Becoming an MRI tech is the dream of many students, as the job is paying quite well, and it comes with a clear career path as well as many chances to get a promotion. In fact, your MRI tech salary is quite likely to be higher than the national average if you live in an urban area.

One of the most important factors that affect your MRI tech salary is your certifications. Earning a good and certified certification, such as an associate degree, will help you get a better MRI tech salary. Here are some reasons why.

Better certifications mean better proof of knowledge

Certifications from a respectable authority will be your best friend when negotiating your salary with a potential employer. This is because they are awarded by experts in the field, who have had years of experience. These experts will not issue a certification to just about anyone, and only students who have passed through difficult tests can receive them. Thus, these certifications are very good proof of your competence.

For most cases, you should aim for ARRT-approved certifications. The ARRT is the top authority in the US when it comes to radiology. Thus, an ARRT-approved certification will be a very good proof of your competence, and the more competent you are, the higher your MRI tech salary will be.

You will learn more when participating in higher education classes

Higher education classes for MRI are very intense, with a lot of new knowledge that you will have to absorb. These classes will go into detail about how MRI works as well as the physics behind MRI machines. They will go deeper into theoretical knowledge of the field, allowing students to fully grasp the concepts behind MRI. Thus, MRI technicians with a higher education degree will be more suitable for supervisory positions, which earn more than an average MRI technician.

You will have more time for clinical training

If you enter an MRI course at a respectable medical institute, there is a higher chance of you receiving high-quality clinical training from the institute. Clinical training is extremely important for every MRI technician, as the field is full of theoretical knowledge. If you have not received the right clinical training to apply this vast amount of knowledge into real-life contexts, the MRI sessions you are in charge of will not go smoothly, and the patients might be unhappy.

Courses that award bachelor’s degrees usually last for four years, leaving the students with ample time for clinical training. Courses with associate degrees last two years, which is still a good amount of time to master MRI clinical training.

Getting better education is one of the best ways to increase your MRI tech salary. If you need help with getting ARRT-approved certifications, Pulse Radiology is here to help. We offer online MRI courses for students who are too busy for brick-and-mortar classes. Contact us right away for more information, and our experts will always be ready to help!