MRI technologists diagnose patients from magnetic resonance imaging.
An MRI tech's position in South Carolina receives earnings ranging between $34,000 and $83,000. A survey from Indeed.com that scanned the open jobs in South Carolina for this profession reported an average salary of $61,000 on Aug. 4, 2010. If you are new to the profession, you should expect entry-level salaries around $34,000 in Columbia, $40,000 for jobs in Charleston and $46,000 in Rock Hill, states Alliedhealthworld.com.
MRI Technology
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system scans the patient's body and creates a series of images representing the internal morphology of a person, including organs, bones and vessels. These snapshots represent planar images that the machine stacks up to reconstruct a three-dimensional representation. The South Carolina Diagnostic Imaging Center lists 14 medical facilities that have MRI testing capabilities. Monitor these centers for job openings.
Role
In your job as an MRI tech, you use MRI technology to examine a patient and diagnose potential medical issues. You position the patient onto an examination table that slides inside a tunnel of the MRI system. Typically, you offer headphones to distract the patient from the machine noises. Although the procedure is painless, you may have to reassure individuals who suffer from claustrophobia since the space inside the tunnel is tight. You then step out to a side room and trigger the testing remotely to protect yourself from the radiation. From the results, you diagnose the patient's condition.
Training
To become an MRI tech with a high school degree, you need to apply to a community college that offers two-year and four-year radiology programs approved by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. If you reside in South Carolina and seek a program in your state, the South Carolina Society of Radiologic Technologies lists the Greenville Technical College as the only college that includes MRI training in its curriculum as part of a two-year associate's degree.
Certification
Certification is mandatory to be allowed to work in South Carolina and is granted by the South Carolina Radiation Quality Standards Association. It must be renewed every two years by showing evidence of at least 12 hours of continuing education.
Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects this profession to grow by 17 percent nationwide because of the increase in the use of MRI imaging to diagnose diseases and the increase in the number of patients from the aging of the population in the United States.
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