What to Expect as a Pulse Radiology MRI Student
The Associate’s Degree MRI Program at Pulse Radiology Institute consists of five (5) semesters over an eighteen (18)-month period. The program is hybrid: one component is completed online through our education platform, and the other is a clinical externship that requires the student to be physically present in an MRI environment at a hospital or imaging center. If you are successful, the Associate’s Degree MRI Program will yield an Associate’s Degree in Science with a concentration in MRI and establish eligibility to sit for the American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (ARMRIT) MRI Registry exam. Upon graduation, all students are eligible to gain employment as MRI technologists in radiology.
Your Weekly Schedule and Time Commitment
Each semester is fifteen (15) weeks in length with a 2-3 week break between semesters. The clinical externship starts in Semester 3 and continues through the semester breaks. This means that once the clinical externship begins, students do not have a 2-3 week break from the clinical externship, only from classes.
PRI is an asynchronous program for all didactic courses, meaning students can log in at any time during the week, as long as they meet the course-specific due dates each week. Each course will include a syllabus and a weekly outline in the learning management system. The learning management system is where all courses are housed and how students access them. The syllabus and weekly outline will specify weekly learning content and assignment due dates. It is up to the student to meet all weekly due dates and expectations.
Asynchronous also means there are no set days or times for classes to meet each week, except for an optional weekly Virtual Office Hour session, where the teacher meets via a video conferencing platform to answer any questions students may have. Weekly assignments could include anything from projects, group work, quizzes, video presentations, written assignments, discussions, etc. All assignments are designed to meet the week’s learning objectives. Students will also have access to a Student Resource Center to support them throughout their educational journey. This resource center has not only institute resources but also a study corner with resources on other helpful student items, such as time management, study tips, test anxiety, etc. Periodically, PRI holds Student Workshops to cover specific topics and provide resources to help students succeed.
Balancing Education and Employment
Students often ask if they can work while in the PRI program. Students must take into account the workload for each class, as they will be a full-time student during the entire program taking anywhere from 4-5 classes each semester. Once the clinical externship starts, students will have a clinical schedule as well as classes to stay on top of. The clinical externship consists of a minimum of 16 hours a week, consisting of 2 separate 8-hour day shifts during the week, meaning on the days of Monday-Friday. PRI cannot guarantee evening, weekend, or shorter than 8 hours shifts so students must make accommodations to meet the 2-8 hour daytime shifts on the days of Monday- Friday. While some students find they are able to maintain a job, others feel like they need to dedicate all of their time to their studies and the clinical externship. It is ultimately up to each student if they can work or not.
Academic Integrity
The common misconception is that online education is easier than traditional education at a brick-and-mortar institution. As online education allows students to create more flexible schedules that accommodate education, personal responsibilities, and employment, academic integrity must be upheld. At Pulse Radiology Institute, we use Respondus, a lockdown browser that prevents students from searching for answers, requiring them to rely solely on their own thoughts. This service is critical, as it ensures equity and integrity across all quizzes, tests, and exams.
In addition to lockdown browser software, our institution uses Turnitin, which supports our commitment to integrity in assignments. Turnitin is a plagiarism detection software that ensures students are writing and answering assignments with their own words by checking for plagiarism, whether it is through online articles or the use of AI generation tools such as ChatGPT.
Hands-On MRI Clinical Simulation
This is where things get interesting. And honestly, it’s one of the reasons our students feel more prepared than graduates from other institutions and universities.
ScanLab MR is MRI simulation software that allows students to practice MRI scanning techniques prior to attending clinical, while also serving as a way to fine-tune advanced MRI scanning skills. Think of it like a flight simulator, but for MRI scanners. You’re working with a remote console that mimics real equipment where you can adjust parameters, position slices on anatomical structures and run through protocols like brains, spines, abdomens and extremities – all before you start scanning on real patients.
Instructors can host live simulation sessions and even assignment activities through the simulation software. Because when you’re sitting on a real MRI scanner with a real patient relying on you for a high-quality diagnosis, you are confident and trained to produce the best outcome.
By the time you start your clinical externship, you’ve already learned anatomy, practiced the mechanics, and understand the physics behind the images. As always, the transition from classroom to clinic is still an adjustment – but our institution sets the foundation so you are more confident on your first day at your clinical externship.
MRI Clinical Externship
In accordance with the requirements set by ARMRIT, all students must complete one-thousand (1,000) hours of clinical externship. The clinical externship is credit based and is treated as a college credit course where attendance, performance evaluations and commitment account for your grade. On average, a student can expect to be at clinical for eleven and a half (11.5) months to successfully complete all clinical externship requirements. Each student must complete a minimum of sixteen (16) hours per week with equals two (2), eight (8) hour shifts to successfully complete the clinical externship on time.
Here’s how placement works – upon enrollment, our clinical coordination team works to assign a clinical location through our network of clinical partners. Our team considers your residence and matches you with a clinical partner within a ninety-nine (99) miles radius from your residence. In most cases, it is much closer. Currently, Pulse Radiology Institute is partnered with 1,300 clinical locations across the United States.
As mentioned, you start your clinical externship in Semester 3. Prior to starting, you will work hand-in-hand with your clinical coordinator through clinical orientations, ensuring all requirements for placement are completed and scheduling your clinical start date. Before your start date, you will be assigned a clinical preceptor who will be your main point of contact during your clinical externship. This clinical preceptor will oversee your training, monthly preceptor evaluations and ensure you are following policies and procedures while onsite. Finally, each day you attend clinical training, you will be required to log in and log out through our Clinical Timekeeping Software, Trajecsys, which serves as a great database for attendance.
The clinical externship is a vital component to your education and grade. All students are required to follow the policies and procedures of the clinical location you are paired with. As we say to every student, “treat your clinical externship like a job interview, you never know, it could be your first employer”.
Support Every Step of the Way
Online learning works best when you’re not left alone. This is why we have certified MRI technologists overseeing your clinical externship and are always available for support.
It is important for each student to continue to communicate with your clinical coordinator during your clinical externship.
Admissions support doesn’t disappear after you enroll. Our team is always in your corner for questions about scheduling, documentation, payment plans or any other questions. As you approach graduation, career services steps in to help with job placement through resume assistance and 1:1 interview preparation while our academics team conducts registry reviews to help score high on your certification exam.
Ready to Learn More?
If you are interested in pursing a career in MRI, review the admissions requirements, tuition and fees or complete a contact form. Our team is always ready to help you with any questions.