Several students from a local vocational school turned to 17 News for help.
They say they've taken out thousands of dollars in loans to become MRI technicians. But, because the school isn't accredited with one particular organization, they're having trouble getting a job.
It has been three years since Ruffini Pabillore took out $15,000 in loans with the dream of operating an MRI machine.
But, today it's still a dream.
"I'm not even making use of what I went to school for, so to have to pay that money back it's useless," he said.
Pabillore says he can't find work as an MRI tech because his school, the California College of Vocational Careers at 19th Street and Chester Ave, isn't accredited with the American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists.
"I was like okay, so I am doing this for nothing kind of thing."
The school's website says students will be qualified to work as entry-level techs after graduating.
Pabillore's classmate, Elena Porcho says that isn't so. "No warning, no warning."
The single mom also took out a $15,000 loan. The other half of the $29,000 tuition was funded by taxpayer money in the form of federal education grants.
"It sounded like a good deal," said Porcho. "That we would be working after 18 months. That there was a high demand for MRI techs."
We went to the school Thursday morning, but were told administrators weren't available.
Director of Instruction and Financial Aide, Tammy Sanchez called us back in the afternoon. She declined to go on camera, but told us by phone that there was no deception.
"Students who were enrolled were told right up front we were not accredited through ARMRIT and that it was something that we would be working on." Sanchez went on to explain she believes it's not mandatory to be ARMRIT-certified to get a job, though certain companies do require it.
We did a quick check of online job postings and found they all required some form of certification.
And, Doctor Girish Patel of Truxtun Radiology, told us MRI techs at their facility must be certified by ARMRIT.
The school says it is 90 percent done with the accreditation process.
But, in the meantime these former students feel left in a lurch.
"There are a lot of students who are sacrificing their time and money to go to this program, and a lot of us are starting to suffer for it. I just want some answers that's all."
