Benefits of a Talent Pipeline & Career Ladder
Creating a talent pipeline and career ladder is critical to growing and sustaining a qualified workforce with benefits that include:
- Increased awareness about the profession
- Improved patient safety and staffing ratios
- Increased staff development opportunities
- Specified roles in the neurodiagnostic service line
An example of this career ladder would be in attracting new talent into an introductory level position, such as a Neurodiagnostic Assistant (NDA), and make educational offerings available for possible advancement to a Neurodiagnostic Tech I, II, and then a Neurodiagnostic Specialist I and II.
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Promoting Patient Safety and Professional Competence
Learn more about education, qualifications, and practice levels for the neurodiagnostic profession.
Neurodiagnostic Career Ladder
In addition to the above foundational documents and other resources, ASET has been cultivating a career ladder for neurodiagnostic technologists to expand opportunities for greater numbers of technologists to enter the field, cross-train in multiple modalities, earn a degree and advance to higher levels of salary and responsibility.
ASET partnered with the nationally recognized societies below to define the recommended levels of education, certification, experience, and ongoing education appropriate for neurodiagnostic personnel.
Leadership Positions
Neurodiagnostic Technical Lab Director
Works with hospital administration and the medical director to make personnel and budgetary decisions; may take on the responsibilities of ND Technical Lab Supervisor.
Minimum Education
Bachelor of Health Sciences
Minimum Credential
1 neurodiagnostic credential required if job description includes performing neurodiagnostic studies
Experience
5 years of experience and 3 years of previous supervisory experience
Neurodiagnostic Technical Lab Supervisor
Provides direct supervision and education to other technologists; maintains policies and procedures; oversees day-to-day operations in collaboration with physician director.
Minimum Education
Associate degree or CAAHEP ND Program Graduate
Preferred Education
Bachelor’s degree
Minimum Credential
1 neurodiagnostic technology credential
Preferred Credentials
2+ neurodiagnostic technology credentials (modality-specific: i.e., if supervising LTM, needs CLTM; if providing instruction in EEG, needs R. EEG T., etc.)
Experience
5 years minimum experience in neurodiagnostics
Neurodiagnostic Education Specialist
Designs and implements competency and educational activities for ND personnel; develops new employees to meet job requirements; assists those who are not credentialed with preparation for registry exam.
Minimum Education
Bachelor’s degree
Preferred Education
CoA-NDT CAAHEP-accredited bachelor’s program or advanced degree (i.e., master’s or doctorate)
Minimum Credential
1 neurodiagnostic technology credential (modality-specific: i.e., if supervising LTM, needs CLTM; if providing instruction in EEG, needs R. EEG T., etc.)
Preferred Credentials
2+ neurodiagnostic technology credentials (modality-specific: i.e., if supervising LTM, needs CLTM; if providing instruction in EEG, needs R. EEG T., etc.)
Experience
5 years minimum experience in neurodiagnostics and previous teaching experience
Hoping to grow your career?
ASET is continually developing the EEG and LTM curriculum with the intention that individuals will continue their learning and exam preparation to advance professionally in their career ladder.
Technologist Positions
NeuroAnalyst
(formerly known as Advanced LTM Analyst)
Acts as physician extender; writes detailed description of EEG and includes representative samples
Minimum Education
Associate degree or CAAHEP ND Program Graduate
Preferred Education
Bachelor’s degree
Minimum Credential
R. EEG T. and CLTM
Preferred Credentials
NA-CLTM
Experience
5 years of experience in LTM after CLTM credential
Neurodiagnostic Technology Specialist II
Performs routine and advanced testing; more detailed data review; ability to teach/train
- LTME/LTM
- ICU
- IONM
- NCS
- MEG
Minimum Education
Associate degree or CAAHEP ND Program Graduate
Preferred Education
Bachelor’s degree
Credential Status
Credentialed (ABRET, AAET, or ABEM)
Experience
3 years of experience after credential; 5 years in the field
Neurodiagnostic Technology Specialist I
Performs routine and advanced testing
- LTME/LTM
- ICU
- IONM
- NCS
- MEG
Minimum Education
Associate degree or CAAHEP ND Program Graduate
Preferred Education
Associate degree
Credential Status
Credentialed (ABRET, AAET, or ABEM)
Experience
1 year of experience after credential; 3 years in the field
Neurodiagnostic Technologist III
Performs routine and advanced testing under supervision
Minimum Education
CAAHEP ND Program Graduate
Preferred Education
Associate degree
Credential Status
Credentialed (ABRET, AAET, or ABEM)
Experience
12 months of patient care in the field with supervised experience performing the primary testing modality
Neurodiagnostic Technologist II
Performs routine testing under general supervision
Minimum Education
CAAHEP ND Program Graduate
Preferred Education
Associate degree
Credential Status
Board eligible (ABRET, AAET, or ABEM). This is a transitional position, and new hires should obtain credential within three (3) years of hire
Experience
12 months of patient care in the field with supervised experience performing the primary testing modality
Neurodiagnostic Technologist I
Performs routine testing under direct supervision
Defining what it means to be a qualified neurodiagnostic technologist is imperative for growth, sustainability and autonomy of the profession. The definition was introduced in 1999 at the first ASET/ABRET Education Summit with support of 70+ individuals representing neurodiagnostics across many disciplines (EEG, LTM, IONM, NCS & PSG). The current version was revised in 2020 to clarify and define the word, “qualified,” after noting reference documents that lacked a standard use or formal definition.
Minimum Education
Enrolled in a CAAHEP ND Program
Preferred Education
Associate degree
Credential Status
This is a transitional position, and a new hire is expected to obtain credentials within five (5) years
Experience
Internal training program; must meet hospital standards for all patient care workers
See ASET Core Curriculum for comprehensive training support
IONM Neurodiagnostic Trainee (Technologist I)
Assists IONM technologists
Minimum Education
Bachelor’s or R. EEG T. or R. EP T.
Credential Status
R. EEG T. or R. EP T.; CNIM within 5 years
Experience
6 months of patient care experience
Neurodiagnostic Assistant
(formerly Neurodiagnostic Lab Assistant or Patient Observer)
Assists technologists
The ASET BOT approved the Neurodiagnostic Assistant (NDA) position title and job description in August of 2020, which combined two existing Qualified Personnel Workforce roles (the Neurodiagnostic Lab Assistant and Patient Observer) under a single title to align with the neurodiagnostics service line. Neurodiagnostic Assistants are not trained, nor qualified to analyze EEG data.
Education / Certification
High school diploma or equivalent
ASET online course – LTM 100: Introduction to LTM for EMU Personnel Carroll et al. (2021)
Experience
At least 20 hours of EMU or ND lab observation^^
^^NDA position requires the technical supervision of a credentialed ND technologist (R. EEG T., CLTM, or NA-CLTM).
