NEURODIAGNOSTIC TECHNOLOGIST


The Neurodiagnostic Technologist (NDT) program is responsible for providing Navy hospital corpsmen and Air Force medical technicians with advanced training in the field of Neurodiagnostics. Graduates will function as entry-level technologists in military treatment facilities throughout the United States and overseas. The course includes: electroencephalography (EEG), evoked potentials (EP), nerve conduction studies (NCS), electromyography, and polysomnography (PSG). The training includes neuroanatomy and physiology, electronics and instrumentation, technical and clinical science, wave pattern interpretation, electroencephalographic abnormalities, electroencephalographic procedures, additional diagnostic procedures, and clinical rotation
 
 US Air Force
AFSC: Neurodiagnostic Technologist
Program Length: 1344 hours
Iterations per year: 1

 US Army
MOS: N/A

 US Navy
NEC: Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist
Program Length: 1344 hours
Iterations per year: 1

School Code 083


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Neurodiagnostic Technologist


The Neurodiagnostic Technologist program is responsible for providing students with advanced training in the field of electroneurodiagnostics. Graduates will function as entry-level technologists in military treatment facilities throughout the United States and overseas.

The instructional design of this program’s courses is group-lock step. This is a consolidated program with two military services that has a two phase, field of study schedule. Resident training is first conducted at the METC and then the student transitions to clinical training that is conducted at military and/or civilian medical treatment facilities (MTF).

Upon initial entry to METC, students are provided formal education and training that develops them into entry-level Neurodiagnostic Technologist within fixed MTFs. Training includes the study of: electroencephalography (EEG), evoked potentials (EP), nerve conduction studies (NCS) and polysomnography (PSG), neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the human body as it relates to neurology, concepts of basic electricity, neurological disorders and how they affect the EEG,
instrumentation as it relates to electroencephalography, nerve conduction studies and EP averaging, interpretation of basic wave patterns seen in EEG, NCS and EP; normal variants and abnormal patterns, and clinical guidelines used in the neurodiagnostic field.

Methods of instruction include, but are not limited to: lecture, demonstration, online materials, simulations, laboratory practice, and practical exercises. Quality control and safety techniques are emphasized throughout the program.

Clinical training provides students with clinical knowledge and hands-on experiential training which consists of clinical practicum in a MTF. The program prepares the student to exercise judgment and accept responsibility in performing diagnostic procedures in the care of neurodiagnostic patients.

Students will obtain practical training assisting in the performance of: electroencephalograms, long term epilepsy monitoring, ambulatory electroencephalograms, evoked potentials, nerve conduction velocity, polysomnography, multiple sleep latency tests, and intraoperative monitoring cases.

Proficiency advancement in clinical applications is determined by the program director and clinical advisor/coordinator on a case-by-case basis.

 

Course Curriculum

 
NDT 101 Neuroanatomy and Physiology
Introduction to basic neuroanatomy and physiology. An in-depth study of the fundamentals and technology in the field of electroencephalography. Included is the human neuroanatomy of the nerves, the structure and function of the cranial nerves, and anatomy and physiology of the human brain and the cardiopulmonary system.

NDT 102 Introduction to Neurodiagnostics
An introduction to the fundamentals and technology in the field of electroencephalography. Included are electrode application for various neurodiagnostic studies, basic instrumentation and basic principles of infection control.
 
NDT 103 Applied Electronics & Instrumentation
An in-depth study of the fundamentals and technology in the field of electroencephalography. Included are the fundamentals of basic electricity, including voltage and resistance, and methods of electroencephalography localization and polarity convention.

NDT 104 Intermediate Neurodiagnostics
An analysis and detailed study of the basic wave patterns produced in electroencephalographic recordings, including awake and sleep rhythms, artifacts, maturation changes, and performance of activation procedures.
 
NDT 105 Neurodiagnostic Technical Science
Application of practical skills in recording routine electroencephalography studies. Includes an introduction to long term epilepsy monitoring and brain mapping, an overview of pediatric and neonatal recording and performance of electrocerebral inactivity studies in accordance with ACNS guidelines.

NDT 106 Neurodiagnostic Clinical Science I
A study of the recording of epileptiform abnormalities and classification of seizure disorders. Includes study of common anticonvulsant medications and neurological history taking.
 
NDT 107 Neurodiagnostic Clinical Science II
An in-depth study of abnormal encephalographic recordings, as well as the signs, symptoms and etiology of the various diseases, disorders and other medical issues that create them. Includes recognition of encephalopathies, neoplasms, cerebrovascular disorders, headaches and head traumas as seen in both the clinical and electrocorticographic settings.

NDT 108 Evoked Potentials
Introduction to the fundamental principles, concepts, terminology and techniques of evoked potentials. Theory and practice of the testing modalities of auditory, visual and somatosensory evoked potentials performed in a clinical setting. Includes an overview of EP instrumentation and technical concepts, clinical correlations and waveform analysis. Introcudtion to intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring.
 
NDT 109 Nerve Conduction Studies / Electromyography
Introduction to the fundamental principles and performance of nerve conduction studies and recording techniques. Theory and assistance in the performance of electromyography studies.
 
NDT 110 Polysomnography
Introduction to polysomnography, sleep disorders and the related procedures. Includes practical application of recording devices, performance of polysomnography, multiple sleep latency testing and maintenance of wakefulness testing. Review of cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology and electrocardiogram recognition.

NDT 111 NDT Clinical Rotation/Registry Preparation
Training is conducted at various participating military and civilian hospitals in San Antonio, Texas. Clinical practice in neurodiagnostics include observation, application of electrodes, performance of electroencephalographic testing, clinical history taking. Graduates of clinical training are expected to perform as an entry-level Neurodiagnostic Technologist. 
Review of all electroencephalographic principles in preparation for national registry examination, to include neuroanatomy and physiology, electronics, instrumentation, normal and abnormal patterns, normal variants, treatments and disease correlations.
Prerequisite(s): Completion of NDT 101 - 110

 

Certifications

Upon meeting course requirements for graduation from the Neurodiagnostic Technologist program, students are eligible to take the Electroencephalography (EEG) National Registry Exam. 

METC Neurodiagnostic Technologist program students have attained a 97% five year pass rate average from 2017-2021.

Air Force graduates are required to pass the national registry exam within one year of completing the METC Neurodiagnostic Technologist course in order to become a 5 skill level. 

The METC Neurodiagnostic Technologist program has been approved for college credit through the College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS) Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). Air Force and Navy students are eligible to receive 42 credits.

 
  
Air Force specific:
See the Education & Training Course Announcements (ETCA) Website
https://etca.randolph.af.mil/default1.asp
** Course number L5ALJ4N031B00AA 
   
 
Navy specific:
See Catalog of Navy Training Courses (CANTRAC). 
https://app.prod.cetars.training.navy.mil/cantrac/vol2.html
Must have completed course COURSE 300-0010, HM BASIC 
 

Credentialing Information:


Graduates are eligible for multiple credentials upon completion of the program through the American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists (ABRET) or the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT). 

Per the American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists (www.abret.org), applicants must meet the following requirements: 

To be eligible for the EEG credential, applicants must be approved for graduation from the Neurodiagnostic Program and have a current CPR/BCLS certification. Upon graduation approval, students are eligible to take the EEG credential examination. 

Graduates are eligible for the Evoked Potential (EP) credential examination upon completion of a CAAHEP accredited program. 

Per the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (www.brpt.org), applicants must meet the following requirements: Graduates are eligible for the Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) examination, upon completion of a CAAHEP accredited polysomnography education program. 

To be eligible for the Certified Polysomnographic Technologist (CPSGT) examination, applicants can be students within 2 months of graduating from, or graduated of, a CAAHEP accredited polysomnography education program. 

Accreditation:


The Neurodiagnostic Technologist Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for Education in Neurodiagnostic Technology (CoA-NDT).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775-6905
Telephone: 727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

The METC is a College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS) Branch campus. The METC has an academic collaboration with the CAHS, which is federally-chartered and a part of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) school system.

The Neurodiagnostic program has been evaluated and approved for 42 college credits toward a regionally accredited college degree through CAHS. Students can apply these credits toward  Bachelors and Associate of Science in Health Sciences degrees, respectively.

Below is the number of students who have graduated from the METC Neurodiagnostic Technologist program in the past three years.
 
Year Number of Graduates
2019 9 Students
2020 9 Students
2021 8 Students



100% of METC NDT Students that graduate from the Neurodiagnostic Technologist Course are placed in Military Treatment Facilities; Conus and Oconus, where they are able to perform Neurodiagnostic studies.

Credentialing Information:

 

Graduates are eligible for multiple credentials upon completion of the program through the American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists (ABRET) or the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT).

ABRET (www.abret.org) applicants must meet the following requirements:

To be eligible for the electroencephalograpy (EEG) credential, applicants must be cleared by the program director for graduation from the NDT program and have a current CPR/BLS certification. The week before graduation, students are eligible to take the EEG credential examination.

Graduates are eligible for the Evoked Potential (EP) credential examination upon completion of a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program and have a current CPR/BLS certification.

BRPT (www.brpt.org) applicants must meet the following requirements:

1.Graduates are eligible for the Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) examination upon completion of an education program in polysomnography accredited by CAAHEP.
2.Graduates must also have a current CPR/BLS certification.

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Program Director (210) 808-5290
Air Force Service Lead (210) 808-5329
Navy Service Lead  (210) 808-5105
DSN Prefix 420
 
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