Neurodiagnostic Technologist Career Assessment
Brain and nerve testing (EEG) ("Health Technologists & Technicians, All Other")
Welcome
On the ND in-demand list, "Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other" is a catch-all group. The main hands-on career in it is the neurodiagnostic technologist, who records brain and nerve activity.
You will explore what this career is really like and whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Neurodiagnostic Technologist?
A neurodiagnostic technologist uses special equipment to record the electrical activity of the brain (EEG), nerves, and sleep. Doctors use these recordings to diagnose seizures, epilepsy, sleep problems, strokes, and nerve damage.
The Reality: You work closely with patients who may be scared, confused, or having seizures. Some tests last hours or overnight. Some techs monitor the brain during surgery.
Your Responsibilities:
- Explain tests and help patients feel calm
- Measure the head and place small electrodes on the scalp
- Run EEGs and watch the recording closely
- Spot problems like seizures and alert the team
- Monitor patients over long periods (hours or days)
- Assist with sleep studies or nerve tests
- Monitor the brain and nerves during surgery (in some jobs)
- Keep equipment clean and working
You help doctors see what is happening inside the brain.
A Day in the Life
7:00 AM — Check the schedule: three EEGs and one patient on long-term monitoring.
7:30 AM — Explain the test to a nervous teen. Measure and place electrodes.
8:30 AM — Run the EEG. Watch the brain waves and note anything unusual.
10:00 AM — Check on the long-term monitoring patient. Fix a loose electrode.
11:00 AM — Emergency EEG in the ICU for a patient who may be having seizures.
12:30 PM — Lunch.
1:30 PM — Portable EEG for a baby in the NICU. Gentle, careful work.
3:00 PM — Clean equipment, write notes, and prepare for tomorrow.
Detailed, patient-focused work, with some urgent calls.
Training in North Dakota
No North Dakota program was found for this career. Training is through accredited neurodiagnostic programs in other states (some hybrid or online), or on-the-job training at a hospital followed by a national credential.
Training Pathways:
- Accredited neurodiagnostic program (1–2 years): Certificate or associate degree. Several are hybrid with local clinical training.
- On-the-job training: Some hospitals train techs, often people with other healthcare experience.
- Other healthcare first: EMTs, medical assistants, and respiratory therapists sometimes move into this field.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- No ND program found — look at CAAHEP-accredited neurodiagnostic programs (some offer online coursework with local clinicals)
- Ask ND hospital neurology departments (Sanford, Essentia, CHI St. Alexius, Altru, Trinity) about on-the-job training
- See ASET – The Neurodiagnostic Society for a program list
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED. Anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology help. Background check and immunizations for clinical work.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like tuition, exam fees, or supplies. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Some ND employers also help pay for training if you agree to work for them afterward.
Certification & Licensing
No state license is required in North Dakota. Employers usually expect a national credential from ABRET within a few years of hire.
Certifications Employers Look For:
- R. EEG T. — Registered EEG Technologist (the main credential)
- CLTM — Certified Long Term Monitoring
- CNIM — Certified in Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring (surgery)
- RPSGT — for sleep technologists (from BRPT)
The Exams: ABRET exams are computer-based, about 3–4 hours. Eligibility requires an accredited program or documented work experience.
Cost: About $450–$600 per exam. Prices change, so check before you buy.
Keeping It Current: Credentials require continuing education (usually every 5 years for ABRET).
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Health Technologist and Technician (All Other group) Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $18.29–$18.84/hour ($38,050–$39,190/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $23.79/hour ($49,480/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $32.17–$38.64/hour ($66,910–$80,380/year)
What that means: These numbers are for the whole "Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other" group in ND, not only neurodiagnostic techs. Credentialed EEG techs, and especially surgery monitoring techs, usually earn in the upper range.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 640 people work in this whole "All Other" group in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 700 (about 10% growth). Expect about 50 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 5% growth — faster than average.
Outlook: The whole group has about 50 openings a year in ND. Neurodiagnostic jobs are a small part of that, mostly in larger hospitals. There is a national shortage of credentialed EEG techs.
Who Hires in ND: Hospitals with neurology departments (mostly in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot), sleep centers, neurology clinics, and surgery monitoring companies.
Work Setting: Hospitals and clinics. Some jobs include evenings, nights, weekends, or on-call for emergency EEGs.
Physical Demands: Moderate. Standing, bending over patients, pushing portable equipment, and fine hand work placing electrodes.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 29-2099); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Long-Term Monitoring Specialist — Watch patients with epilepsy over days.
Path 2: Surgery Monitoring (CNIM) — Monitor the brain and nerves during surgery. Higher pay.
Path 3: Sleep Technologist — Run overnight sleep studies.
Path 4: Lead Tech or Manager — Run a neurodiagnostic lab.
Path 5: Educator — Teach in a neurodiagnostic program.
Path 6: Travel Tech — Take short-term jobs across the country.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Fascinating work with the brain
- National shortage of credentialed techs
- Help diagnose serious conditions
- Several specialties to grow into
- Patient contact without heavy lifting
- Travel job options
What's Hard:
- No training program in ND
- Small number of jobs in ND
- Scared or confused patients, including children
- Some night, weekend, or on-call shifts
- Long, detailed tests
- Must earn national credentials
- Pay starts modest until credentialed
Be Honest: Are you willing to train out of state or online, or find on-the-job training? Can you stay calm with scared patients or during a seizure? Do you enjoy detailed, careful work?