These four graduates of NECC’s Sleep Technology Program are now 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.

Because of a shortage of sleep technologists, students in Northern Essex Community College’s Sleep Technology Certificate Program are getting jobs before they graduate.

Eager to hire more sleep technologists, Neurocare, Inc., the largest employer of sleep technologists in Massachusetts, recently expanded its relationship with the college.

A clinical site for Northern Essex students for the past seven years, starting this year, Neurocare is hiring students for paid, entry-level positions.

“This was a terrific opportunity for our students,” said John Murray, program coordinator.  “They get hands-on experience, earn money, and have first dibs at full-time jobs when they graduate.”

Neurocare is in the process of interviewing and hiring members of the class of 2017, said Murray, and, not surprisingly, the students “are loving it.”  Last spring, half of the graduating class of 18 was hired by Neurocare.

The shortage of sleep technologists is being driven in part by the closure of at least two sleep technology programs in recent years.   Northern Essex is currently the only college in New England graduating sleep technologists.

Murray said the new partnership benefits Neurocare as well as the students, who get hands-on experience and begin earning while still in 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.

Adlin Siri of Haverhill, a 2016 graduate of the program, started working for Neurocare’s sleep clinic at Lawrence General Hospital three weeks after her graduation. The 2004 Lawrence High School graduate says the field is “interesting” and “rewarding”.  “It feels so good to help someone with a sleep issue like apnea.   You really feel like you’ve accomplished something.”

Adlin Siri of Haverhill scores a sleep study in the sleep lab at Lawrence General Hospital.

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.

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

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.  They are currently hiring Northern Essex students in Lawrence, Boston, Newton, Needham, Brockton, and Concord, MA, and Derry, NH.

Northern Essex is recruiting now for the 10-month Sleep Technologist Certificate program starting in September.  For more information, 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.