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

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Community College of the Air Force

130 W Maxwell Blvd, Montgomery, 36112
Telephone:(334) 953-2223
http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/ccaf/

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Administration Bldg Suite 1070, Birmingham, 35294
Telephone:(205) 934-4011
http://www.uab.edu

Anthem College-Phoenix

1515 E Indian School Road, Phoenix, 85014
Telephone:(602) 279-9700
http://www.anthem.edu

GateWay Community College

108 N. 40th Street, Phoenix, 85034
Telephone:(602) 392-5000
http://www.gwc.maricopa.edu 60 Sargent Dr, New Haven, 06511
Telephone:(203) 285-2000
http://www.gwctc.commnet.edu

Phoenix College

1202 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, 85013
Telephone:(602) 264-2492
http://www.pc.maricopa.edu

Pima Community College

401 North Bonita Avenue, Tucson, 85709
Telephone:(520) 206-4500
http://www.pima.edu

University of Phoenix-Online Campus

3157 E. Elwood Street, Phoenix, 85034
Telephone:(800) 366-9699
http://www.uopxonline.com

Adelante Career Institute

14547 Titus, Van Nuys, 91402
Telephone:(818) 908-9912
http://adelantecareerinstitute.com

American Career College

3130 East Sedona Court, Ontario, 91764
Telephone:(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, 93534
Telephone:(661) 726-1911 x106
http://avmc.edu
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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.