Radiology Technician Classes Near Me in Jackson
Radiology technician training in the Jackson area runs through a small set of accredited college programs, with clinical rotations at the city's hospitals. The path to a full radiologic technologist career is the standard one: finish a JRCERT-accredited associate degree, pass the national ARRT exam, then start working. One local detail sets Mississippi apart from many states. Passing the national exam is not the last step here. Before you can work as a radiographer, you also have to register with the Mississippi State Department of Health, and if you take the shorter limited X-ray route instead, that credential comes from a separate state board.
Key Points
- Radiography training in the Jackson area runs through accredited associate-degree programs, with a bachelor's route and a shorter limited-scope option also available.
- Mississippi requires state registration as a Medical Radiation Technologist, issued by the state health department, on top of the national ARRT credential.
- ARRT certification is the basis for that registration, so you certify nationally first, then register with the state.
- A full radiographer credential takes about 2 years; a limited-scope X-ray credential is shorter but covers only a set list of routine exams.
- Radiologic technologists in Mississippi earn a median of $59,300 a year, with 4 percent job growth projected through 2034.
Radiology Technician Classes and Programs In and Near Jackson
Jackson anchors radiography training in central Mississippi, with a small number of accredited associate-degree programs at area colleges, a university bachelor's route, and a shorter limited-scope option. Each pairs classroom work with clinical rotations at local hospitals, and the associate and bachelor's programs prepare you for the national ARRT Radiography exam and the full technologist career. Because most programs take one cohort a year and fill a small professional class, plan on strong prerequisite grades in anatomy and physiology, algebra, and medical terminology. Students commute in from across the Jackson metro, including Madison, Ridgeland, Clinton, and Pearl, so it is worth widening your search beyond the city itself.
Because start dates and accreditation status change each cycle, it helps to confirm any program against the JRCERT directory before you apply, since only a JRCERT-accredited program makes you eligible for the ARRT exam. Dreambound keeps a running list of radiology technician classes near you as new cohorts open, so you can compare them by cost, length, and format instead of chasing one school page at a time.
Full Radiologic Technologist vs Limited-Scope X-Ray Operator
Not every course labeled "radiology technician" leads to the same job, and the difference matters before you pay tuition. A full radiologic technologist trains on every imaging area and can move into CT, MRI, or mammography later. A limited-scope X-ray operator trains on a shorter list, such as chest, spine, and extremities, and cannot do fluoroscopy, CT, or mammography.
| Factor | Full radiologic technologist | Limited-scope X-ray operator |
|---|---|---|
| Training | JRCERT-accredited associate, about 2 years | Shorter coursework plus clinicals |
| Exam | ARRT Radiography | ARRT Limited Scope |
| Mississippi credential | Health department registration | Board of Medical Licensure permit |
| Scope | All imaging, room to specialize | A set list of routine X-rays only |
Many fast or online "radiology technician" courses actually prepare you for the limited-scope exam, not full radiography. If your goal is the full career and the higher pay, check that a program is JRCERT-accredited and prepares you for the ARRT Radiography exam. If you need to start sooner or keep working, limited scope is a legitimate on-ramp. CCI Training Center's online program is one route open to Mississippi students, pairing about 8 months of online coursework with local clinical hours to prepare you for the ARRT Limited Scope exam, and it sits alongside other online radiology technician classes you can compare on Dreambound.
Do You Need a License to Be a Radiology Tech in Mississippi?
Yes, though Mississippi calls it registration rather than a license. After you pass the national ARRT exam, you register with the Mississippi State Department of Health as a Medical Radiation Technologist before you can work as a radiographer. ARRT certification is what qualifies you, so the state issues the registration on that basis. It costs $50, renews every 2 years, and you keep it current with the same 24 continuing-education hours ARRT already requires.
The limited-scope route works differently. Limited X-ray machine operators are permitted by a separate agency, the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure, and that credential covers only a set list of routine exams, not fluoroscopy or CT. So the state step depends on which route you take: full radiographers register with the health department, while limited operators get a permit from the medical board.
How Long It Takes and What It Costs
A full radiography program takes about 2 years, and it is effectively full-time. Clinical rotations run during weekday hospital hours, so most students cut back to part-time work while in the program. If you need to keep working full-time, the shorter limited-scope route is the more realistic option.
Cost depends on the school and your residency. In-state tuition at a Mississippi community college is among the lowest in the country, so a 2-year associate often runs a few thousand dollars a year in tuition, while a university bachelor's route costs more. Financial aid and state grants can bring either down. Admission is the harder part: the professional phase takes a limited cohort each year, so strong prerequisite grades are what get you in. Budget for the extras too: the ARRT exam is $225, plus the state registration, a background check, and supplies. The cheapest and fastest radiology technician programs tend to be the community-college and limited-scope routes.
How to Become a Radiology Technician in Jackson
The path from student to working radiologic technologist follows 4 steps.
Step 1: Finish an Accredited Program
Complete a JRCERT-accredited associate degree in radiologic technology, including the clinical rotations. Only an accredited program makes you eligible for the ARRT exam.
Step 2: Pass the ARRT Exam
Apply through the ARRT Primary Pathway, which costs $225 and allows up to 3 attempts within 3 years. A scaled score of 75 passes, and you earn the R.T.(R) credential.
Step 3: Register With the State of Mississippi
Once you hold ARRT certification, register with the Mississippi State Department of Health as a Medical Radiation Technologist. The $50 registration is what lets you work in the state.
Step 4: Keep Your Credentials Current
ARRT and the state both renew on a 2-year cycle, covered by the same 24 continuing-education hours. If you took the limited-scope route, you renew your Board of Medical Licensure permit instead.
Radiologic Technologist Pay in Jackson
Radiologic technologists in Mississippi earn a median of $59,300 a year, or $28.51 an hour, as of May 2025, which stretches well against Mississippi's low cost of living. Pay climbs with experience and with specialties like CT, MRI, and mammography, which is the main reason full radiography out-earns the limited-scope route over a career.
The field is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034. Around Jackson, hiring is anchored by large systems such as the University of Mississippi Medical Center, St. Dominic Hospital, and Merit Health Central, along with imaging centers across the metro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a radiology tech school in Jackson, MS?
Yes. The Jackson area has accredited associate-degree radiography programs, plus a university bachelor's route and a shorter limited-scope option. Because cohorts are small and fill quickly, comparing accredited programs side by side on Dreambound is the fastest way to find an open seat.
How fast can you become a radiology technician?
The fastest route to imaging work is a limited-scope X-ray credential, which can take under a year. It qualifies you for a set list of routine X-rays, so it fits best if you want to start quickly rather than move into CT or MRI later. Full radiography takes about 2 years but opens the higher-paying specialties.
How much do 2-year radiology techs make?
In Mississippi, the median is about $59,300 a year, or $28.51 an hour, as of May 2025, and that comes from a 2-year associate degree. Pay rises with experience and with specialties like CT and MRI.
Who gets paid more, an MRI tech or a rad tech?
MRI technologists tend to earn more. MRI is one of the higher-paying imaging specialties, and many radiologic technologists cross-train into MRI or CT to raise their pay after starting in general radiography.
Is rad tech harder than RN?
They are different rather than harder or easier. Nursing programs are usually longer and broader, while radiography is shorter and focused on imaging and physics. Rad tech school is demanding in its own way, with competitive admission and heavy clinical hours, but it gets you working sooner.
Planning Your Radiology Technician Path in Jackson
The biggest decision in Jackson is not where to apply first, it is which credential you actually want. Full radiography takes about 2 years, needs the ARRT exam plus Mississippi registration, and opens the door to CT and MRI. Limited scope gets you working sooner but stops at routine X-rays. Either way, Mississippi adds that state step most pages skip, so plan for it from the start.
Once you have picked your route, compare accredited radiology programs on Dreambound by length, format, and start date, and confirm your pick is JRCERT-accredited before you apply.
