Polysomnography Education
Polysomnographic technicians study how people sleep as a means of determining what's keeping them awake. There are approximately 100 documented sleep disorders, and a polysomnographic technician must be intimately acquainted with all of them. This role involves observing adults and children as they sleep, monitoring and recording data during this time, and analyzing the results in a summary given to a sleep physician. Technicians observe their sleeping patients through visuals (their own eyes and cameras) and electronic monitoring equipment that records brain waves, heart rates, and other stats.
Other Community and Technical Colleges
next >Community College of the Air Force
130 W Maxwell Blvd, Montgomery, 36112Telephone:(334) 953-2223
http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/ccaf/
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Administration Bldg Suite 1070, Birmingham, 35294Telephone:(205) 934-4011
http://www.uab.edu
Anthem College-Phoenix
1515 E Indian School Road, Phoenix, 85014Telephone:(602) 279-9700
http://www.anthem.edu
GateWay Community College
108 N. 40th Street, Phoenix, 85034Telephone:(602) 392-5000
http://www.gwc.maricopa.edu 60 Sargent Dr, New Haven, 06511
Telephone:(203) 285-2000
http://www.gwctc.commnet.edu
Pima Community College
401 North Bonita Avenue, Tucson, 85709Telephone:(520) 206-4500
http://www.pima.edu
University of Phoenix-Online Campus
3157 E. Elwood Street, Phoenix, 85034Telephone:(800) 366-9699
http://www.uopxonline.com
Adelante Career Institute
14547 Titus, Van Nuys, 91402Telephone:(818) 908-9912
http://adelantecareerinstitute.com
American Career College
3130 East Sedona Court, Ontario, 91764Telephone:(951) 739-0788
http://www.americancareer.com 4021 Rosewood Avenue, Los Angeles, 90004
Telephone:(323) 668-7555
http://www.americancareer.com
Antelope Valley Medical College
44201 10th St West, Lancaster, 93534Telephone:(661) 726-1911 x106
http://avmc.edu
Expected Salary for Polysomnography Graduates
Many factors influence the salary and income of polysomnography technologists, including market fluctuations, experience, education, and the area in which the polysomnography technologist lives. A combination of these factors contributes to an average salary of about $32,000 a year. read more [+]
Intensity of the Education Received
The idea is the same as in the business world - a better education in polysomnography will afford a better career. A more intensive, accredited program will warrant a higher paying salary. This should be taken into consideration when choosing the institution for training and education.
Local Area
Certain areas of the country have a higher demand for polysomnography technologists and this plays into a recent graduate's favor. Higher demand for a skilled position will add to the amount of compensation offered as the research center or clinic is in need of the individual in question.
The opposite is also true - an area with low demand for a polysomnography technologist will decrease the amount of compensation or lead to an absence of the position altogether. It may be in the student's best interest to relocate for a career in their chosen field of polysomnography to obtain the best possible income and salary.
Some areas of the United States offer extremely competitive salaries for polysomnography technologists. Cities like Chicago have salaries in the $40,000- $50,000 range but are not the norm for the industry. Higher salaries are available to those more experienced but as a recent graduate these salaries are more difficult to achieve. In addition to salaries there are benefits that accompany most polysomnography technologist careers. Benefits like 401k funds, medical insurance, pensions, as well as paid time off and vacations. These aspects vary from organization to organization, but should be considered when determining salary requirements.
Education
To increase their salary compensation polysomnography technologists may choose to continue their education by attending classes for specialties within the field.
A polysomnography technologist may also decide to enroll in a business degree program to enter the administrative side of the career. Larger research and testing facilities have varying levels of positions for polysomnography technologists based on education and experience. Many of these positions will entail further education and is usually determined by the position desired by the individual.
Polysomnography is a growing career in the medical field. It provides a solid salary for graduates at an average of $32,000 a year, but is rising due to new studies and public awareness. As the field of polysomnography and sleep pattern research progresses new careers and educational training will be established providing more opportunities for advancement and increases in salary.