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ARRT Seeks Comments on Proposed MRI Changes

Published on Aug 7, 2018

*This article references outdated documents and a closed survey. As such, we've removed these links. View our current discipline documents. 


The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is looking for help from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technologists and educators in MRI programs. We encourage you to review the proposed changes to the MRI Examination Content Specifications, Didactic and Clinical Competency Requirements, and Clinical Experience Requirements. 

Our goal is to produce comprehensive, accurate, and fair documents that cover the knowledge and cognitive skills required of MRI technologists. ARRT’s examinations are job-related. That is, we only include topics if knowledge of those topics relates directly to a clinical activity typically required in one’s job. A survey of possible tasks was sent to 6,000 current MRI technologists to determine these topics. 

ARRT’s MRI Advisory Committee (composed of subject matter experts from throughout the nation) began working on these documents in October 2017 and will complete its work on them later this year. After that, ARRT’s Board of Trustees will review the proposed changes. The revised MRI documents have a scheduled implementation date of January 1, 2020. 

SUMMARY OF MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE EXAMINATION CONTENT SPECIFICATIONS

Patient Care Section 

We reorganized the Patient Care section, making it more consistent with those of other ARRT disciplines. In addition, the new organization better reflects current practices and guidelines. We also added topics related to the handling and disposing of toxic and hazardous materials. 

Safety Section 

We reorganized the Safety section to classify biological effects and the Food and Drug Administration guidelines for each electromagnetic field in MRI. 

Image Production Section 

We updated the Image Production section to include topics on informatics and to clarify information in the artifacts and imaging parameters sections.

Procedures Section We updated the Procedures section to include brain perfusion, cranial nerves (non IACs), sinuses, whole spine and lumbar plexus. We added CINE (e.g., CSF flow study) and surgical planning under the ‘focus of questions’. We removed vascular spine and spleen procedures. 

Additionally, we updated wording on multiple topics for clarification and consistency.

SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE DIDACTIC AND CLINICAL COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

We increased the total number of available elective procedures from 24 to 29 and the minimum number of elective procedures that are required from 10 to 11. As part of these changes, we:

  • Added eight new procedures
  • Removed three procedures
  • Separated or combined four pairs of procedures

Additionally, we updated wording on multiple topics for clarification and consistency.

SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CLINICAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

We increased the maximum number of repetitions for the same procedure from five to six.

We decreased the total number of available procedures from 53 to 46.  As part of these changes, we:

  • Added three new procedures
  • Removed seven imaging procedures
  • Separated or combined three pairs of procedures 

We created a mandatory quality control section. As part of this change, we:

  • Moved four quality control procedures from the elective procedures section to the mandatory quality control section
  • Added three additional quality control procedures

We clarified that a technologist verifying MRI safety requirements, imaging procedures, and quality control procedures must be certified and registered in MRI through ARRT. We’ve also added that a medical physicist can verify the MRI safety requirements and quality control procedures. 

Additionally, we updated wording on multiple topics for clarification and consistency.

REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK

We invite you to review the documents below and provide feedback through an online survey (live until September 14, 2018). The survey is the official method by which we track feedback. Our MRI Advisory Committee will review all comments and may make additional changes based on your feedback. 

Note: We’ve underlined (additions) or lined out (deletions) the proposed changes in the drafts. 

Proposed Examination Content Specifications [link deactivated]
Proposed Didactic and Clinical Competency Requirements [link deactivated] 
Proposed Clinical Experience Requirements [link deactivated]

Survey (closed on September 14, 2018) 

DISCUSS THE CHANGES WITH YOUR PEERS IN OUR ONLINE FORUM

After completing the survey, you’ll also have the option to discuss the proposed changes with your peers in our online discussion forum (closed on September 14, 2018).

QUESTIONS?

If you have questions about how the proposed changes may affect your eligibility for certification and registration in MRI, call our Initial Certification Department at 651.687.0048. Choose the option for earning an ARRT credential. 

If you have questions about the proposed changes to these documents, contact our Examination Requirements and Psychometrics Department at 651.681.3162. 

Thank you for your contribution to this important project!