Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring certification students in the lab.

Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM)

Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring (IONM) encompasses the application of a wide variety of electrophysiological methods to monitor the functional integrity of neural structures during surgery. This certification prepares you to monitor the state of a patient's nervous system in “real-time” during surgery to improve patient safety and surgical outcomes.

Degrees & Offerings
  • Certificate
Department
College
Program Contact
Professor of Audiology, program coordinator, IONM
Department Secretary
illustration of Carver Hall

Program Details

  • Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg's IONM post-baccalaureate certificate program is aimed to bridge the gaps between the increasing demand of qualified technologists and lack of formal educational programs.
  • Our program is one of a few in the country offering IONM training - Graduates are highly sought after by various IONM providers nationwide.
  • IONM program is offered as a track in the Doctorate of Audiology program (12 additional credits), as well as a stand-alone certificate (33 credits).
  • The program can be completed in one year and is offered in-person at the Bloomsburg campus.
  • Common undergraduate majors of applicants include health sciences, speech-language pathology and audiology, exercise science, biology, and communication sciences and disorders.

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What is IONM?

  • Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring (IONM) encompasses the application of a wide variety of electrophysiological methods to monitor the functional integrity of neural structures during surgery. This certification prepares you to monitor the state of a patient's nervous system in “real-time” during surgery to improve patient safety and surgical outcomes. 

  • As a surgical neurophysiologist, you will provide neurofunctional feedback and guidance during surgery to protect the brain, spine, and peripheral nervous systems from iatrogenic injury.​

  • IONM benefits a variety of surgeries, including neurosurgery, vascular surgery, ENT surgery, orthopedic surgery, cardiac surgery, interventional radiological procedures, genitourinary surgery, and other general surgeries.

  • IONM training disciplines Include human functional neuroanatomy, neurodiagnostic technology, electrophysiology, pathophysiology, biology base of human disease, neurosurgery, spinal Surgery, ENT surgery, vascular surgery, orthopedic surgery, and neuroanesthesia.

  • Most IONM technologists learn on the job and often have no formal curriculum to follow. Many lack the suitable skills, knowledge, abilities, training, and expertise to provide IONM service effectively.

Courses and Curriculum

Commonwealth U - Bloomsburg is one of the few programs in the country offering IONM training. Our graduates are highly sought after by various IONM providers nationwide. This graduate-level certificate program provides a year of training (33 credit hours) for students with a bachelor's degree to pursue a career as an IONM technologist.

CU Degree Requirements*

*Please see the CU degree requirements effective Fall 2023. All enrolled students can also review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion in Degree Works.

CMSD 650 Introduction to IONM
CMSD 651 IONM Functional Human Neuroanatomy
CMSD 652 Clinical Neurophysiology: Evoked Potential/Electromyography
CMSD 654 Clinical Neurophysiology: Electroencephalography/Biophysics
CMSD 656 IONM Cranial and Vascular Surgery
CMSD 657 IONM Spine Surgery
CMSD 659 IONM Instrumentation and Practical Application I
CMSD 660 IONM Instrumentation and Practical Application II
CMSD 661 IONM Instrumentation and Practical Application III

  • A bachelor's degree is required for admission to the certificate program. This graduate certificate program will review and consider applications from a wide variety of educational backgrounds.
  • However, to help ensure success in this certificate training, priority applicants should have had previous academic coursework in at least three of the following areas of study: anatomy, physiology, human biology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, psychology, medical terminology, personal health, medical ethics, and applied physics for the health sciences, or similar courses.
  • This one-year certificate program (12 credit hours per semester, total 36 credit hours) will be promoted to students from undergraduate academic programs such as speech pathology and audiology, exercise science, biological and allied health sciences, nursing, psychology and medical physics..
  • Applicants who do not have the expected foundational coursework may be accepted provisionally pending completion of a program of prerequisite study incorporating three of the aforementioned areas of study.
  Fall Spring Summer
First
Year
CMSD 650
Intro to IONM 
CMSD 652
Clinical Neurophysiology: Evoked Potential / Electromyography
CMSD 657
IONM Spine Surgery 
CMSD 659
IONM Instrumentation & Practical Application I

Total = 14 credits
CMSD 651
IONM Functional Human Neuroanatomy 
CMSD 654
Clinical Neurophysiology: Electroencephalography / Physics 
CMSD 656

IONM Cranial and Vascular Surgery 
CMSD 660
IONM Instrumentation and Practical Application II

Total = 14 credits
CMSD 661 IONM Instrumentation and Practical Application III

Total = 5 credits

Bloomsburg University Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology is committed to preparing clinicians who are ready to enter the workplace. The process of learning the necessary skills for this outcome may vary student by student. The purpose of remediation is to provide students with opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and skills in both academic and clinical areas. Remediation is intended to facilitate student success and assist with progress toward meeting degree requirements.

Both summative (final, at the conclusion of a course/program) and formative (during, periodically throughout a course/program) assessment are used in evaluating students’ progress. Students whose academic or clinical performance falls below graduate expectations will be provided with remediation opportunities as part of formative assessment.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of remediation opportunities to avoid academic consequences such as course repeats or recommendations for dismissal from the program. Remediation may include, but is not limited to a clinical skills development plan, revision or completion of equivalent academic coursework, re-examination, or other methods as stipulated by instructional faculty and, where necessary, in conjunction with clinical staff. Students requiring remediation will complete and sign a remediation plan form which will be retained in their academic file. Remediation plans may be developed by faculty and/or clinical supervisors together with students.

  • Q: What is IONM? 
    A: Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring (IONM) encompasses the application of a wide variety of electrophysiological methods to monitor the functional integrity of neural structures during surgery. This certification prepares you to monitor the state of a patient's nervous system in “real-time” during surgery to improve patient safety and surgical outcomes.
  • Q: What subjects are covered in the IONM program? 
    A: IONM training disciplines Include human functional neuroanatomy, neurodiagnostic technology, electrophysiology, pathophysiology, biology base of human disease, neurosurgery, spinal Surgery, ENT surgery, vascular surgery, orthopedic surgery, and neuroanesthesia.
  • Q: Is there a required undergraduate major needed for admission? 
    A: No - But priority consideration is given to students from health sciences, communication disorders, exercise science, and biology. 
  • Q: What is the career outlook for IONM professionals? 
    A: The nationwide demand for qualified IONM professionals is very high. The average salary range is between $72,000 and $99,000 per year (ZipRecruiter). IONM professionals are employed by major hospitals as well as private companies. 
  • Q: How is the program delivered? 
    A: Offered both in-person and online (virtual students would do clinical rotations at their site of employment).

The Husky Difference

100%
Placement Rate for Graduates
33 credits
Program can be completed in one year.

Careers

IONM technologists are in high demand and are employed by major hospitals as well as private companies. The nationwide demand for qualified IONM technologists is very high. The current average salary for IONM technologists is approximately $70,000/year. Career options include:

Potential Job Opportunities

  • IONM Specialist
  • Surgical Neurophysiologist
  • Neurophysiology Supervisor
  • IONM Technician
  • Neuromonitoring Technologist
  • CNIM Neurophysiologist

Continue to Explore

IONM Certificate
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Student Handbook

Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM) Student Handbook

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