Frequently Asked Questions

The Neurodiagnostic Technology (NDT) program is 6 trimesters or 24 months long and begins in the fall of every year. General education courses are offered during the first 3 trimesters, and neurodiagnostic major courses are offered the lasts 3 trimesters.

Graduates receive an Associate of Science in Neurodiagnostic Technology.

There is no guarantee that students will be hired upon graduation, however, for graduates who pass a credentialing exam, job growth is projected to be much faster than average at 15% or higher and during the ten-year period of 2016-2026, the job center estimates a total number 11,000 job openings in NDT (American Job Center, 2018). In the 2015 ASET Salary and Benefit Survey, 22% of labs stated that they plan to expand services and hire more staff (ASET, 2015).

The average annual salary for a neurodiagnostic technologist with an associate’s degree is $61,000 per year (ASET – The Neurodiagnostic Society, 2015). Technologists with multiple credentials have an increased earning potential.

References

• American Job Center (2018). Summary report for: 29-2099-01: Neurodiagnostic technologist. Retrieved January 17, 2019 from http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2099.01
• ASET – The Neurodiagnostic Society (2015). Salary and Benefit Survey. Workforce issues and salary information. Retrieved from: https://aset.org

Neurodiagnostic technologists are professionals who test the brain and nervous system. They document a patient history, apply electrodes and record the brain waves or nervous system’s response to various types of stimuli. Sometimes they monitor patients in the intensive care unit or a long-term monitoring unit for patients with epilepsy. They sometimes perform Intraoperative Neuromonitoring working closely with a neurologist to provide functional neurodiagnostic information to the surgeon.

The field is evolving and these are some of the most common types. 

Additional information can be found at https://www.acmegs.org.

• Electroencephalography (EEG) - The recording of electrical activity of cortical neurons
• Polysomnography (PSG) - The recording of sleep patterns including brain, respiratory effort/flow and movements during sleep for the detection of respiratory and sleep disorders.
• Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) - Evaluation of peripheral nerves, using electrical stimulation, to identify neuromuscular disease or injury.
• Evoked Potentials (EP) - The measure of conduction time through the neural pathways using somatosensory, auditory or visual stimuli. This can be done in a clinical setting but if most often done during intraoperative neuromonitoring.
• Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) - The use of neurophysiological monitoring during surgery including EEG, Cortical stimulation, Motor and Sensory EP, Free-run and Triggered EMG, and NCS to provide functional information about the patient’s central and peripheral nervous systems during a surgical procedure.

A student is considered to be in the pre-Neurodiagnostic Technology program once they are admitted to Baptist College and have declared a major. To progress from pre-Neurodiagnostic Technology to the professional program, the student must have completed required program prerequisites and apply for selection into the program. Cohorts begin the program course work in the fall trimester. Class size is limited and the selection process is competitive.

A selection committee for the Neurodiagnostic professional program will evaluate all completed applications. Applicants with a strong academic background and currently enrolled in Baptist College, or applicants completing preprogram courses at institutions with collaborative or articulation agreements will receive priority consideration for interviews.

Student Selection

Student selection into the program is competitive, applicants meeting minimum selection criteria are not guaranteed an interview. Some students may choose to indicate interest in more than one program to increase their chances of being accepted during a year of highly competitive applicants.

Selection to the Neurodiagnostic Technology program is based on the following:

• Academic potential for success from the academic record.
• Academic strength in previous college coursework, with specific attention given to performance in the pre-program courses.
• Past failures affecting cumulative college GPA and pre-program courses may impact selection into the program. Each file will be considered individually.
• Preference may be given to qualified applicants completing courses at Baptist College.
• A personal interview will be required of each applicant. Students will be evaluated on personal strengths and knowledge of Neurodiagnositc Technology program and profession.
• Applicants will be notified in writing of selection to the program.

Yes, students will be evaluated on personal strengths and knowledge of neurodiagnostic technology.

No, only 12 credit hours must be completed prior to submitting the Intent to Apply form. These courses are AHS 202, BIO 201, ENG 101, and either MAT 110 or MAT 240. After selection to the program students are required to successfully complete the additional pre-program courses prior to NDT 101 Introduction to Neurodiagnostics.

For the program starting in the Fall of 2020, The Intent to Apply form opens on December 1st and closes on February 1st for qualified students.

This new program will begin with ten students in the first cohort. In the future cohort sizes may vary.

Class sizes will be limited and the student selection process will be competitive. You must have a college cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.70 or higher (on a four-point scale) to qualify to apply to the program.

There are scholarships as well as federal and state-funded financial assistance programs. Information related to tuition and financial assistance can be found at https://www.baptistu.edu/tuition-financial-aid.

Yes, students are required to apply to Baptist College. Once accepted into Baptist College, students are required to complete a separate intent to apply to the NDT program form to be considered for selection into the NDT class. 

Requirements to apply include meeting all the Baptist College admission requirements and acceptance to the college, complete all four of the required pre-program courses (12 credit hrs. as specified by the program). Students must have a minimum of “C” or better in all prerequisite course work, earn a minimum cumulative 2.7 GPA  on a four-point scale, review technical standards and complete the intent to apply form by June 1st.

Clinical experience will be scheduled for one day per week in the fifth trimester and four days a week in the sixth and final trimester.

NDT 201, NDT 205 and NDT 206 courses include hands on experiences in a laboratory and/or virtual setting. The laboratory times will be posted within the online course syllabus and may be scheduled in intensive multiple day sessions, on Saturdays, in virtual online sessions or in an open-lab where students can schedule time for practice and video assignments.

Most of the courses are conducted online with the exception of hands-on experiences in a laboratory.

Yes, instructors are available via course discussion forums, online chat, email, phone and virtual online meeting rooms.

Students may be assigned to clinical sites up to a 90-mile radius from the college.

Working while taking the program requires excellent time management and coordination with your employer.  Time spent in the clinical rotations must be dedicated to learning and set apart from work time.

Students from the Memphis area, may gain clinical experience at regional hospitals within a 90-mile radius of the college. Students at more of a distance will need to request a Baptist College of Health Sciences approved clinical site for their clinical experience by the end of their first trimester in the program.

No, the clinical coordinator and program chair determine clinical site placement for each student.