MRI training for New Orleans
Tesla MR Institute has 12 clinical training sites in the greater New Orleans area. The heaviest concentration is in Metairie, with additional sites in Marrero on the West Bank, Slidell and Covington on the Northshore, LaPlace and Hammond up the river parishes, and Thibodaux and Houma down the bayou.
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 the New Orleans area
- Certification: ARMRIT (accepted by most New Orleans employers)
- Cost: Starting at $11,500 (payment plans available)
MRI technologist salary in New Orleans
MRI technologists in the New Orleans-Metairie metro area earn approximately $60K-$80K 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. Louisiana pay runs below the national median, but the region’s low cost of living offsets a good part of the difference.
For detailed salary data, see our MRI technologist salary guide and Louisiana MRI programs page.
How to become an MRI tech in New Orleans
- Enroll in Tesla MR Institute’s ARMRIT-approved hybrid program
- Complete coursework online at your own pace
- Do clinical rotations at a facility in the metro area
- Pass the ARMRIT exam and get certified
- Start working at hospitals and imaging centers in New Orleans
No prior radiology experience needed. Healthcare workers, career changers, and MRI tech aides are all strong candidates.
MRI licensing in Louisiana
Louisiana does not require a specific state license for MRI technologists. MRI uses magnetic fields, not ionizing radiation, so it falls outside most state radiologic technology licensing requirements. Employers require national certification through ARRT or ARMRIT.
Employers in the New Orleans 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 New Orleans
New Orleans is Louisiana’s healthcare hub. Ochsner Health, the Gulf South’s largest nonprofit health system, operates hospitals and imaging centers throughout the metro, with LCMC Health and Tulane Medical Center anchoring the rest of the market. Demand for imaging staff extends well beyond the city: the Northshore is one of the fastest-growing parts of the state, and the river parishes and Houma-Thibodaux region have persistent shortages of certified MRI technologists, which is why our clinical network reaches there.
More resources
- MRI tech programs in Louisiana — 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