Curriculum

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The Ascension St. Vincent Neurodiagnostic Technology Program curriculum is carefully designed to facilitate student learning as they progress through the program. The first trimester of the program has an emphasis on the fundamentals of healthcare, EEG and neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. The second and third trimesters build on that knowledge with a focus on more advanced EEG patterns, as well as diseases, syndromes and disorders that affect the brain function. The program curriculum adheres to the professional curriculum from ASET: The Neurodiagnostic Society.

The Neurodiagnostic Technology Program course credits and descriptions by trimester are below.

Lectures

NDT students will attend educational lectures that examine and explain the role and responsibilities of neurodiagnostics personnel in EEG testing in the hospital and other healthcare settings. Students will receive the knowledge and application of infection control processes, standards and regulations, and facility policies and procedures with emphasis on safety, interpersonal communication and teamwork.

Skills Lab

It is extremely important that a neurodiagnostic technologist possess the skills and knowledge necessary to be a trusted member of the team of healthcare professionals who are responsible for keeping patients safe. Therefore, students will be provided with hands‐on experience in a simulated skills lab where they will learn the standards of practice for EEG testing and work to become proficient in the recognition of medical and technical terminology and functions.

Clinical Rotations

NDT students will be required to complete a minimum of 500 hours of hands‐on practicum experience in designated areas under the general supervision and direction of a qualified neurodiagnostic preceptor.

2025 Course Schedule

Click here to see a summary of the Program Curriculum

1st Trimester Courses (16 weeks)

EEG Fundamentals (NDT111)

            This introductory course provides a foundation of understanding the history, concepts, techniques and instruments used in recording brain activity. Also covered are National Professional Competencies and Professional Standards of Practice.  Basic skills of the International 10-20 system of head measurement and normal EEG patterns will be included. Role of the Neurodiagnostic Technologist will be reviewed as well as patient history taking.  EEG and medical terminology is integrated throughout the course. Parallel: NDT119.  

Introduction to Healthcare (NDT112)

            This introductory course provides a comprehensive overview of working in a healthcare setting including infection control and emergency preparedness.  An emphasis is placed on professional competence in patient interactions, patient care, patient safety and privacy standards.  Medical ethics and law relating to the healthcare worker will also be discussed. Prerequisites: NDT111; Parallel: NDT119.  

Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology (NDT113)

            This course will examine basic anatomy and function of the brain, spinal cord and human nervous system.  Review of the vascular system as well as basic cellular anatomy and physiology related to EEG will be discussed. This provides a foundation for better understanding of neurological abnormalities. Prerequisites: NDT111, 112; Parallel: NDT119.

Skills Lab (NDT119)

            Skills Lab is the hands-on groundwork required for Clinical Practicum I and Clinical Practicum II.  In the Skills Lab, students will be practicing and mastering the steps of the International 10-20 system of head measurement taught in the classroom. Skills Lab combines learned knowledge with hands-on practice beginning with a mannequin head and progressing to live individuals.  They will also be introduced to the EEG equipment and the functionality of the EEG software, as well as expectations for student behavior when working in the clinical setting. Skills Lab practice builds students’ confidence and reinforces material they have learned in the program thus far and prepares them to begin testing on patients. Parallel: NDT111, 112, 113.

2nd Trimester Courses (16 weeks)

Instrumentation & Electrical Concepts (NDT121)

            This course will focus on concepts and fundamentals of electrodes and electrode application, electrical safety, grounding, analog to digital conversion, and physiological data collection and analysis.  Digital measurement and modifications to the EEG recording will be addressed with particular attention to impedance, calibration, filters, sensitivity, montages and differential amplifiers.  Activation procedures, electrical polarity and localization of waveforms will also be introduced. Prerequisites: NDT111, 112, 113, 119.  Parallel: NDT129.  Open only to neurodiagnostic students.

Adult EEG (NDT122 )

            During this course, students will focus on normal and abnormal EEG activity in the adult patient.  Areas of focus will include pattern recognition, artifact identification, EEG variants and seizure disorders, as well as other neurological disorders and how they correlate with the EEG.  Diagnosis and treatment options will be included. Prerequisites: NDT111, 112, 113, 119, 121.  Parallel: 129.  Open only to neurodiagnostic students.

Intermediate EEG Concepts (NDT123)

            This course will cover EEG correlation of infection, and vascular and structural diseases as well as the pharmacological effects on EEG recordings. The relationship between the underlying nature of diseases and their clinical manifestations will be addressed with a focus on the resultant EEG patterns. Will also focus on criteria for long-term EEG monitoring and specialized areas of the hospital, such as intensive care unit and the operating room. Prerequisites: NDT111, 112, 113, 119, 121, 122.  Parallel: NDT129.  Open only to neurodiagnostic students.

Clinical Practicum I (NDT129)

            Under the supervision of a qualified Technologist, students will begin performing the entire routine EEG recording from start to finish, including appropriate Technologist documentation and activation procedures on adult patients in the outpatient and inpatient setting progressing to the ICU setting.  Emphasis will be on accurate EEG technical description using proper terminology, normal pattern recognition and integration of patient history in EEG analysis.  Basic EKG will be addressed. Prerequisites: NDT111, 112, 113, 119; Parallel: NDT121, 122, 123. Only open to neurodiagnostic students.

3rd Trimester Courses (16 weeks)

Pediatric & Neonatal EEG (NDT131)

            This course provides an overview of EEG application and recording of pediatric and neonate populations. Topics of discussion will include development and associated EEG waveforms, pediatric neurological conditions and both normal and abnormal pattern recognition. Prerequisites: NDT111, 112, 113, 119; 121, 122, 123, 129; Parallel: NDT139.

Neurodiagnostic Modalities (NDT132)

            This course provides an overview of various neurodiagnostic modalities and their use of basic electroencephalographic (EEG) principles.  Modalities discussed will include long term monitoring, evoked potentials, nerve conduction studies, intraoperative monitoring and polysomnography. Focus of study will be on instrumentation, recording parameters and applications for performing these tests as well as the role of the Neurodiagnostic Technologist when performing these modalities. Prerequisites: NDT111, 112, 113, 119; 121, 122, 123, 129, 131; Parallel: NDT139.

NDT Capstone (NDT133)

            This course will include a review of topics in preparation for the ABRET Registry Examination and student will complete practice exams.  Student will complete a record review presentation of a patient test they performed to summarize and demonstrate their knowledge of concepts learned in the classroom as well as the technical skills of the neurodiagnostic procedure from start to finish. Prerequisites: NDT111, 112, 113, 119; 121, 122, 123, 129, 131, 132; Parallel: NDT139.

Clinical Practicum II (NDT139)

            Under supervision of a qualified Technologist, student will continue to perform routine EEG recordings from start to finish, as well as observing and performing functions in long-term monitoring unit such as hooking up adult, pediatric and neonatal patients, electrode repair, disconnecting patients and monitoring patient EEG’s in the Seizure Monitoring Unit. Prerequisites: NDT111, 112, 113, 119, 121, 122, 123, 129; Parallel: NDT131, 132, 133.