Neuro/EEG/Sleep Techs

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · May 25, 2015

I spent 14 yrs as a registered sleep technologist (RPSGT) prior to changing careers to nursing. The field as been going through major changes in the last 5 yrs. There is a move towards formalized education and state licensure. The pay varies based on the state's licensure requirement. The higher the bar to get a license, the higher the pay. I was actually making $5/hr more in sleep medicine than nursing. The other issue is the insurance companies. Medicare has approved the use of home sleep study devices that patients take home with them (or mailed to them). They provide the basic information to determine sleep apnea. Insurance companies want to save money, so some of them will only pay for the home studies instead of a full in-lab sleep study. This has decreased the number of patients sent to sleep labs for testing and less demand for sleep techs (more patients with less techs). I got out really bored doing the exact same test 3 nights a week for 14 yrs.

I have no experience with EEGs, but the demand is more stable since they are looking at seizures, strokes, and other brain issues. Pay should be on par with nursing.

Both (sleep and EEG) will require 2 yrs of school plus licensure exam. The problem with those fields is the lack of variety. If you get tired of one specialty in nursing, you can transfer to another specialty.

resqbug · May 26, 2015

Thank you for your reply!