General Information

The Certificate in MRI Technician is a one-year paramedical training programme designed to impart foundational knowledge and practical skills in magnetic resonance imaging. Students learn human anatomy, MRI physics, scanner operation, and standard imaging protocols. The curriculum emphasizes patient safety, contrast management, and professional clinical practices, preparing candidates to assist radiologists effectively in diagnostic imaging departments and clinical environments.

1. Course Duration: 1 Year
2. Minimum Qualification: 10+2 with Science stream
3. Course Category: PARAMEDICAL
4. Total Marks: 600 (Theory 600, 6 subjects)

Course Objectives

• Teach fundamental principles of MRI physics, instrumentation, and clinical imaging protocols.
• Provide training in sectional human anatomy and physiological systems relevant to diagnostic imaging.
• Develop competence in safe equipment handling, scanner controls, and quality assurance procedures.
• Instill essential protocols for patient care, emergency response, and magnetic resonance safety standards.

Learning Outcomes

• Operate MRI equipment safely following established clinical guidelines and technical standards.
• Demonstrate knowledge of sectional human anatomy for accurate image planning and acquisition.
• Implement strict MRI safety protocols for patients, personnel, and screening metallic contraindications.
• Apply appropriate imaging sequences and scan parameters for diverse diagnostic examinations.
• Provide competent patient care, positioning, and assistance during clinical magnetic resonance procedures.

Pass & Division Criteria

The maximum marks and minimum pass marks of Theory and Practical of each subject are given in the Mark Distribution table below. To pass, a candidate must score the minimum pass marks separately in both Theory and Practical of every subject.

The division is decided on the aggregate percentage of marks obtained, as follows —

Mark Distribution

Total marks of the course : 600

Detailed Syllabus

1. Cellular Organization and Human Tissue Systems — Study of cell structure, types of tissues, epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous tissues essential for radiological identification.
2. Skeletal System and Joint Classification — Detailed overview of the human skeleton, bone classifications, axial, appendicular bones, and major synovial joints relevant to imaging.
3. Neuroanatomy: Brain and Spinal Cord — Anatomical structure of cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, ventricles, meninges, and spinal cord pathways evaluated in neuroimaging examinations.
4. Cardiovascular System and Great Vessels — Functional anatomy of the heart chambers, cardiac valves, coronary circulation, aorta, and peripheral vascular anatomy required for vascular imaging.
5. Respiratory System and Thoracic Cavity — Gross anatomy of trachea, bronchial tree, lungs, mediastinal structures, and pleural spaces with emphasis on cross-sectional appearances.
6. Abdominal Viscera and Digestive Organs — Detailed study of liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, stomach, intestines, and their anatomical positions in relation to abdominal scans.
7. Genitourinary System and Pelvic Cavity — Anatomy and physiology of kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, prostate, uterus, ovaries, and pelvic floor relationships in cross-sectional views.
8. Endocrine and Lymphatic Systems — Morphological review of pituitary, thyroid, adrenal glands, lymph nodes, and spleen relevant to magnetic resonance evaluation.
9. Sectional Anatomy in Standard Orthogonal Planes — Orientation and identification of anatomical landmarks across axial, sagittal, and coronal planes for standardized diagnostic imaging.

1. Atomic Structure and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance — Fundamentals of nuclear spin, hydrogen protons, magnetic moments, thermal equilibrium, and biological relevance of hydrogen in magnetic resonance.
2. Precession and the Larmor Equation — Concept of gyromagnetic ratio, precessional frequency, Larmor equation, and resonance phenomenon when exposed to an external magnetic field.
3. Radiofrequency Pulses and Net Magnetization — Application of RF excitation pulses, net magnetization vector, flip angles, and conversion of longitudinal magnetization into transverse magnetization.
4. Relaxation Processes: T1 and T2 Mechanisms — Detailed study of spin-lattice relaxation, spin-spin relaxation, recovery mechanisms, tissue-specific relaxation times, and free induction decay signals.
5. Pulse Sequences: Spin Echo Fundamentals — Principles of 90-degree and 180-degree pulses, echo formation, repetition time, echo time, and weighting principles for T1 and T2 images.
6. Gradient Echo and Fast Imaging Sequences — Mechanism of gradient reversal, flip angle variation, steady-state concepts, rapid acquisition sequences, and susceptibility artifact considerations.
7. Spatial Encoding and Gradient Systems — Functions of slice selection, phase encoding, frequency encoding gradients, and the spatial localization process during scan acquisition.
8. K-Space Concepts and Raw Data Acquisition — Structure of K-space, trajectory filling methods, spatial frequency distribution, 2D Fourier transformation, and reconstruction of cross-sectional images.
9. Image Quality Parameters and Trade-Offs — Interrelationship between signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio, spatial resolution, scan time, matrix size, and slice thickness.
10. Magnetic Resonance Artifacts and Corrections — Types of common artifacts including motion, chemical shift, aliasing, susceptibility, truncation, and technical methods for their mitigation.

1. Primary Magnet Systems and Cryogenics — Types of main magnets, superconducting coils, liquid helium cooling, cryostat design, quench procedures, and emergency venting protocols.
2. Gradient Coil Systems and Power Amplifiers — Construction of gradient coils, gradient strength, slew rate, rise time, acoustic noise generation, and maintenance considerations.
3. Radiofrequency Coils and System Receivers — Types of RF coils, volume, surface, phased-array, multichannel coils, coil positioning, impedance matching, and routine connection checks.
4. Computer Architecture and Operator Console — Operator workstation hardware, user interface navigation, protocol management, image storage, PACS archiving, and DICOM standard communication.
5. MRI Safety Zones and Screening Procedures — Four-zone safety model, patient and staff screening questionnaires, ferromagnetic object detection, and preventing projectile hazards in zone IV.
6. Biological Effects and SAR Management — Biological impact of static magnetic fields, time-varying gradients, specific absorption rate limitations, RF heating risks, and safe exposure monitoring.
7. Implant Safety and Compatibility Verification — Classification of MR Safe, MR Conditional, and MR Unsafe devices, screening protocols for pacemakers, aneurysm clips, and orthopedic implants.
8. Equipment Maintenance and Daily Quality Assurance — Daily quality control checks, phantom scanning procedures, signal-to-noise ratio verification, center frequency adjustment, and logbook maintenance.
9. Emergency Protocols and Cryogen Quench Management — Managing medical emergencies inside scan rooms, emergency run-down button usage, quench pipe failure detection, and patient evacuation procedures.

1. Patient Preparation and Positioning Guidelines — General patient preparation, psychological counseling for claustrophobia, immobilization techniques, laser alignment, and standardized table positioning.
2. Brain and Neurovascular Imaging Protocols — Standard acquisition protocols for brain, stroke imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, perfusion protocols, and intracranial MR angiography setups.
3. Spine Imaging Techniques — Patient positioning, coil selection, slice angle planning for cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine, covering degenerative and trauma assessments.
4. Musculoskeletal Imaging Protocols — High-resolution positioning and planning for shoulder, knee, ankle, wrist, and hip joints, evaluating ligaments, cartilage, and soft tissues.
5. Abdominal and Pelvic Scan Techniques — Respiratory compensation methods, breath-hold planning, MRCP techniques, liver multiphase studies, and high-resolution pelvic anatomical imaging.
6. Contrast Media Administration and Protocols — Gadolinium-based contrast agents, dosage calculation, injection flow rates, adverse reactions management, and screening for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.
7. Cardiac MRI Protocols and Gating — Electrocardiogram leads placement, prospective and retrospective gating methods, functional cine imaging, and myocardial viability assessment sequences.
8. Advanced Imaging Applications and Sequences — Overview of magnetic resonance spectroscopy, functional MRI, tractography, susceptibility-weighted imaging, and whole-body screening applications.
9. Post-Processing and Image Formatting — Multiplanar reconstruction, maximum intensity projection, volume rendering techniques, measurement tools, and preparing standard photographic diagnostic films.

1. Introduction to Patient Care in Radiology — Covers role of MRI technologist, ethical responsibilities, communication techniques, and preserving patient dignity, comfort, and privacy in the imaging department.
2. Patient Assessment and Vital Signs Monitoring — Details assessment of patient clinical status, checking pulse, blood pressure, respiration rate, oxygen saturation, and identifying signs of distress before MRI scans.
3. Infection Control and Aseptic Techniques — Covers standard universal precautions, hand hygiene, disinfection protocols of coils and gantry, personal protective equipment usage, and bio-medical waste segregation guidelines.
4. Patient Handling, Transfer, and Ergonomics — Focuses on safe transfer techniques from wheelchair or stretcher to scan table, body mechanics, assisting disabled patients, and preventing patient falls or injuries.
5. Screening for MRI Safety and Contraindications — Details pre-scan screening questionnaires, identifying metallic implants, pacemakers, foreign bodies, aneurysm clips, pregnancy considerations, and managing claustrophobic patients effectively.
6. Static and Gradient Magnetic Field Hazards — Examines safety zones, projectile risks, acoustic noise protection, bio-effects of static magnetic fields, and peripheral nerve stimulation caused by gradient fields.
7. Radiofrequency Safety and Thermal Injury Prevention — Covers specific absorption rate limits, radiofrequency heating, contact burns prevention, proper patient insulation, and managing cables to prevent skin loop creation.
8. Emergency Response and Crash Cart Management — Outlines handling medical emergencies inside MRI rooms, code blue activation, CPR protocols, oxygen administration, crash cart maintenance, and magnet quench procedures.
9. Contrast Media Safety and Adverse Reactions — Covers checking renal function profiles, screening for allergies, recognizing mild to severe contrast reactions, extravasation management, and immediate medical intervention steps.

1. Orientation to Clinical MRI Workflow — Covers hospital administrative hierarchy, departmental record keeping, patient scheduling, radiological information system operation, and overall workflow from reception to reporting.
2. Routine Brain and Neuro Imaging Protocols — Details patient positioning, head coil selection, slice alignment, parameter settings, and standard pulse sequence execution for routine brain MRI scans.
3. Spine Imaging Protocol Application — Focuses on patient setup, positioning for cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine, selecting phased-array coils, and minimizing motion artifacts during acquisition.
4. Musculoskeletal System Imaging Protocols — Covers positioning techniques, coil selection, and sequence parameters for scanning shoulders, knees, hips, wrists, and ankle joints in clinical settings.
5. Body and Abdominal Imaging Procedures — Details patient breathing instructions, respiratory gating methods, liver, kidney, and pelvis imaging protocols, and optimization of fast dynamic scan sequences.
6. Magnetic Resonance Angiography Protocols — Covers time-of-flight imaging, phase contrast techniques, contrast-enhanced vascular scanning for carotid and renal vessels, and maximum intensity projection post-processing.
7. Specialized MRI Protocols and Techniques — Outlines diffusion-weighted imaging, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, perfusion studies, fat suppression techniques, and artifact identification during routine clinical procedures.
8. Image Processing, Archiving, and Filming — Covers post-processing techniques, image reconstruction, window leveling, PACS transfer, multi-planar reformations, and preparing scan sheets or CD outputs for radiologists.
9. Quality Control and Maintenance Protocols — Details daily phantom scanning, signal-to-noise ratio measurements, coil integrity checks, cryogen level monitoring, and documenting equipment preventive maintenance logs.
10. Clinical Documentation and Professional Ethics — Covers drafting clinical scan notes, incident reporting, maintaining patient confidentiality under medico-legal standards, and professional conduct during interdisciplinary clinical interactions.