Overview
The purpose of the IONM Certificate program is to provide high quality education for entry-level Neuromonitorists. This is a mostly online program, with 1 mandatory weekend boot camp (scheduled across Friday, Saturday and Sunday), designed for individuals who want a flexible classroom schedule and who may not have access to local neurodiagnostic education. The curriculum includes a variety of classes in IONM technology. This is an asynchronous program and requires weekly online class assignments. Students are also required to attend a minimum number of synchronous online meetings each semester. Students must attend a minimum of two clinical days per week starting eight weeks into the program.
Students are strongly encouraged to attend clinical more than the two minimum clinical days per week to achieve all competencies and to log more cases toward board requirements. More clinical time may be required to meet competencies.
Students in this program must be technologically competent in the use of computers, self-motivated, independent, and possess a strong desire to work in this field.
This CAAHEP-accredited program allows the completer to follow ABRET Pathway I towards certification (CNIM). The IONM student is able to document approximately 30% of the 100 cases required to sit for the CNIM.
Correction: The previously published version of the 2022-2023 catalog erroneously listed the boot camp as 2 days - Saturday/Sunday - when it should have been 1 weekend including Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This was corrected on 1/6/23.
Curriculum
The IONM certificate program provides an accelerated professional course background that prepares the student to assist in the delivery of patient-centered care as a valued member of the healthcare team.
The program has several outstanding clinical affiliates in and outside of the New England area. Students will gain valuable experience in these facilities and will learn how to perform intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM), including EEG, SSEP, BAEP, MEP, EMG, cranial nerve (CN live and triggered, SEMG/TEMG) and peripheral nerve (PN) monitoring techniques.
This is a hybrid program and, as such, students are required to attend four all-day hybrid labs scheduled on two weekends during the program. Absences for these labs will need to be made up before the student can attend future courses. Make-ups are only offered with the next regularly scheduled cohort. This CAAHEP-accredited program allows the completer to follow the American Board of Registration for END Technologists (ABRET) Pathway I towards Certification in Neurointraoperative Monitoring (CNIM). Pathway I requirements may be found at www.abret.org.
Program Outcomes
Completers of the IONM certificate program will learn to accomplish the following:
- Collaborate as an integral part of the interdisciplinary operating room team, delivering professional competent neuromonitoring, which results in improved patient outcomes;
- Utilize critical thinking skills essential to the IONM technologist, enabling the technologist to excel in the monitorist’s role;
- Understand, recognize, and engage in research- and information-seeking strategies to maintain accepted standards of professional behavior while using evidence-based medicine as an IONM health care specialist; and
- Work within the ethico-legal framework of the profession.
Course Sequences and Prerequisites
Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Certificate Program (IOM)
Course Sequence:
| IOM 1010 | Introduction to Neurodiagnostic Technology (NDT)/Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) | 2 |
| IOM 1020 | Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) | 2 |
| IOM 1030 | Introduction to Clinical Education | 2 |
| IOM 1032 | Introduction to Clinical Education: Boot Camp | 1 |
| IOM 1120 | IONM Anatomy & Physiology I | 2 |
| IOM 1130 | Intraoperative Neuromonitoring II | 2 |
| IOM 1140 | Clinical Education I | 3 |
| IOM 2010 | Intraoperative Neuromonitoring III/Modalities | 2 |
| IOM 2021 | IONM Anatomy and Physiology II | 2 |
| IOM 2030 | Clinical Practicum II | 2 |
| IOM 2120 | IONM IV / Advanced EEG and Related Procedures | 2 |
| IOM 2130 | CNIM Prep | 1 |
| IOM 2140 | Clinical Practicum III | 2 |
| IOM 2200 | Clinical Add-On I** | 0 |
| IOM 2201 | Clinical Add-On II** | 0 |
Program of Study
While the college makes every effort to avoid schedule changes, the college may cancel courses or alter course schedules without prior notification.
Semester I: Session I
| IOM 1010 | Introduction to Neurodiagnostic Technology (NDT)/Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) | 2 |
| IOM 1020 | Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) | 2 |
| IOM 1030 | Introduction to Clinical Education | 2 |
| IOM 1032 | Introduction to Clinical Education: Boot Camp | 1 |
Semester I: Session II
IOM 1140: More extensive clinical experience may be necessary to further develop skills.
Semester II: Session I
| IOM 2010 | Intraoperative Neuromonitoring III/Modalities | 2 |
| IOM 2021 | IONM Anatomy and Physiology II | 2 |
| IOM 2030 | Clinical Practicum II | 2 |
Semester II: Session II
Total: 25 credits
*Exemptions of IOM 1010 and IOM 1032 may be made for students working in the field of IONM. They must provide proof of employment by submitting a resume with administrative confirmation.
**Two 7-week clinical add-on courses are available to successful completers. These courses are designed for the entry level IONM technologist, pre-employment, to gain more clinical experience and to log more cases in preparation to take the CNIM boards.
Students are required to take courses in the sequence in which they are offered. Students are awarded the certificate after meeting the criteria below:
- Successful completion of the certificate program as prescribed by the college
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher
- A minimum grade of C (2.0) in all IONM professional courses
- Completion of all IONM program requirements within two years of enrollment at the college