MRI Technologist Training

MRI Tech Programs in Tennessee

Tesla MR's hybrid MRI program takes 12 to 18 months and needs no prior imaging credential: coursework is online, and our site team arranges your clinical training. Every other program a Tennessee resident can attend is compared below.

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
$79K Avg. Salary
25 Affiliated Sites
12-18 mo Program Length
Starting at $11,500 Tuition
Already in imaging?

Already working in an imaging department in Tennessee?

X-ray, CT, and nuclear medicine techs, MRI aides, transporters, schedulers, and nurses who work around a scanner do not need a second degree or an X-ray license to move into MRI. The coursework is online, so you keep your job, and clinical hours can happen at a facility you already know.

Train where you work.

If your department has an MRI scanner and will host you, our site team asks them first. Your employer signs a site agreement and names an ARRT or ARMRIT mentor.

How clinicals at your current facility work

Keep your paycheck.

The online phases fit around a hospital schedule. Clinicals are the squeeze, and we show the schedules other hospital employees have used.

MRI school while working full time

Ask your employer to pay.

Some employers cover part of tuition, and we can invoice them directly. Here is what to ask HR before you pay a deposit.

Employer tuition reimbursement
Tell us where you work

Already ARRT registered? Compare ARRT (MR) and ARMRIT before you choose a route.

Program at a glance

  • 12-18 month program
  • No prerequisites: a high school diploma or GED
  • 100% online coursework
  • Our site team handles clinical placement
  • Eligible to sit the ARMRIT exam on completion

Start your MRI career in Tennessee

No application fee. Rolling admissions year-round.

View Program Details Or talk to an advisor
Your options

MRI programs available to Tennessee residents

8 in-person or regional programs plus Tesla MR's hybrid option. Only one of them trains 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
Casa Loma College (Magnetic Resonance Imaging A.A.S.) Nashville, TN Offered at the Nashville main campus (750 Envious Lane). Catalog states the program is ARMRIT accredited and ARRT recognized for the MRI primary pathway; graduates must pass the MR 310 review course before ARRT eligibility. Cost source: https://casalomacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Casa-Loma-College-Catalog-7.1.26.pdf
MRI direct
Associate of Applied Science in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (81 semester credits)ARRT (MR) or ARMRIT
22 months (92 weeks of instruction per program page; catalog effective 7/1/26 lists 94 weeks full-time over six semesters)
No
Hybrid and blended: online and in-person classes plus clinical externship (1,008 clinical hours per catalog)
$44,573 total for Tennessee residents, per the catalog tuition and fee schedule valid for students starting after January 1, 2026 (catalog effective 7/1/26)
Chattanooga State Community College (MRI Certificate) Chattanooga, TN Applicants must hold primary certification in Radiography (ARRT), Radiation Therapy (ARRT), Nuclear Medicine (ARRT or NMTCB), or Sonography (ARRT or ARDMS). Priority deadline June 1 each year. Page returns 403 to automated fetchers; verified in a browser.
MRI after X-ray
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Certificate (3 courses: MRIT 2000 4 credits, MRIT 2200 4 credits, MRIT 2300 clinical 8 credits)ARRT (MR) post-primary
Not stated as a total; program is offered in the fall semester of each academic year
Yes
Coursework offered online; clinical course at an approved clinical site, minimum 180 hours of training per semester
Not published
East Tennessee State University (MRI Certificate) Johnson City, TN Requires ARRT or NMTCB registration, at least an associate degree, 2.5 GPA, and two letters of reference. Application due by January 15; starts in January.
MRI after X-ray
MRI Certificate (10 credits: MRI 4000, MRI 4010, MRI 4020)ARRT (MR) post-primary
26 weeks, January to July (spring and summer semesters)
Yes
Didactic courses entirely online; minimum 312 clinical hours (12 hours per week) at an ETSU recognized clinical site
$2,500 total ($2,425 tuition plus $75 non-refundable processing fee); academic year not stated on the page
South College (Certificate in Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Knoxville, TN and Nashville, TN Applicants must be a registered Radiologic Technologist, Radiation Therapist, Nuclear Medicine Technologist, or Ultrasound Technologist (ARRT, ARDMS and/or NMTCB) or a registry-eligible graduate. South College also lists a BS in Health Science with MRI concentration for radiography graduates. Tuition source: https://www.south.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/26tuition-OngroundHybrid-Programs-Revised-March-2026_a11y.pdf
MRI after X-ray
Certificate in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (credit hours not stated on program page)Not stated
Not stated
Yes
Hybrid: online classes with in-person clinical courses
2025-2026 quarterly tuition: $5,775 for 10 to 20 credit hours, $3,950 for 6 to 9.5 credit hours, $2,100 for 1 to 5.5 credit hours, plus $695 per quarter technology/services fee (tuition sheet updated March 30, 2026); program total not published
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist program) Nashville, TN Requires R.T.(R), R.T.(T), R.T.(N) ARRT or CNMT (NMTCB). Quarterly enrollment; next application deadline Feb 22, 2027 for the Apr 5, 2027 cohort. VUMC employees may be eligible for full tuition coverage.
MRI after X-ray
Post-primary MRI program preparing for the ARRT (MR) exam; page does not name a certificate titleARRT (MR) post-primary
Not stated as a duration; approx. 80 coursework hours plus a minimum of 300 clinical hours at an average of 12 hours per week
Yes
Asynchronous online coursework with in-person clinical training
Base tuition $2,500 plus additional VUMC fees and third-party expenses (academic year not stated); $50 application fee
Volunteer State Community College (Radiologic Technology A.A.S.) Gallatin, TN JRCERT accredited. Class size limited to 30 students per year; apply by April 1, interviews in May, courses begin in fall. Details from the program information packet linked on the page.
X-ray first
A.A.S. in Radiologic TechnologyARRT (R)
Five semesters of full-time study, including summer
No
In-person: didactic classes on the Gallatin campus, clinical education at affiliate hospitals throughout Middle Tennessee up to 100 miles from campus
Not published
Roane State Community College (Radiologic Technology A.A.S.) Oak Ridge, TN JRCERT accredited, current award 8 years. Page references Oak Ridge and Harriman campuses. Offers a Computed Tomography course series for registered technologists; no MRI offering listed.
X-ray first
A.A.S. in Radiologic TechnologyARRT (R)
Five semesters of full-time study (22 months of clinical coursework)
No
In-person, full-time; no evening or weekend didactic classes; second-year students complete four weeks of evening shift clinicals
Not published (page lists estimated additional program costs of $2,110 and notes tuition and fees are set by the Tennessee Board of Regents)
Jackson State Community College (Radiologic Technology A.A.S.) Jackson, TN JRCERT accredited, current award 8 years. Graduates are eligible for the ARRT radiography exam. Application deadline and class size not stated on the page.
X-ray first
A.A.S. in Radiologic TechnologyARRT (R)
Two years or less, as the page states
No
In-person classroom instruction with clinical education
Not published

Verified against each program's own website between Sep 18, 2026 and Oct 9, 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 Tennessee

Five steps, the same in Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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

    Tennessee licenses X-ray operators and radiology assistants, and lists no license category for MRI technologists. 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 Tennessee, and which ones are in our clinical network

Tesla MR has 25 affiliated clinical sites in Tennessee. An affiliated site is a facility in our clinical network where students can be placed. The others are places MRI techs work in Tennessee that we have not affiliated with yet.

Affiliated site Employer, not yet affiliated

HCA Healthcare

Affiliated site
  • Northcrest Medical Center Springfield, TN
  • Parkridge East Hospital Chattanooga, TN
  • Parkridge Medical Center Chattanooga, TN
  • Parkridge Valley Hospital Chattanooga, TN
  • Parkridge West Hospital Jasper, TN
  • Pinewood Springs Columbia, TN
  • +8 more locations

Vanderbilt Health

Affiliated site
  • Imaging Services Bellevue Nashville, TN
  • Imaging Services Cool Springs Franklin, TN
  • Imaging Services Hillsboro Nashville, TN
  • Imaging Services Midtown Nashville, TN
  • Imaging Services One Hundred Oaks Nashville, TN
  • Vanderbilt Health Nashville, TN
  • +1 more locations

Rayus Radiology

Affiliated site
  • Murfreesboro Murfreesboro, TN
  • Smyrna Smyrna, TN

Ascension St. Thomas

Affiliated site
  • Hospital Midtown Nashville Nashville, TN
  • DeKalb Smithville Smithville, TN
  • Family Health Center West Nashville Nashville, TN
  • Premier Radiology Antioch Antioch, TN
  • Premier Radiology Belle Meade Nashville Nashville, TN
  • Premier Radiology Brentwood Brentwood, TN
  • +15 more locations

Ballad Health

Affiliated site
  • Holston Valley Medical Center Kingsport, TN

Prisma Health

Affiliated site
  • Blount Memorial Hospital Maryville, TN

Baptist Memorial Hospital

Employer, not yet affiliated
  • Baptist Memorial Hospital Huntingdon, TN

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City

Employer, not yet affiliated
  • Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City Union City, TN

Plus 7 more imaging groups in the area.

Pulled from Tesla MR's site database on October 9, 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.

Established network · Tennessee

We have 25 affiliated sites in Tennessee. Most students here are placed within that network, and the site team adds facilities as students need them.

  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 Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Health licenses X-ray operators and radiology assistants through the Board of Medical Examiners. Its licensure pages list no separate license category for MRI technologists.

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.

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Key Takeaway

Tennessee licenses X-ray operators and radiology assistants, and lists no license category for MRI technologists. Employers require ARRT (MR) or ARMRIT certification.

MRI technologist salary in Tennessee

BLS reports a May 2025 median of $78,610 for MRI technologists in Tennessee, with about 1,350 employed statewide (BLS OEWS, state estimates). The national median is $95,480. For comparison, Tennessee radiologic technologists, which includes X-ray and CT, have a median of $64,630.

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 Tennessee

Tennessee has one of the most robust healthcare employer landscapes in the Southeast, anchored by two heavyweights: HCA Healthcare and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Nashville metro

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is a top-20 academic medical center and the largest employer in Nashville. The imaging department operates multiple 1.5T and 3T MRI scanners across Vanderbilt University Hospital, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, and several outpatient imaging locations. VUMC offers exposure to complex neuro, cardiac, and pediatric MRI protocols that are rare outside academic settings. Salaries at VUMC tend to sit at the top of the Tennessee range ($70K-$86K+), and the academic environment provides strong continuing education opportunities.

HCA Healthcare is headquartered in Nashville and operates 14+ hospitals across Tennessee, including TriStar Centennial Medical Center, TriStar Summit Medical Center, and TriStar Skyline Medical Center. HCA facilities run high-volume, standardized MRI protocols. Starting salaries are competitive ($60K-$75K), and HCA’s scale means internal transfer opportunities across the state and nationally.

Ascension Saint Thomas operates multiple hospitals in the Nashville metro, including Saint Thomas Midtown and Saint Thomas West.

Memphis metro

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare is the largest health system in Memphis, operating six hospitals. The MRI department handles a high volume of cases across adult and pediatric populations.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital offers a unique opportunity for MRI technologists interested in pediatric imaging. St. Jude’s research imaging program includes advanced MRI sequences used in oncology and neuroimaging studies. Positions at St. Jude are competitive, but the experience is unmatched for pediatric specialization.

Regional One Health is Memphis’s Level I trauma center and safety-net hospital. The pace is fast, the case mix is diverse, and trauma-related imaging keeps MRI techs busy.

Knoxville and Chattanooga

University of Tennessee Medical Center (Knoxville) is a Level I trauma center with a strong radiology department. Covenant Health operates multiple hospitals in the Knoxville area.

Erlanger Health System (Chattanooga) is a large academic-affiliated health system offering a range of MRI positions. CHI Memorial also serves the Chattanooga market.

Outpatient imaging

National imaging chains including SimonMed Imaging, RadNet, and local independent radiology groups operate across Tennessee’s major metros. Outpatient centers typically offer more predictable hours (daytime, Monday-Friday) and hire technologists with ARRT(MR) or ARMRIT certification.

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. One Tennessee program in the table above, Casa Loma College (Magnetic Resonance Imaging A.A.S.), takes students with no imaging credential; its length is 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 Tennessee median of $64,630 versus $78,610 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 Tennessee 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. Casa Loma College (Magnetic Resonance Imaging A.A.S.) 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 Tennessee health systems are listed on this page.

MRI tech schools in nearby cities and states

Nashville, Tennessee8AlabamaGeorgiaKentuckyMissouriNorth CarolinaVirginia
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MRI Training in Tennessee 12-18 months · No prerequisites
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