December
Program Length: 18 Months
Clinical Hours: 1000 Hours
Accreditation: ARRT Recognized
Credential Awarded: AAS Degree
Students eligible for ARRT upon graduation
Program Director:
Fred Schindler RT (R)(MR)(CT)
(916) 877-8004 | [email protected]
Clinical Coordinator:
Nick Melikyan RT(MR)
(279) 238-3438 | [email protected]
Welcome to the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technology Program at Sacramento Ultrasound Institute, where we prepare students to excel in one of healthcare’s most advanced imaging specialties. Our program blends rigorous online academics with hands-on clinical experience to develop MRI technologists who are skilled, safety-conscious, and patient-focused. Students graduate ready to contribute to high-performing imaging departments and meet the growing demand for qualified MRI professionals.
The MRI Technology Program at SUI equips students with the knowledge and skills to operate magnetic resonance imaging systems safely and effectively. Students learn MRI physics, cross-sectional anatomy, pulse sequences, image contrast, and advanced imaging techniques including angiography and functional MRI.
From the beginning, our curriculum focuses on hands-on practice. Students train in our on-campus MRI lab, performing simulated scans under faculty supervision before entering clinical rotations. This ensures every student is confident in image acquisition, positioning, and patient safety procedures — including screening for contraindications, managing claustrophobic patients, and maintaining magnetic field awareness.
By the time they begin rotations, students are ready to integrate seamlessly into hospital or outpatient imaging workflows and contribute meaningfully to patient care.
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Metric
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Value
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Notes
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24-25 Retention Rate
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96%
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Measured July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
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Measured July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
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After completing the didactic portion of the program, students begin their clinical rotations at partnering hospitals and imaging centers throughout California.
By this stage, students have mastered the foundational principles of MRI physics, anatomy, and image acquisition, and have demonstrated competency in patient screening, positioning, and safety. During clinical rotations, they apply these skills in real imaging environments under the supervision of credentialed technologists and clinical instructors.
Each rotation is designed to strengthen image quality, technical precision, and patient care through direct clinical experience. Students gain exposure to a variety of imaging protocols, including neuro, musculoskeletal, body, angiographic, and spine MRI, as well as advanced pulse sequences and contrast-enhanced studies.
SUI’s Clinical Coordination Team works closely with each clinical site to ensure smooth scheduling, onboarding, and communication. Typical rotations range from 32-40 clinical hours per week, customized to fit each facility’s workflow and capacity.
The MRI Technology Program is delivered primarily online, allowing students to complete their coursework remotely with the flexibility to balance personal and professional responsibilities.
While most instruction is conducted virtually, students participate in an on-campus venipuncture training week, where they learn patient preparation, IV setup, and safe contrast administration techniques essential for MRI procedures.
The online learning experience is supported by high-quality interactive simulations, virtual scan modules, and faculty-led case reviews, ensuring students gain the same depth of technical understanding as in-person learners.
Clinical rotations then provide the hands-on experience needed to apply those skills on real scanners in real-world settings — transforming academic knowledge into confident, competent practice.
SUI is committed to ensuring that every partnership is smooth, well-supported, and beneficial for both the facility and the students.
As a CAAHEP-accredited program, SUI awards up to 6.0 SDMS CME credits per year to qualified clinical instructors for providing student instruction. This benefit allows clinical educators to earn recognized continuing education credit while mentoring the next generation of sonographers.
SUI students enter clinical rotations having already demonstrated competence in scanning healthy patients and understanding sonographic anatomy. They’re confident, professional, and ready to contribute from day one.
Each clinical partner is supported by a dedicated SUI Clinical Coordinator who manages student placement, onboarding documentation, and ongoing communication throughout the rotation. Coordinators visit the site during the first week of a new student’s onboarding to ensure a smooth start, and return for monthly in-person visits to support both students and staff. They also oversee Trajecsys, ensuring students are clocking in correctly, logging progress accurately, and maintaining compliance with program requirements.
Credentialed faculty continuously monitor student performance to align clinical training with program objectives and accreditation standards, ensuring consistency and quality across all sites.
SUI maintains open communication with every clinical partner through routine check-ins, progress evaluations, and responsive follow-up whenever concerns arise. Our goal is to provide full transparency and proactive problem-solving throughout each rotation.
SUI values every clinical partner and highlights participating sites through institutional materials, community outreach, and collaborative initiatives that showcase their contribution to student success.
Clinical partners are essential in preparing SUI’s MRI students for real-world practice. By offering hands-on experience, your department plays a vital role in helping students bridge the gap between academic knowledge and clinical application.
We ask partners to:
Provide a safe and compliant imaging environment, consistent with MRI Zone I–IV standards.
Designate a qualified MRI technologist or lead instructor to supervise, guide, and evaluate student performance.
Allow students to perform supervised MRI procedures on non-critical cases once competency is demonstrated.
Reinforce MRI safety principles, including screening for ferromagnetic materials and contraindications.
Verify attendance and evaluations through Trajecsys, SUI’s secure clinical tracking system, to ensure accurate documentation of progress and performance.
SUI provides full administrative and faculty support throughout every rotation, ensuring an organized and transparent partnership experience.
SUI uses the Trajecsys Clinical Tracking System, a secure online platform that allows students, clinical instructors, and program faculty to record and monitor clinical activity in real time. Through Trajecsys, instructors verify attendance, log competency evaluations, and submit performance feedback. This system ensures complete transparency and accountability, allowing SUI’s clinical coordinators to track student progress, hours, and case experience remotely while maintaining compliance with accreditation standards.
Clinical Handbook
We’re always looking to expand our clinical partnerships and welcome new sites that share our commitment to quality education and patient care.
If your facility is interested in becoming a partner or learning more about our programs, please complete the form below — our Clinical Coordination Team will reach out to you directly.
