These four graduates of NECC’s Sleep Technology Program are working in the Neurocare Sleep Lab at Lawrence General Hospital. Front left to right Mariuxi Cabrera of Lawrence, Adlin Siri of Haverhill, and Viveno Moreno of Haverhill. Back row, Jesus Chico of Lawrence.

Northern Essex Community, with campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, is the only college in New England that graduates sleep technologists, and the college is now partnering with Neurocare, Inc., the largest employer of sleep technologists in Massachusetts, to offer the program to Greater Boston residents, beginning in January.

“There is a tremendous demand for sleep technologists in the Greater Boston area, which is why we decided to expand our program,” said John Murray, program coordinator.  “All 2017 graduates were placed in jobs.”

The two-semester certificate program is offered online and students will meet once a month on Saturdays at a Neurocare, Inc. sleep lab in Newton for clinical and practicum work.

Students are currently being recruited for this new program, and an open house is scheduled for Wed, Nov. 8 from 5 to 8 pm at Neurocare, 70 Wells Ave, Newton, MA.

The field of sleep technology requires excellent communication and critical thinking skills. Technologists score studies, evaluate EKG’s, take vital signs, and work closely with patients to explain sleep disorders and therapies.  Starting salaries for sleep technologists are $19 an hour with the potential to earn up to $30 an hour.

There are over 80 sleep disorders with sleep apnea being the most common.

Neurocare has been a clinical site for Northern Essex students for eight years and they recently decided to expand their relationship with the college.

“If we didn’t have Northern Essex, we wouldn’t be able to service our clients’ needs,” said Pam Hurlburt of Neurocare, who said she has confidence in the quality of the Northern Essex program and the preparedness of its graduates.

Neurocare, Inc. is a provider of hospital-based sleep disorders management programs and free-standing sleep diagnostic centers accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in New England.

For more information on the new program in Boston, starting in January, or the Merrimack Valley program, which will begin again in September, contact Murray at 978 655-5892 or jmurray@necc.mass.edu or visit the website www.necc.mass.edu.

For a full list of health programs available at Northern Essex visit the website.