MRI Technologist Training

MRI Tech Programs in Illinois

10 in-person or regional programs plus Tesla MR's hybrid option, compared side by side below. 2 local programs and Tesla MR admit you without a prior X-ray credential.

Comparing programs nationally? See MRI tech school formats, costs, and certification paths. Checking accreditation? See every accredited MRI tech certification program.

View Program Details Compare every program near you
MRI technologist student training at a clinical site
$95K Avg. Salary
0 Affiliated Sites
12-18 mo Program Length
Starting at $11,500 Tuition
Your options

MRI programs available to Illinois residents

10 in-person or regional programs plus Tesla MR's hybrid option. 2 of them train you in MRI directly without a prior X-ray credential. Facts come from each school's published pages. Confirm with the school before you apply.

Published cost is what each school states on its own site. Some schools publish tuition only; others include fees, books, or uniforms; public colleges often distinguish in-district from out-of-district rates. Each row says which. For the national list with accreditor and entry requirement for every program, see accredited MRI tech certification programs.

Program Path Credential Length Prior X-ray? Format Published cost
Tesla MR Online coursework, clinicals near you
MRI direct
Certificate (ARMRIT exam eligibility)ARMRIT
12 to 18 months
No
Hybrid: online lectures, in-person clinicals
$11,500 to $13,400 by payment plan
Midwestern Career College (AAS in MRI Technology) Chicago and Naperville, IL ARMRIT accredited at Chicago (LaSalle) and Naperville campuses through July 1, 2030; ARRT-approved educational program; next listed Naperville start 1/4/2027. Program page describes entry-level training and lists no prior imaging credential.
MRI direct
Associate of Applied Science in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) TechnologyARRT (MR) or ARMRIT
80 instructional weeks, 5 terms
No
Hybrid, with 810 hours of externship required
$8,400 tuition per term at 12 or more credits, plus per-term program fees (LMS $200, technology $450, program resource $300 to $400), effective Winter 2027 program start (fee sheet updated 7/16/2026); total not published
Aquarius Institute (MRI Technologist Program) Des Plaines, IL Admission requires age 18 and a high school diploma or GED; page states the school is not accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting body; programs begin Sep 21, 2026.
MRI direct
Certificate of completion, MRI Technologist program (600 classroom clock hours plus 1,000 clinical hours)ARMRIT
24 months
No
Classroom instruction plus 1,000 hours of supervised clinical training
Total program cost $27,650.00 (tuition $27,000, books $500, registration $150), as listed for the September 21, 2026 start
College of DuPage (MRI Technology Certificate) Glen Ellyn, IL Requires ARRT radiographer or ARRT/NMTCB nuclear medicine registration plus an associate or bachelor's degree; limited enrollment; begins each fall semester.
MRI after X-ray
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technology certificate (27 credits)ARRT (MR) post-primary
3 semesters, 12 months full-time
Yes
In-person classes on main campus with clinical training at affiliated facilities
Estimated total $7,353.87 plus clinical requirements (27 credits x $160 per credit = $4,320.00 tuition); academic year not stated
College of Lake County (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Certificate) Grayslake, IL Requires current registration in radiography or radiation therapy (ARRT), nuclear medicine (ARRT/NMTCB) or sonography (ARRT/ARDMS); limited seats; fall start.
MRI after X-ray
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Career Certificate (18 credit hours)ARRT (MR) post-primary
1 year full-time
Yes
Most courses online with in-person clinical education at medical facilities
$2,136 estimated in-district tuition and comprehensive fees for 2026-2027 (excludes books and materials)
South Suburban College (MRI Program) South Holland, IL Requires ARRT RT(R) in good standing and an AAS or BA/BS in radiologic technology; application due April 1; program operating since 2001.
MRI after X-ray
Magnetic Resonance Imaging CertificateARRT (MR) post-primary
4 semesters, summer start through the following summer
Yes
In-person and online didactic instruction, evening option, with daytime clinical rotations
Not published
Carl Sandburg College (MRI Advanced Certificate) Galesburg, IL Requires graduation from an approved radiography program, 2.5 GPA, and active ARRT registration or registry-eligible status; application open June 1 to Oct. 1 for spring enrollment.
MRI after X-ray
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Advanced Certificate (16 credit hours)ARRT (MR) post-primary
One semester (16 weeks), spring only
Yes
Online coursework with an in-person practicum three days per week; cannot be completed entirely online
$5,215.75 estimated total ($4,790.75 tuition based on 16 credit hours plus $425 fees); academic year not stated
Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Radiologic Sciences BS, MRI/CT specialization) Carbondale, IL MRI program is JRCERT accredited; freshman and sophomore entry need no prior credential because radiography is earned within the degree, Year 4 transfer entry requires ARRT radiography; up to 20 transfer seats; fall start only; transfer applications July 15 to February 15.
MRI after X-ray
Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences, Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Computed Tomography specializationARRT (MR) post-primary
Four years from freshman entry (radiography first, then MRI/CT); Year 4 transfer entry for ARRT radiographers
Yes
Classroom instruction with clinical training at affiliated facilities in Illinois and neighboring states
Not published
Harper College (MRI Certificate) Palatine, IL Limited-enrollment program for ARRT registered radiologic technologists. First-semester courses are listed on the Fall 2026 class schedule. Seats and deadline not stated on the page.
MRI after X-ray
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Certificate (16 credit hours)ARRT (MR) post-primary
Year-long
Yes
Combination of didactic courses and clinical education
No program total published; RAD courses are charged 1.5 times the regular tuition rate; regular in-district tuition is $145.75 per credit hour for Fall 2026 to Summer 2027, plus fees (college tuition rates page)
Parkland College (Radiologic Technology AAS) Champaign, IL JRCERT accredited (8-year award); competitive admission, 16 admitted in the 2024 cohort; college also offers a 15-credit post-ARRT MRI certificate ($4,366.47 in-district at 2025-2026 rates).
X-ray first
AAS in Radiologic Technology (68 credit hours)ARRT (R)
Two years
No
In-person with clinical training at area medical facilities
Based on 2025-2026 rates, in-district program cost $20,645.66 (tuition $16,949, fees $976, books $1,948.64, supplies $772.02); out-of-district $33,344.66
Southwestern Illinois College (Radiologic Technology AAS) Belleville, IL JRCERT accredited (8-year award); generally accepts 50 students each summer; applications for Summer 2027 accepted Sept. 1 through Dec. 1, 2026.
X-ray first
AAS in Radiologic Technology (73 credit hours)ARRT (R)
Four semesters and two summers (2 years)
No
Classroom instruction at the Belleville Campus with clinical experience at facilities in southern Illinois and the St. Louis region
2026-2027 estimated direct program expenses $15,641.80 total at in-district rates ($145.00 per semester credit, 73 credits)

Verified against each program's own website between Sep 18, 2026 and Oct 31, 2026. Tuition, length, and admission rules change; the school's page is the authority. Tesla MR is not a degree-granting institution and does not participate in federal financial aid. See accreditation. The schools named here are not affiliated with Tesla MR and do not endorse it; their names belong to their owners. Spot an error? Email info@teslamr.com and we will review it within 10 business days.

The path

How to become an MRI tech in Illinois

Five steps, the same in Illinois as anywhere else. Where you do step four is what changes by city.

  1. Confirm you are eligible

    A high school diploma or GED is the floor. You do not need a prior X-ray, radiography, or healthcare credential for the ARMRIT route. Some of the in-person programs in the table above do require one.

  2. Pick the credential you are aiming for

    Employers in Illinois hire both ARRT (MR) and ARMRIT technologists. ARRT usually means a two-year degree or a prior radiography license. ARMRIT is the certificate route for career changers.

  3. Choose a program format that fits your life

    Full-time campus programs are faster if you can stop working. Hybrid programs put the coursework online and the clinical hours at a facility near you, which is how most working adults finish.

  4. Complete supervised clinical hours

    Every path ends at a scanner. Clinical training is the part that depends on local capacity, so ask any program how placement works before you enroll. Ours is explained below.

  5. Pass the registry exam and get hired

    Illinois accredits technologists who use ionizing radiation, and its rule does not mention MRI. Employers require ARRT (MR) or ARMRIT certification. Once certified, you can apply to the hospital systems and imaging groups listed further down this page.

Where you would train and work

MRI employers in Illinois, and which ones are in our clinical network

We are still building our network in Illinois. An affiliated site is a facility in our clinical network where students can be placed. The others are places MRI techs work in Illinois that we have not affiliated with yet.

Affiliated site Employer, not yet affiliated

We have not mapped Illinois employers yet. Tell us where you live and our site team will do it for your application.

Pulled from Tesla MR's site database on October 31, 2026. Affiliations are added and change over time; the assessment you receive during admissions is the one that applies to you.

Clinical placement

How clinical placement works

Our Clinical Sites team leads placement. You are not expected to find or negotiate your own clinical site. We look for a facility within a reasonable commute of your home and widen the search only if we need to.

Timing depends on facilities having capacity when you reach clinicals. If your area is thin, we tell you during admissions, not after you enroll, and we talk through the options with you.

Growing here · Illinois

We are still building our network in Illinois. If you apply, the site team maps your area first and tells you what to expect before you commit.

  1. We look at your area during admissions

    If you already have a facility in mind, maybe where you work, we reach out and see whether you can train there. If not, our site team maps the hospitals and imaging centers near your home and starts the conversation.

  2. You get a straight answer before you enroll

    Clinicals are still months away at this point, so a site's answer is usually "we expect so, check back closer to the date." We tell you what we heard and what it means for your timeline.

  3. You start the coursework while the site work continues

    Most students begin Phase I and Phase II before a specific facility is named. That is normal, and the site team keeps working your area in the background.

  4. Your site is confirmed as clinicals approach

    Once clinicals are weeks away rather than months, facilities can commit to dates. We work to have your placement set before Phase III begins. Which facility and which shift depends on who has capacity at that time.

MRI technologist licensing in Illinois

Illinois accredits people who apply ionizing radiation to human beings under 32 Ill. Adm. Code 401, which covers medical radiography, nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy technology and chiropractic radiography. The rule does not mention magnetic resonance imaging.

Employers set the credential requirement. Most postings ask for ARRT (MR) or ARMRIT, the two national MRI certifications, and both are valid in all 50 states.

💡

Key Takeaway

Illinois accredits technologists who use ionizing radiation, and its rule does not mention MRI. Employers require ARRT (MR) or ARMRIT certification.

MRI technologist salary in Illinois

BLS reports a May 2025 median of $95,380 for MRI technologists in Illinois, with about 2,760 employed statewide (BLS OEWS, state estimates). The national median is $95,480. For comparison, Illinois radiologic technologists, which includes X-ray and CT, have a median of $79,930.

Entry-level pay sits below the median. Shift differentials, specialty work such as cardiac or breast MRI, and 3 to 5 years of experience push experienced technologists above it. See the MRI technologist salary guide and salary by state for the full breakdown.

Where MRI techs work in Illinois

Major healthcare employers in Illinois include Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Health (formerly Advocate Aurora), Rush University Medical Center, OSF HealthCare, Endeavor Health (formerly NorthShore), Ascension Illinois, Loyola Medicine. These systems operate hospitals, outpatient imaging centers, and specialty clinics across the state.

Illinois offers a bifurcated MRI market: the Chicago metro area is one of the most competitive and highest-paying in the Midwest, with world-class academic medical centers like Northwestern and Rush, while downstate communities face persistent imaging workforce shortages. The recent merger creating Advocate Health (combining Advocate Aurora and Atrium Health) has created one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the country, headquartered in the Chicago area. Illinois’s diverse economy, major research universities, and strong union presence in some hospital systems contribute to relatively strong benefits packages and job protections for imaging professionals.

MRI programs by city in Illinois

Looking for MRI training in a specific Illinois city? See our detailed guides:

More resources

ARMRIT Accredited Nationally recognized certification
334+ Clinical Sites Partner network in 38 states
Starting at $11,500 Payment plans available

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the path. The X-ray-first route is a 2-year radiography degree followed by an MRI certificate, often about another year. 2 of the Illinois programs in the table above take students with no imaging credential; their lengths are listed in the Length column. Tesla MR's hybrid certificate takes most students 12 to 18 months.

BLS does not break CT out separately; it reports radiologic technologists and technicians, which includes X-ray and CT, at a Illinois median of $79,930 versus $95,380 for MRI technologists (May 2025). Nationally the figures are $80,110 and $95,480. MRI is the higher-paid modality in both sets of numbers.

The coursework is real: MRI physics, cross-sectional anatomy, pulse sequences, and safety around a magnet that is always on. Most students who put in steady weekly hours pass. In Illinois the harder part is often getting a seat, since campus MRI cohorts are small and most admit once a year. Every path ends with a national registry exam, ARRT or ARMRIT.

Yes. Midwestern Career College (AAS in MRI Technology) and Tesla MR's hybrid certificate both accept students with no prior imaging credential. The post-primary certificates in the table require an existing ARRT, ARDMS, or NMTCB registry, so check the prior X-ray column before you apply anywhere.

Our Clinical Sites team leads placement. You are not expected to secure your own site. If you know a facility, you can propose it, but we review it, confirm capacity, sign the agreement, and approve it. The affiliated Illinois health systems are listed on this page.

MRI tech schools in nearby cities and states

Chicago, Illinois9Naperville, Illinois4+IndianaIowaKentuckyMissouriWisconsin
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MRI Training in Illinois 12-18 months · No prerequisites
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