Four MRI tech programs serve Florida students:
| Program | Duration | Prerequisites | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keiser University | 12-18 months | Varies by campus | $20,000-$30,000 | Multi-campus access across FL |
| MedCollege (Miami) | 12-15 months | High school diploma | $15,000-$25,000 | Miami-area students |
| Santa Fe College | 2+ years (rad tech + MRI) | Prerequisites required | $8,000-$12,000 | Traditional pathway, Gainesville |
| Tesla MR Institute | 12-18 months | None (high school diploma/GED) | $6,450 | Career changers, no radiology background |
Florida MRI techs earn $65,000-$90,000 depending on region, with no state income tax boosting take-home pay. The state has no MRI-specific license requirement. With 120+ clinical training sites, Florida offers extensive clinical placement options.
This guide covers program details, licensing, salary data by metro area, and clinical training site locations across Florida.
Florida MRI technologist licensing: what you need to know
Florida regulates radiologic technologists through the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control. However, this regulation applies to professionals using ionizing radiation (X-ray, CT, fluoroscopy), not MRI.
Because MRI uses magnetic fields rather than ionizing radiation, MRI technologists in Florida do not need a state license or permit. There is no state registration, no state exam, and no state-level continuing education requirement specific to MRI.
What Florida employers actually require
National certification is the universal standard. The two options are ARRT and ARMRIT.
- HCA Healthcare (the largest hospital operator in Florida): Accepts both ARRT and ARMRIT across most facilities
- AdventHealth (Central Florida’s major system): Accepts both certifications
- Baptist Health (South Florida): Typically prefers ARRT but evaluates ARMRIT candidates
- Outpatient imaging centers (SimonMed, RadNet, Akumin): Generally accept either certification
- Travel MRI positions: Most agencies accept both for Florida assignments
Florida’s MRI staffing needs are acute. The combination of a growing, aging population and ongoing retirement of experienced techs means most employers cannot afford to be rigid about certification type.
Key Takeaway
Florida does not require a state license for MRI technologists. No state registration, exam, or permit is needed. Employers require national certification (ARRT or ARMRIT), and both are widely accepted.
MRI tech programs in Florida
Keiser University
Keiser has campuses throughout Florida (Fort Lauderdale, Melbourne, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and more), making it one of the most accessible options for in-person MRI training in the state.
Key details:
- Duration: 12-18 months (varies by campus and program track)
- Prerequisite: Varies by program — some tracks require prior rad tech credentials, others accept career changers
- Location: Multiple campuses statewide
- Cost: Approximately $20,000-$30,000
- Strength: Multiple campus locations, established clinical partnerships
- Limitation: Higher cost than online/hybrid alternatives
MedCollege (Miami)
MedCollege offers an MRI technology program in Miami with a hybrid delivery model combining in-person and online instruction.
Key details:
- Duration: 12-15 months
- Prerequisite: High school diploma or GED
- Location: Miami
- Cost: Approximately $15,000-$25,000
- Outcome: Prepares for both ARRT and ARMRIT certification exams
- Strength: Hybrid format, South Florida clinical placements
- Limitation: Limited to Miami area
Santa Fe College (Gainesville)
Santa Fe College offers a JRCERT-accredited radiologic technology program. This is a traditional pathway — you complete the rad tech associate degree first, then add MRI as a post-primary specialty.
Key details:
- Duration: 2+ years for the full pathway
- Prerequisite: College prerequisites (anatomy, physiology, etc.)
- Location: Gainesville
- Cost: $8,000-$12,000 (community college rates)
- Strength: Affordable, JRCERT accreditation, strong clinical partnerships
- Limitation: Long timeline, requires completing radiography before MRI
Tesla MR Institute (hybrid, statewide)
Tesla MR Institute’s program is designed for people entering MRI directly, including career changers and healthcare workers without radiology backgrounds.
Key details:
- Duration: 12-18 months
- Prerequisite: None. No prior radiology credentials required.
- Format: Online didactic coursework combined with in-person clinical rotations at local Florida sites
- Clinical sites in Florida: 100+ facilities across the state
- Certification: Prepares for ARMRIT certification
- Cost: $6,450 (full program, payment plans available)
- Strength: Accessible to career changers, flexible schedule, lowest cost option
- Limitation: Prepares for ARMRIT, not ARRT
Tip
If you already have ARRT credentials in radiography, a post-primary program is the fastest path. If you are entering MRI without prior credentials and want an affordable option, Tesla MR Institute costs $6,450 compared to $15,000-$30,000 for Florida-based alternatives.
Choosing between ARRT and ARMRIT pathways
For a detailed side-by-side breakdown, read our ARRT vs ARMRIT comparison guide.
Choose the ARRT pathway if:
- You already hold ARRT certification in another modality
- You are targeting large academic medical centers
- You want maximum flexibility in employer options
Choose the ARMRIT pathway if:
- You do not have prior radiology credentials
- You are a career changer looking for the most affordable path into MRI
- You are willing to work at employers that accept ARMRIT, which includes the majority of Florida facilities
MRI technologist salary in Florida
Florida MRI technologist salaries are below the national median but the lack of state income tax partially offsets the difference. The statewide average is approximately $71,140 per year.
Salary by region
| Region | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Palm Beach | $72,000-$85,000 | $35-$41 | Highest paying FL metro |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $70,000-$82,000 | $34-$39 | Second largest market |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $68,000-$80,000 | $33-$38 | Growing market |
| Jacksonville | $65,000-$78,000 | $31-$38 | Major medical hub |
| Southwest FL (Naples, Fort Myers) | $68,000-$82,000 | $33-$39 | Retiree-driven demand |
| Gainesville/Ocala | $62,000-$75,000 | $30-$36 | Lower COL, university medical center |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Florida does not have a state income tax.
Salary by experience level
Entry-level MRI technologists in Florida typically start between $55,000 and $65,000. With 3-5 years of experience and specialty skills, salaries commonly reach $75,000-$90,000. Travel MRI techs working Florida assignments can earn $2,200-$3,200 per week. Remember that Florida’s zero state income tax means your take-home pay is higher than the same salary in most other states.
For a deeper dive into MRI tech compensation, see our MRI technologist salary guide and salary by state breakdown.
Clinical training sites in Florida
Florida’s large healthcare market provides extensive clinical training opportunities across the state.
Tesla MR Institute has 120+ clinical training sites across Florida, concentrated in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro, Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Jacksonville areas. Partner facilities include HCA Healthcare hospitals, AdventHealth locations, outpatient imaging centers, and independent radiology groups.
Most Florida students are placed within 30-45 minutes of their home. The South Florida and Tampa Bay markets have the most available sites.
Tip
With 120+ clinical training sites, Florida has one of the largest clinical training networks in our system. Southern Florida and Tampa Bay have the densest coverage.
Employer Tip
If you are a facility manager in Florida interested in hosting MRI training students, Tesla MR Institute partners with hospitals and imaging centers across the state. Hosting students gives you a direct pipeline to trained, certified MRI technologists. See our clinical site partnership page for details.
Tesla MR Institute has 120+ clinical sites across Florida, from Miami to Jacksonville. Train locally while completing coursework online.
How to become an MRI tech in Florida: step by step
Path 1: Career changers and new entrants (ARMRIT)
- Confirm eligibility. You need a high school diploma or GED. Healthcare experience is preferred but not required.
- Enroll in an ARMRIT-approved program. Tesla MR Institute’s hybrid program lets you complete didactic coursework online while doing clinical rotations at a Florida facility.
- Complete clinical hours. You will log supervised clinical training at one of 100+ Florida sites.
- Pass the ARMRIT exam. After completing your program and clinical requirements, you sit for the ARMRIT certification exam.
- Apply for jobs. No Florida state license application is needed. Your ARMRIT certification is your credential.
Path 2: Existing rad techs (ARRT post-primary)
- Confirm ARRT eligibility. You need current ARRT certification in a primary pathway.
- Enroll in a post-primary MRI program. Keiser University or employer-sponsored clinical experience are common paths.
- Complete structured clinical requirements. ARRT requires documented clinical experience in MRI procedures.
- Pass the ARRT MRI exam. This is the post-primary MRI specialty exam administered by ARRT.
- Update your credentials. Your ARRT(MR) certification goes on your resume alongside your existing credentials.
For a broader look at MRI tech requirements across all states, see our state-by-state guide.
Florida MRI tech job market
Florida’s MRI job market is driven by three factors:
1. Population growth. Florida is one of the fastest-growing states in the country. New residents mean new healthcare facilities, new MRI scanners, and new positions. The state added over 300,000 residents in 2024 alone.
2. Aging demographics. Florida’s large retiree population drives above-average demand for diagnostic imaging. MRI usage increases significantly with age, particularly for musculoskeletal, neurological, and oncological indications.
3. Healthcare infrastructure expansion. Major systems like HCA, AdventHealth, and Baptist Health are actively building new facilities across the state. Each new hospital or imaging center needs MRI technologists.
The practical result: Florida consistently has strong demand for MRI techs, particularly in the faster-growing metros (Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville) and in areas with high retiree populations (Southwest Florida, Space Coast).
Cost of MRI tech programs in Florida
| Program | Approximate Cost | Duration | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keiser University | $20,000-$30,000 | 12-18 months | Varies |
| MedCollege (Miami) | $15,000-$25,000 | 12-15 months | High school diploma |
| Santa Fe College | $8,000-$12,000 | 2+ years | College prerequisites |
| Tesla MR Institute | $6,450 (payment plans available) | 12-18 months | None |
Tesla MR Institute’s hybrid model costs $6,450 for the full program, making it the most affordable option for Florida students who do not have existing radiology credentials.
For a detailed cost breakdown across different program types, see our guide on MRI tech school costs.
MRI programs by city in Florida
Looking for MRI training in a specific Florida city? See our detailed guides:
- MRI tech programs in Boca Raton
- MRI tech programs in Boynton Beach
- MRI tech programs in Delray Beach
- MRI tech programs in Fort Lauderdale
- MRI tech programs in Fort Walton Beach
- MRI tech programs in Gainesville
- MRI tech programs in Hollywood
- MRI tech programs in Jacksonville
- MRI tech programs in Kissimmee
- MRI tech programs in Lakeland
- MRI tech programs in Miami
- MRI tech programs in Ocala
- MRI tech programs in Orlando
- MRI tech programs in Sarasota
- MRI tech programs in Tampa
- MRI tech programs in West Palm Beach
More resources
- How to become an MRI technologist covers every step from zero experience to your first job
- MRI technologist salary guide breaks down pay by state, setting, and experience level
- MRI technologist requirements explains what employers verify during hiring
- ARRT vs ARMRIT certification helps you choose the right credential path
Next steps
- Research your pathway. Decide between ARRT and ARMRIT. Our ARRT vs ARMRIT guide breaks down the tradeoffs.
- Check clinical site availability. Tesla MR has 100+ Florida sites, but availability varies by semester. Apply early.
- Talk to your employer. If you are currently working in healthcare, ask about tuition sponsorship.
- Apply. Tesla MR Institute accepts rolling applications. There is no application fee.