1. A method for testing a system for monitoring local specific absorption rate (SAR) for a body within a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, the method comprising: receiving a measured phase and a measured amplitude of a transmission radio frequency (RF) pulse generated and transmitted by the MRI system; calculating, by a processor, a measured local SAR value based on the measured phase and amplitude of the transmission RF pulse; verifying accurate operation of the system for monitoring local SAR with respect to a predetermined local SAR value, the verifying comprising comparing the measured local SAR value to the predetermined local SAR value; and resetting the MRI system to a predetermined safe state based on the comparison.