A method of scanning for a network using a preferred radio access technology is useful for improving wireless communication network efficiency and conserving battery power at network nodes. The method includes camping on the network using a current radio access technology, where the current radio access technology is assigned a priority level (step 505). A data set, received from the network, identifying an alternative radio access technology and a priority level assigned to the alternative radio access technology is then processed (step 510). It is then determined whether the alternative radio access technology is a preferred radio access technology by comparing the priority level of the current radio access technology with the priority level of the alternative radio access technology (step 515). If the alternative radio access technology is determined to be a preferred radio access technology, then scanning for the network is performed using the alternative radio access technology (step 520).