Certification for MR safety and MR operator

Running or assisting with running MRI experiments at the Spinoza Centre requires certification for MR safety and optionally as MR operator. To become certified you have to complete the following steps:

MR safety:

• Study the MR safety reader carefully.
• Read chapter 2 from Huettel, Song and McCarthy, Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
• Read the main text of the ACR Guidance document 2013. Not all sections will apply to your situation. The text should be read as a general guideline, not as policy specific to the Spinoza Centre.
• Read the wiki entries relevant to your project.
• Complete the screening form and have it checked by the SC staff to make sure you can safely enter the MRI (control) room.
• Follow an instruction (approximately one hour) on MR procedures and safety by the SC staff.
• Pass the safety exam consisting of a theoretical (written) and practical part (screening a subject).

MR operator:

• Obtain your MR safety certificate.
• Practice operating the scanner under the supervision of the qualified (certified) user assigned to train you. Note that the number of required training sessions differs between people and is based, amongst others, on the previous skill level and experience with MRI scanners.
• Show you have mastered operation of the scanner by running a (pretend) session of your experiment overseen by someone from the SC staff.
• Pass a formal examination, consisting of: a) being able to answer questions with regards to safety and safety procedures (written exam) b) being able to answer questions with regards to the use of the scanner.