MRI training for Cleveland
Tesla MR Institute has 13 clinical training sites across Northeast Ohio. Most sit inside the University Hospitals network, spread from Westlake and Elyria on the west side through Cleveland, Parma, and Beachwood to Richmond Heights, Chardon, Concord Township, Ravenna, and Geneva on the east, plus MetroHealth in Cleveland and a site in Akron. Wherever you live in the metro, a rotation site is usually within a reasonable drive.
The program is fully hybrid: complete your didactic coursework online on your own schedule, then do hands-on clinical rotations at a facility near you. No commuting to a distant campus. No relocating. Train where you will eventually work.
Program details
- Duration: 12-18 months
- Prerequisites: None. High school diploma or GED. No prior radiology credentials required.
- Format: Online coursework + in-person clinical rotations in Northeast Ohio
- Certification: ARMRIT (accepted by most Cleveland employers)
- Cost: Starting at $11,500 (payment plans available)
MRI technologist salary in Cleveland
MRI technologists in the Cleveland-Elyria metro area earn approximately $66K-$88K per year. Entry-level positions start at the lower end, with experienced techs and those with specialty skills earning toward the top of the range. Cleveland pays at the top of the Ohio market thanks to its concentration of academic medical centers.
For detailed salary data, see our MRI technologist salary guide and Ohio MRI programs page.
How to become an MRI tech in Cleveland
- Enroll in Tesla MR Institute’s ARMRIT-approved hybrid program
- Complete coursework online at your own pace
- Do clinical rotations at a Northeast Ohio facility near you
- Pass the ARMRIT exam and get certified
- Start working at hospitals and imaging centers in Cleveland
No prior radiology experience needed. Healthcare workers, career changers, and MRI tech aides are all strong candidates.
MRI licensing in Ohio
Ohio licenses radiologic technologists through the Ohio Department of Health, but the licensure program covers ionizing radiation modalities; MRI technologists are generally exempt because MRI does not use ionizing radiation. Employers require national certification through ARRT or ARMRIT.
Employers in the Cleveland area accept both ARRT(MR) and ARMRIT certification. Tesla MR Institute’s program prepares you for the ARMRIT exam, which does not require prior X-ray credentials.
Where MRI techs work in Cleveland
Cleveland has one of the densest hospital markets in the Midwest. Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals are both nationally ranked systems headquartered in the city, MetroHealth anchors the west side, and Summa Health and Akron Children’s serve the Akron end of the metro. That density means steady demand for imaging staff across academic medical centers, community hospitals, and a growing set of suburban outpatient imaging centers, which is where most of our clinical sites sit.
More resources
- MRI tech programs in Ohio — statewide overview
- How to become an MRI technologist — complete career guide
- MRI technologist salary guide — pay data by location
- ARRT vs ARMRIT certification — credential comparison