MRSO Exam Prep 2026/2027 ABMRS
Magnetic Resonance Safety Officer
Practice Questions with Answers and
Rationales
EXAM OVERVIEW & STRUCTURE
The American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety (ABMRS) MRSO
certification exam consists of 100 multiple-choice, true-false, and
multi-answer questions. The exam covers seven subject matter
domains:
1. Static Magnetic Fields
2. Gradient Magnetic Fields (Time-Varying)
3. Radiofrequency Fields
4. Gadolinium / Pregnancy
5. Facilities / Cryogens
6. Standards / Regulatory
7. Clinical Applications
The certification is designed for those with a supervisory MRI safety
role at the point of care, most frequently senior MR technologists. The
credential is valid for 10 years from the date of successful
examination.
,DOMAIN 1: STATIC MAGNETIC FIELDS
Question 1
How do magnetic flux lines travel?
A) North to South
B) South to North
C) East to West
D) West to East
Answer: A – North to South
Rationale: Magnetic flux lines travel from the north pole to the south
pole of the static magnetic field. Understanding flux line direction is
fundamental to comprehending spatial magnetic gradient fields and
projectile risk.
Question 2
An object that retains its magnetic field when exiting the static
magnetic field is called what?
A) Paramagnetic
B) Diamagnetic
C) Ferromagnetic
D) Superparamagnetic
Answer: C – Ferromagnetic
Rationale: Ferromagnetic objects retain their magnetic field even after
leaving the strong static magnetic field. This property makes them the
greatest projectile hazard in the MRI environment. Examples include
iron, nickel, and cobalt.
,Question 3
An object that produces a weakly repulsive force in the presence of a
strong magnetic field is called what?
A) Superparamagnetic
B) Ferromagnetic
C) Diamagnetic
D) Paramagnetic
Answer: C – Diamagnetic
Rationale: Diamagnetic materials produce a weakly repulsive force
when placed in a strong static magnetic field. This is because they
create an induced magnetic field that opposes the applied field.
Question 4
What is responsible for attracting ferrous objects into the MR unit?
A) Spatial magnetic gradient fields
B) Strong uniform magnetic fields
C) Gradient coils
D) Radiofrequency system
Answer: A – Spatial magnetic gradient fields
Rationale: Spatial magnetic gradient fields are responsible for
attracting ferrous objects into the MR unit. The force of attraction
increases as the object moves from the fringe field into the stronger
magnetic field closer to isocenter.
, Question 5
If we placed a small ferrous object at isocenter, what would we expect
to happen?
A) The object would experience no attraction
B) The object would immediately be attracted to the bore
C) The object would levitate
D) The object would be repulsed by the unit
Answer: A – The object would experience no attraction
Rationale: At isocenter, the spatial gradient is zero. A ferrous object
placed exactly at isocenter would experience no translational
attraction, though it would be subject to rotational forces if not
perfectly aligned with the field.
Question 6
What is the name for the direction of the vector of the static magnetic
field?
A) Inverse field
B) Equilibrium
C) B₀
D) B₁
Answer: C – B₀
Rationale: B₀ is the standard notation for the static magnetic field
vector direction. This represents the main magnetic field of the MRI
system.
Magnetic Resonance Safety Officer
Practice Questions with Answers and
Rationales
EXAM OVERVIEW & STRUCTURE
The American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety (ABMRS) MRSO
certification exam consists of 100 multiple-choice, true-false, and
multi-answer questions. The exam covers seven subject matter
domains:
1. Static Magnetic Fields
2. Gradient Magnetic Fields (Time-Varying)
3. Radiofrequency Fields
4. Gadolinium / Pregnancy
5. Facilities / Cryogens
6. Standards / Regulatory
7. Clinical Applications
The certification is designed for those with a supervisory MRI safety
role at the point of care, most frequently senior MR technologists. The
credential is valid for 10 years from the date of successful
examination.
,DOMAIN 1: STATIC MAGNETIC FIELDS
Question 1
How do magnetic flux lines travel?
A) North to South
B) South to North
C) East to West
D) West to East
Answer: A – North to South
Rationale: Magnetic flux lines travel from the north pole to the south
pole of the static magnetic field. Understanding flux line direction is
fundamental to comprehending spatial magnetic gradient fields and
projectile risk.
Question 2
An object that retains its magnetic field when exiting the static
magnetic field is called what?
A) Paramagnetic
B) Diamagnetic
C) Ferromagnetic
D) Superparamagnetic
Answer: C – Ferromagnetic
Rationale: Ferromagnetic objects retain their magnetic field even after
leaving the strong static magnetic field. This property makes them the
greatest projectile hazard in the MRI environment. Examples include
iron, nickel, and cobalt.
,Question 3
An object that produces a weakly repulsive force in the presence of a
strong magnetic field is called what?
A) Superparamagnetic
B) Ferromagnetic
C) Diamagnetic
D) Paramagnetic
Answer: C – Diamagnetic
Rationale: Diamagnetic materials produce a weakly repulsive force
when placed in a strong static magnetic field. This is because they
create an induced magnetic field that opposes the applied field.
Question 4
What is responsible for attracting ferrous objects into the MR unit?
A) Spatial magnetic gradient fields
B) Strong uniform magnetic fields
C) Gradient coils
D) Radiofrequency system
Answer: A – Spatial magnetic gradient fields
Rationale: Spatial magnetic gradient fields are responsible for
attracting ferrous objects into the MR unit. The force of attraction
increases as the object moves from the fringe field into the stronger
magnetic field closer to isocenter.
, Question 5
If we placed a small ferrous object at isocenter, what would we expect
to happen?
A) The object would experience no attraction
B) The object would immediately be attracted to the bore
C) The object would levitate
D) The object would be repulsed by the unit
Answer: A – The object would experience no attraction
Rationale: At isocenter, the spatial gradient is zero. A ferrous object
placed exactly at isocenter would experience no translational
attraction, though it would be subject to rotational forces if not
perfectly aligned with the field.
Question 6
What is the name for the direction of the vector of the static magnetic
field?
A) Inverse field
B) Equilibrium
C) B₀
D) B₁
Answer: C – B₀
Rationale: B₀ is the standard notation for the static magnetic field
vector direction. This represents the main magnetic field of the MRI
system.
