ARRT® Announces IA Credential: Humanizing Remote MR Scanning

How the New Imaging Assistant (IAMR) Credential Redefines the MR Experience

As healthcare evolves at an accelerating pace, our ability to deliver high-quality, safe, and human-centered care hinges not just on technology—but on teams. The future of patient experience will be shaped not by the machines in the room, but by the people who guide patients through them.

That’s why the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT®) is making a bold move that puts people at the center of one of medicine’s most advanced environments: Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Introducing the **Imaging Assistant, Magnetic Resonance credential—**I.A.(MR)(ARRT®). It’s more than a new designation. It’s a rethinking of how we build care teams in the MR suite—teams designed for trust, for safety, and for real human connection.

A Credential Designed for Today’s Healthcare Challenges

Healthcare delivery is changing. MRI utilization is growing. Teleradiology is expanding. Remote scanning is becoming the norm. But even in the most digitized, remote-ready environments, one truth remains: there’s no substitute for a qualified, on-site human presence.

That’s where the Imaging Assistant comes in.

Imaging Assistants are credentialed team members who directly support MR care—ensuring Level 2 MR safety compliance, assisting patients through preparation and positioning, and streamlining workflow alongside Registered Technologists (R.T.®s).

They don’t perform imaging or scanning. That’s still the responsibility of the technologist. But by handling critical patient-facing tasks, they enable technologists to focus on accuracy, while ensuring the patient feels cared for every step of the way.

This credential is purpose-built for the moment we’re in: high demand, complex technology, and a growing need for trustworthy support in high-stakes imaging environments.

Why ARRT® Created This Credential

As the organization that has upheld professional standards in radiologic technology for over a century, ARRT saw a growing gap in the MRI ecosystem: while imaging technology advanced, the support structure around it didn’t.

In the words of ARRT® CEO Liana Watson:

“This new credential reflects our ongoing commitment to addressing the workforce shortage, supporting evolving industry needs, and advancing safe, high-quality patient care.The Imaging Assistant role will focus on patient care, positioning, and safety in the MR environment. They will assist Registered Technologists, but won’t be performing any imaging or scanning."

Watson points out what many in the field already know: the need for trained on-site support has become urgent. Teleradiology and remote operations have introduced new efficiencies—but they’ve also made in-person support more important than ever, especially for patient safety.

Elevating Support to a Recognized Standard

Until now, support roles in MR settings were often ad hoc—defined differently by each facility or filled by staff with varying levels of training. That created inconsistency, which can impact both safety and quality of care.

The I.A.(MR) credential introduces a nationally recognized, ethically grounded, and professionally verified standard for this critical assistant role.

Imaging Assistants will be trained in:

• Level 2 MR safety protocols

• Patient communication and positioning

• Contrast support and room preparation

• Emergency response awareness

• Ethics and professionalism

This means better outcomes for patients, more consistent support for technologists, and greater peace of mind for administrators and clinical leaders.

An Accessible, Purpose-Driven Career Path

This credential doesn’t just solve for today’s workforce gaps. It also opens a door for those looking to enter the imaging profession—people who may not yet be ready to become technologists, but who want to begin a career in healthcare.

To qualify, candidates must:

• Be at least 18 years old

• Hold a high school diploma or GED

• Complete structured continuing education

• Be verified by an ARRT®-certified R.T.® (in person or via live video)

• Finish required clinical tasks within 24 months

• Meet ARRT®’s ethical standards

Once credentialed, Imaging Assistants will renew annually and complete 10 CE credits every two years to stay current and compliant.

This structure ensures the credential is not just accessible—but rigorous. It creates a clear, guided path into a meaningful role that directly impacts patient care.

Supporting, Not Replacing, Technologists

ARRT® is clear on one point: this new role is designed to support—not replace—Registered Technologists.

Rather than offloading core responsibilities, the Imaging Assistant model allows technologists to focus more deeply on their expertise by delegating routine, patient-facing tasks to trained support professionals. The result? Increased safety, improved efficiency, and a better patient experience.

This is how smart teams scale: by optimizing every role to do what they do best.

Trust Is the Real Innovation

Technology may grab headlines. But in healthcare, trust is what saves lives.

That’s why the Imaging Assistant credential matters. It signals to patients that every person involved in their care—no matter the role—is qualified, accountable, and trained to national standards.

It tells technologists that help is on the way.
It tells administrators that support can be standardized.
And it tells future professionals that there’s a place for them in this growing field.

What Comes Next

The I.A.(MR) exam will launch in Fall 2026, and ARRT®-approved educational providers will soon begin offering the structured coursework required for credentialing.

Between now and then, healthcare systems, imaging leaders, and education partners have an opportunity to align on the role, build awareness, and prepare to integrate Imaging Assistants into their departments.

This isn’t just about adding staff. It’s about designing smarter teams—teams that can meet the demands of modern MR with consistency, care, and confidence.

Final Thought: A Human Shift in a High-Tech World

In an era defined by complexity, speed, and automation, ARRT® is choosing something radical: a recommitment to the people behind the protocols.

The Imaging Assistant credential doesn’t just fill a staffing gap. It reaffirms that in healthcare, the most valuable innovation is the human one.

And that’s a shift worth making.