MRI Technology is an Associate Degree program (Hybrid) offered by Texas Health School in Houston, TX. The program takes 1,754 clock hours (71 semester credits) — 80 weeks, five 16-week semesters to complete, with a total tuition of $44,375.
Program Overview
THECB approval pending. Texas Health School is developing a proposed Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology - Associate of Applied Science (MRIT-AAS) program, submitted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for the applicable program approval. THECB approval of this specific degree program has not yet been granted. The program is not currently available for enrollment, and no start date is guaranteed.
The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technology – Associate of Applied Science (MRIT-AAS) program is designed to prepare students for rewarding careers as entry-level MRI technologists within a variety of healthcare settings. It is offered over an 80-week period consisting of five 16-week semesters, which includes 750 hours of hands-on externship in a clinical setting.
Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of MRI principles, cross-sectional anatomy, patient care procedures, imaging protocols, magnetic resonance physics, image acquisition, safety standards, and quality assurance practices, and will develop proficiency in operating MRI equipment, positioning patients, administering imaging procedures under appropriate supervision, and producing high-quality diagnostic images while maintaining patient comfort and safety.
What sets this Program apart
No prerequisite courses. General education courses, including Anatomy and Physiology, English Composition, College Algebra, and Introduction to Psychology, are built into the program.
Flexible hybrid schedule. Most coursework is delivered online; students come to campus for Anatomy and Physiology labs and complete clinical externships at healthcare facilities. Courses combine live (synchronous) online classes with self-paced (asynchronous) learning.
740 simulated procedures. Before working with patients, students practice scanning in ScanLabMR, an MRI simulation application: across four simulation courses they complete 740 simulated MRI procedures of the brain, neck, spine, musculoskeletal system, chest, abdomen, and pelvis.
Certification exam prep built in. A dedicated MR Registry Review course in the final semester prepares students for the ARRT and ARMRIT MRI exams.
A clear plan from day one. Every student receives an individual academic plan with a defined start date and a projected graduation date.
Small class sizes. Smaller classes mean more personal instruction and more support from your instructors.
Admission Requirements and Process
Planned admission requirements. The school publishes these as the planned requirements for the proposed program:
- An admissions representative will interview and determine the abilities and needs of the applicant.
- Applicants must possess a high school diploma, a GED certificate, or an equivalent Home School certificate, must be at least 17 years of age and 18 prior to starting their scheduled externship, and must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.
- All applicants take the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam; the minimum score for MRI Technology is 17.
- Applicants must pass the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS VII®) with minimum scores of 60% in Reading and 55% in Mathematics, from within the preceding 12 months, taken at the Texas Health School campus or an approved in-person, proctored testing location.
- Applicants complete a panel interview with the selection committee and an initial criminal background check conducted by the school through its approved vendor.
- Accepted students attend a mandatory orientation session prior to beginning their classes.
Not yet enrolling. An inquiry about the proposed program does not constitute an application for admission, an offer of admission, an enrollment agreement, or a guarantee that the program will be offered.
General Requirements
- High school diploma or GEDHave a high school diploma or GED.
- Wonderlic SLE score of 17Achieve a Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam score of 17.
- TEAS scoresAchieve ATI TEAS scores of at least 60 in Reading and 55 in Math, taken in person at THS or an approved proctored location.
- EnglishBe able to read and write in English.
- Panel interviewComplete a panel interview with the selection committee.
Application Process
- 1Join an information sessionInformation sessions on the proposed program are held every Thursday at 3:30 pm.
- 2Register your interestAn inquiry registers interest in future updates; it is not an application, and the program is not yet open for enrollment.
- 3Prepare for admission testingThe planned requirements are a Wonderlic SLE score of 17 and TEAS scores of 60 in Reading and 55 in Math.
- 4Await THECB approvalEnrollment can open only after the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approves the degree program.
Program Schedule
The program takes 80 weeks, made up of five 16-week semesters. Courses are delivered remotely through live (synchronous) and self-paced (asynchronous) learning; schedules vary by semester and stay consistent week to week within each semester. On-campus lab and testing schedules are provided a couple of weeks before each semester starts.
Externship. Externship is scheduled during semesters IV and V at 24 hours per week for a total period of thirty-two weeks: 750 externship hours in a face-to-face format, with hours depending on the externship site’s schedule.
Proposed cohorts. The catalog addendum’s 2027-28 academic calendar lists proposed cohorts beginning February 1, 2027, May 24, 2027, September 13, 2027 and January 3, 2028; the school’s program page states that no start date has been set while THECB approval is pending.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited school means its training has been reviewed against independent standards that protect students.
This school: Texas Health School is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE), a national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. It is approved and regulated by the Texas Board of Nursing, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Reviewed against independent standards
- Recognized by employers and licensing boards
Accreditations
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Cost of the program. The catalog addendum prints the following charges, which reconcile to the total cost paid to Texas Health School:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $44,375 |
| Registration Fee | $100 |
| Kit & Book Fee | $3,250 |
| Certification Exam Fees | $650 |
| Technology Fee | $500 |
| Total cost paid to Texas Health School | $48,875 |
The tuition cost to take an individual subject is $625 per semester credit hour. The program is pending THECB approval and is not currently available for enrollment, and the school publishes no financial aid statement for it yet.
Cancellation. A full refund will be made to any student who cancels the enrollment contract within 72 hours (until midnight of the third day excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) after the enrollment contract is signed, or within the student’s first three scheduled class days, except that the school may retain not more than $100 in any administrative fees charged.
Curriculum
The proposed MRI Technology curriculum totals 1,754 clock hours (690 lecture, 314 lab, 750 externship) and 71 semester credits across five semesters, listed course by course in the table below: general education and anatomy, MRI principles and safety, MRI procedures and simulation, patient care, two clinical externships and the MR Registry Review.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Lecture | Lab | External | Total | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be prepared for entry-level positions as MRI Technologists in healthcare settings such as hospitals, outpatient imaging centers, physician practices, specialty clinics, and diagnostic imaging facilities.
Certification. Upon completing the program, graduates are prepared to sit for the R.T.(MR) from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and the MRI Technologist credential from the American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (ARMRIT).
Outlook. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for MRI technologists in the United States was $95,480 in May 2025; the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land area employed about 820 MRI technologists in May 2025, with a median annual wage of $102,570.
Career services. Texas Health School assists students in finding employment in entry-level positions in their chosen career fields and offers placement assistance to all eligible completers and graduates. Upon successful completion of the program the school will refer graduates and present their resumes to prospective employers; placement assistance includes resume writing, cover letter writing, finding job openings, mock interviews and career networking events. Texas Health School does not guarantee placement, nor does it guarantee that a graduate will earn a specific wage in their area of study.
What to expect as a Texas Health School student
Since 2002. Texas Health School was established in Houston in 2002 to provide specialized training programs needed to address the increasing demand for skilled healthcare professionals. In 2019 it relocated to 11511 Katy Freeway to a larger more modernized facility. The school occupies approximately 12,000 sq. ft. on the second floor; the facilities include a computer lab, two nursing skills labs, a medical lab, two lecture rooms, and a massage clinic classroom, and the classrooms and labs are supplied with equipment and instruments related to the specific academic program of study.
Orientation. Accepted students attend a mandatory orientation session covering the school’s policies and procedures, the program’s curriculum overview, class schedules, the grading scale, available resources, the learning management system, and meetings with the faculty, registrar, career services, and financial aid department directors.
Attendance. MRIT-AAS students are required to have attended 80% of their scheduled hours in order to graduate.
Clinical sites. Externship sites include hospital radiology departments (inpatient and emergency), outpatient facilities, urgent care centers, standalone emergency centers, and MRI and other diagnostic centers.
Dress code. Students are required to wear the school’s uniform in class and on externship. Shoes must be closed toe - closed heel and should be either white, navy, or black, and a school issued student ID badge is required to be worn at all times. Visible tattoos must be covered, fingernails must be short and clean with no polish, and use of cell phone, food and drink is prohibited in class or during clinical/externship activity.
Health insurance. Students are expected to maintain their own health insurance while attending Texas Health School and are responsible for any medical expenses incurred during the course of the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
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