Magnetic Resonance Imaging Application Process
Before you proceed with the application process, we encourage you to read the Magnetic Resonance Imaging FAQ. If you need additional help, please contact us.
Applicants must be enrolled in Austin Community College. Click here for more information. Admission to Austin Community College does not guarantee admission to a Health Sciences program.
To be eligible for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Advanced Technical Certificate program, the student must meet the Technical Standards required by the program as well as one of the following criteria:
- Must carry a primary current certification in one of these areas:
- Radiology R.T.(R)(ARRT)
- Nuclear Medicine R.T. (N) (ARRT or NMTCB)
- Radiation Therapy R.T.(T)(ARRT)
- Sonography (RDMS)
- Applicants with non-ARRT credentials, such as RDMS or NMTCB need to personally contact the ARRT for eligibility verification. The ARRT will determine if your primary license and school program meets the eligibility requirements for post-primary certification in MRI.
- Must be a diagnostic medical imaging student in the final semester of an accredited Radiologic Technology, Sonography, Nuclear Medicine, or Radiation Therapy program.
- Candidates must submit a letter from their Program Director with their application and pass their primary registry on the first attempt or be withdrawn.
- If you are currently enrolled in a diagnostic medical imaging program at ACC or another college or university, it is possible to apply to the ACC Magnetic Resonance Imaging program before you graduate. For more info, see the “Special Notes” section at the bottom of this page.
- Must be a recent graduate from an accredited Radiologic Technology, Sonography, Nuclear Medicine or Radiation Therapy program.
- Candidates must submit a letter from their Program Director with their application and pass their primary registry on the first attempt or be withdrawn from the program. See the “Special Notes” section below for letter content instructions.
MRI Program applications are accepted annually from April 1 to June 24 at 5 p.m. If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the due date will end on the next business day.
To view the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Advanced Technical Certificate plan, click here.
ALL Applicants:
- Activate your ACC email account. All correspondence regarding your application will be sent to your ACC email address. For information on how to set up your ACC email account, please see this page.
- Obtain official transcripts for coursework taken at any schools other than ACC.
- Create or update resume.
For DECLARED Applicants
A declared student is a registered or registry-eligible radiologic technologist who is seeking ARRT post-primary certification for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The declared student is not currently employed in this specialty and needs both the didactic and clinical education components arranged by ACC to complete their ARRT post-primary application. The declared student will be enrolled in both the didactic and clinical components of the program. The Advanced Technical Certificate is only awarded if both the didactic and clinical courses outlined in the degree plan are successfully completed. A change in enrollment status at any point during the program will nullify the earning of the Advanced Technical Certificate in the discipline. Declared students will be eligible to enroll in the three didactic courses and two clinical courses.
- Get a current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR Certification.
- View the MRI Program Information Session. Print and save the confirmation email when you reach the end of the session.
- Go to the CastleBranch website and click the link “Place Order.”
- Enter UL64im in the “Package Code” field. After entering your personal information, the system will prompt you to upload your 1-page immunization form for each of the four required immunizations. The cost to set up the account is $47. NOTE: If you have previously completed your immunizations in Castle Branch for ACC Health Sciences, you do not need to repeat this step.
- Next input code UL67im in the “Package Code” field. The system will prompt you to upload the following:
- Information Session confirmation email, signed
- Completed Diagnostic Medical Imaging Work Experience and Declaration Form
- Copy of current ARRT certification card with registry in Radiography, Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Therapy, or Sonography, or letter from Program Director stating that you are in good standing or a recent graduate eligible to take the registry exam
- Copy of current Texas Medical Board license (if applicable to discipline)
- Updated Resume
- Front and back copy of current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS CPR certification)
Documents are approved when you receive a green check next to the requirement. All items must be approved in CastleBranch before an application will be accepted.
For UNDECLARED Applicants
An undeclared student is not eligible to earn the Advanced Technical Certificate. An undeclared student is a registered or registry-eligible radiologic technologist who is pursuing ARRT post-primary credentials in Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is currently employed in Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and would like ACC to provide them with the didactic, structured education requirements only to apply and prepare them for the ARRT-MRI Exam. The undeclared student has made arrangements outside of ACC to meet the clinical requirements of the ARRT-MRI application. The undeclared student will only enroll in the didactic courses. The ATC is only awarded to those who successfully complete both the didactic and clinical courses outlined in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Advanced Technical Certificate Plan through ACC. It is the sole responsibility of the undeclared student to ensure they meet all of the ARRT-MRI requirements to apply for the ARRT- Magnetic Resonance Imaging registry exam.
- Undeclared applicants do not create a CastleBranch account.
- Complete the Diagnostic Medical Imaging Work Experience and Declaration Form.
- View the MRI Program Information Session. Print and save the confirmation email at the end of the session.
ALL Applicants:
- Print and fill out the MRI program application.
- Applications will not be accepted in person until further notice. Follow the instructions on this page to submit your application remotely.
For DECLARED Applicants
- You must get clearance from CastleBranch (green checks = clearance) before submitting your application.
- Submit any official transcripts other than ACC, if applicable, with your paper application. No other supporting documents are required to be turned in with paper application.
Incomplete packets will not be processed and will be returned.
For UNDECLARED Applicants
Submit the following documents with your paper application. All items must be included with your application to be considered.
- Diagnostic Medical Imaging Work Experience and Declaration Form
- Information Session confirmation email
- Copy of current ARRT certification card with registry in Radiography, Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Therapy, or Sonography
- Copy of current Texas Medical Board license (if applicable to discipline)
- Official transcripts for schools other than ACC
- Resume
Incomplete packets will not be processed, and will be returned.
The MRI program has a limited number of program seats based on clinical site availability. In the event that the number of applicants exceeds the number of program seats an admissions ranking process will be initiated.
Please note that a “P” grade will not be calculated in determining the GPA for ranking purposes and could impact your total ranking score. For questions regarding choosing a “P” versus a performance grade (A, B, C) please contact [email protected].
A sample admission ranking process/formula can be found here.
- Final ranking scores are arranged from the highest score to the lowest score and the top 10 applicants are offered a position in the program.
- If the same ranking score is achieved by more than one applicant, those applications will then be ranked by the date and time of application submission.
- In the event someone declines a position or does not respond by the stated deadline, the program will offer the position to the applicant next in line in the ranking.
Offers of admission are emailed to the applicant immediately upon conclusion of the application review and (if applicable) the ranking process.
Provisional Admission Information for Declared Students
Admission to the MRI program for declared students is provisional until the following clinical requirements are met. Do not take action on these items until instructed by the department:
- Criminal Background Check
- Drug Screening
- TB Testing
- Health Data Form
- CPR Certification
- Proof of Health Insurance
- Seasonal Flu Vaccine
- Online Education Modules
If you have concerns about events in your background, you may contact the Health Sciences Compliance Coordinator Lisa Enloe at (512) 223-5867 or [email protected].
- You are encouraged to visit the Magnetic Resonance Imaging FAQ page for more information on the program, eligibility, admission ranking process, clinical hours, etc.
- Students interested in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging program are advised to be diligent and proactive in routinely reviewing this website for updates to the application process and/or the degree plan and for department announcements.
- Post primary credentialing information from the ARRT can be found here.
Early Application for Current Diagnostic Imaging Students
If you are currently enrolled in a diagnostic medical imaging program at ACC or another college or university, it is possible to apply to the ACC Magnetic Resonance Imaging program before you graduate.
Instead of providing your TMB-GMRT (Texas Medical Board General Medical Radiologic Technologist) card and ARRT registry card, you will need a signed letter from the department chair of your program. The letter should indicate the following:
- Student’s name
- College or University name
- Expected date of graduation
- Contact information for the current educational program
- State that you are in good standing and likely to graduate with your class
- State that you are not currently on academic probation
- State that you are not currently involved in any progressive disciplinary actions
ACC students can contact Department Chair Kate Verdun at [email protected] for the letter.
Recent Graduates: Letter from Program Director Instructions
If a recent graduate from an accredited Radiologic Technology, Sonography, Nuclear Medicine or Radiation Therapy program, you must submit in lieu of your license/registry a letter from your Program Director on school letterhead with the following information:
- Student’s name
- Program name and degree earned
- Date of graduation
- Eligible to take registry exam
Search the Health Sciences Website
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Updates
TEAS Testing Requirements for Health Sciences Applicants
A TEAS Exam score is required to apply to the following programs: Dental Hygiene, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Radiology, and Vocational Nursing.
If you are not applying to one of the programs above, then you are not required to take the TEAS Exam at this time. Please refer to the Application Process page for your program to see all application requirements.
Read moreDiagnostic Medical Imaging Programs Statement on “Pass” and “No Pass”
If a "P" grade is chosen for a Spring 2020 prerequisite course, the “P” grade will not be calculated in determining the GPA for ranking purposes and could impact your total ranking. This applies to Radiology, MRI, Computed Tomography, and Cardiovascular Interventional Technology applicants. For questions regarding choosing a "P" versus a performance grade (A, B, C) please contact Department Chair Kate Verdun at [email protected].
Read moreMRI program cycle delayed until Spring 2021
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the next MRI program cycle is delayed until Spring 2021 and will take place during the Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 semesters. The deadline for Spring 2021 entering applicants has been extended to November 1, 2020.
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