Part-time/Distance & Online Learning Advanced Specialty Certificate 7950ascert

Overview

BCIT's Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Post-diploma Certificate program is a distance education program. It is one of only a few in Canada, with students enrolled from across the country and around the world.

The MRI distance education program is designed to provide practicing technologists with the knowledge, skills and competence necessary to become practicing Magnetic Resonance Imaging technologists. As well, it prepares the students to write the National Certification exam set by
the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT).

The program graduates fully trained and fully qualified MRI technologists ready to enter the job market.

Candidates wishing to enter the BCIT MRI program must follow the application process to ensure that you meet the minimum requirements.

Distinguishing features of the BCIT MRI distance education program:
  • All didactic courses are completed through distance education. Students can complete the entire program from where they live and work in a flexible manner. There is no need to attend classes at the BCIT campus.
  • Access to a tutor by telephone or e-mail. 
  • Fully meets the requirements of the CAMRT competency profile in MRI.
  • Four month clinical practicum with continued access to the BCIT Clinical Coordinator.
  • Three on line practice exams used to review all the didactic and clinical material. 
  • Remedial program for students who are not successful writing the certification exam the first time.
  • Online image bank in development.

Program Entry

Entrance requirements

The MRI Advanced Specialty Certificate is a second discipline program which requires:

  • Six months of clinical experience in current discipline
  • Diploma or equivalent from an accredited program in one of the following:
    • Medical Radiography
    • Nuclear Medicine
    • Computed Tomography
    • Diagnostic Medical Sonography
    • Radiation Therapy

Note: English language proficiency at an English 12 (C+) level is required for Category B applicants.

Applicants who completed post-secondary studies outside of Canada, United States or England will require a comprehensive evaluation of their credentials by the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES).

Additional Requirements:

  • Original transcripts and a copy of the diploma
  • Letter of reference from current employer verifying clinical experience
  • Resume
  • A completed MRI Screening Form [PDF]

Note: Technologists who have not undergone a criminal record check through their Canadian employer may need to undergo a Criminal Record Check [PDF] before approval to do a clinical practicum.

Apply to program

Please review Applying to Health Programs at BCIT [PDF].

Submit an application: online or by mail [PDF].

You can check the status of your application online at any time using the Student Information System.

Scheduled intakes

January, April and September

Application processing

Ongoing throughout the year.

myCommunication

Within 2 to 3 weeks of applying to a program, you will be sent a letter in the mail confirming receipt of your application. The letter will identify your student number, BCIT e-mail address and instructions on how to login to your myBCIT account.

All official BCIT correspondence will be sent to your myBCIT account. Check myCommunication often during the application process and throughout your studies at BCIT.

You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within 2 to 8 weeks.

Costs & Supplies

Tuition fees

Please see the Part-time Studies Fees page for information on tuition fees and refunds.

Courses

Program delivery

Applications are accepted ongoing throughout the year. Studies may begin at the start of the next term following acceptance in the program. There are three 13 week distance & online learning terms per year:

  • Winter (January to April)
  • Spring (April to July)
  • Fall (September to December)

Program matrix

Required Courses: Credits
  BHSC 7601 Sectional Anatomy of the Abdomen and Pelvis
course outlinecheck current availability
3.0
  BHSC 7602 Sectional Anatomy of the Thorax and Neck
course outlinecheck current availability
3.0
  BHSC 7603 Sectional Anatomy of the Head
course outlinecheck current availability
3.0
  BHSC 7604 Sectional Anatomy of Musculoskeletal System
course outlinecheck current availability
3.0
  MIMG 6200 MRI Practicum
course outlinecheck current availability
22.0
  MIMG 7200 Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Physical Principles
course outlinecheck current availability
3.0
  MIMG 7202 Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Imaging Techniques Q.C. and Artifacts
course outlinecheck current availability
3.0
  MIMG 7204 Magnetic Resonance Imaging: MR Procedures and Clinical Applications
course outlinecheck current availability
3.0
 
Total Credits: 43.0

Check current availability of courses for this program.

**prior learning assessment challenge courses

MRI and CT students may challenge three of the four cross sectional anatomy courses by writing a comprehensive challenge exam if they have at least one year's work experience in CT or MRI. In order to approve a student's eligibility to challenge these courses, we must receive a letter, on letterhead, from your MRI/CT supervisor verifying this experience. If you are eligible to challenge these courses and wish to do so, please contact the Program Assistant at 604-432-8727/1-800-663-6542 ext. 8727 for more information.

Transfer credit

Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.

Program Details

Program details

Students have some flexibility in how they approach the required program studies, however there are some guiding principles:

1. If the sectional anatomy courses (BHSC courses) were done in conjunction with another program (eg. CT program) they must not have been done any earlier than five years before the start of the first MRI course (MIMG course). If the time period is longer than five years the courses will need to be repeated or challenged.

2. The MRI courses (MIMG 7200, 7202 and 7204) must be completed within eighteen months before the start of the 16 week practicum.

Students are advised to start the program by completing one or two sectional anatomy courses, which can be taken in any order, except BHSC 7604, which should be done closer to the clinical practicum. Two of the MRI physics courses (MIMG) have pre-requisites so the courses must be taken in consecutive numerical order in separate terms: MIMG 7200 first, then MIMG 7202, and lastly MIMG 7204.

A suggested approach for completing the program is as follows:

Term 1.................BHSC 7601 (or 7602 or 7603)

Term 2................ MIMG 7200 and BHSC 7602 (or 7601 or 7603)

Term 3.................MIMG 7202 and BHSC 7603 (or 7602 or 7601)

Term 4.................MIMG 7204 and BHSC 7604

Term 5................MIMG 6200 MRI Clinical Practicum. See Procedure for Arranging an MRI Clinical Practicum. (Link to PDF).

Any other approach should be discussed with the Program Head to ensure that it will meet your learning goals and BCIT's
requirements

Remedial assistance

For students who are not successful at the CAMRT MR Certification examination, remedial assistance is available via a clinical tutor
who will guide you and provide instructional support in preparation for re-writing the certification examination.

CAMRT preparation guide and practice exams

Online practice exams are available for registered students. These exams are for review only and do not count towards program marks. Students
can do these exams while doing their clinical. The exams are also available to remedial students.


Program length

The maximum time to complete the program is seven years.

Accreditation

The MRI distance education program has been accredited by the Conjoint Accreditation Services - Canadian Medical Association which also lists the affiliated clinical MRI facilities.

Continue your education

Graduates of the BCIT MRI Advanced Specialty Certificate can transfer up to 15 credits into the elective courses of the Medical Imaging Bachelor of Technology Degree.

Graduating & Jobs

Upon successful completion of the Program, the student must apply to Student Records Department to receive the advanced specialty certificate in Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Graduate employment outcomes

The following link takes you to graduate outcome survey results containing mostly labour market results from the 2009-2011 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2008-2010 Graduates.
Note: The survey results will be displayed in a separate browser window. To view these results, you need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.

Apply for graduation

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, complete an Application for BCIT Credential [PDF] and submit to Student Information and Enrolment Services.

Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.

All financial obligations to the Institute must be met prior to issuance of any credential.

Contact Us

Domenico Celli
Acting Program Head
Tel: 604-432-8231
Toll-free: 1-800-663-6542 local 8231
E-mail: Domenico_Celli@bcit.ca

Victoria Banham
Program Assistant
Tel: 604-432-8727
E-mail: Victoria_Banham@bcit.ca

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