education Requirements

Registered technologists:

In compliance with the CE requirements of their certifying organization for the imaging modality in which they perform services
CE includes credits pertinent to technologist’s ACR-accredited clinical practice

State-licensed technologists and all others:

24 hours of CE every 2 years
CE is relevant to imaging and the radiologic sciences, patient care
CE includes credits pertinent to the technologist’s ACR-accredited clinical practice

Additional information regarding acceptable credits for and documentation of continuing education

Revision History for this Article
Date	Section	Description of Revision(s)
12-12-19	All	Article created; FAQs incorporated; No criteria changes

Previous: Interpreting/Supervising Physician: MRI/Breast MRI

Next: Medical Physicist/MR Scientist: MRI/Breast MRI

Revision History

Note: If mammography technologists participate in breast MRI biopsy procedures on an accredited unit, they are not required to meet the qualifications for the MRI technologists performing breast MRI, as long as a qualified MRI technologist is performing the MRI examination during the biopsy.

Initial Qualifications

Any technologist practicing MRI scanning should be licensed in the jurisdiction in which he/she practices, if state licensure for MRI technologists exists.

One of these:

ARRT, ARMRIT or CAMRT registered as an MR technologist OR

ARRT registered or unlimited state license and 6 months supervised MRI clinical scanning experience* OR

Associate degree or bachelor degree in allied health field and certification in another clinical imaging field (such as ARDMS or NMTCB) and 6 months supervised MRI clinical scanning experience* OR

(MRI Only) Performing MRI prior to and continuously since October 1996 and evaluated by responsible physician to assure competence

In addition, all Breast MRI technologists must also meet both of the following:

Licensure in the state in which he/she practices (if required for MRI technologists)

Supervised experience in breast MRI and supervised experience in the intravenous administration of MR contrast (if contrast administration is performed by the technologist)

For Cardiac Module

ARRT, ARMRIT or CAMRT registered as an MR technologist

OR

ARRT registered and unlimited state license and 6 months supervised MRI clinical scanning experience and (all technologists):

Cardiac MRI experience supervised by a qualified physician or a qualified technologist (required)

Experience in the intravenous administration of conventional MR contrast, supervised by a qualified physician or a qualified technologist (required)

Maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (recommended)

Be capable of using an automatic external defibrillator (AED) (recommended)

Any technologist practicing MRI scanning should be licensed in the jurisdiction in which he/she practices, if state licensure for MRI technologists exists.

Continuing Experience (Breast MRI Only)

Upon renewal, the technologist must document 50 breast MRI examinations in the prior 24 months. If 2 technologists participate in performing a breast MRI examination, both may count the examination towards their continuing experience.

Technologists no longer qualified in breast MRI because continuing experience was not maintained may requalify by performing a sufficient number of breast MRI examinations to bring the technologist’s total up to 50 breast MRI procedures for the prior 24 months.

Continuing Education Requirements

Registered technologists:

In compliance with the CE requirements of their certifying organization for the imaging modality in which they perform services

CE includes credits pertinent to technologist’s ACR-accredited clinical practice

State-licensed technologists and all others:

24 hours of CE every 2 years

CE is relevant to imaging and the radiologic sciences, patient care

CE includes credits pertinent to the technologist’s ACR-accredited clinical practice

Additional information regarding acceptable credits for and documentation of continuing education

Revision History for this Article

Date

Section

Description of Revision(s)

12-12-19

All

Article created; FAQs incorporated; No criteria changes

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