Encouraging a community in the world of Neurodiagnostics
Posted on June 14, 2026 by The Neurodiagnostic Niche
This is Your Year to Getting Registered

Hi everyone,
Over the past several weeks we’ve discussed:
• Focusing on the process
• Staying connected to your “why”
• Showing up consistently
• Building stronger study habits
Now let’s talk about something that separates strong board candidates from everyone else:
Learning how to think like the exam.
🔍Quick Insight
Many candidates believe board exams are simply testing memorization.
They're not.
The exam is designed to evaluate whether you can recognize patterns, connect concepts, and apply knowledge in realistic situations.
Success comes from understanding why an answer is correct—not simply remembering that it is.
🧠 Deep Dive:
Thinking Like the Exam
One of the biggest shifts during board preparation is moving from learning information to applying information.
Here are three ways to begin developing an exam-focused mindset.
1) Look for the Key Clue
Board questions often provide one or two pieces of information that point directly toward the answer.
Train yourself to identify clues such as:
• Patient age
• Clinical history
• State of consciousness
• EEG pattern description
• Common artifact characteristics
When reviewing questions, ask yourself:
"What clue led me to the answer?"
The more you practice this skill, the faster pattern recognition develops.
2) Understand Why the Wrong Answers Are Wrong
Many candidates review only the correct answer.
A better approach is reviewing every answer choice.
Ask:
• Why is the correct answer right?
• Why is each incorrect answer wrong?
This strengthens understanding and helps prevent similar mistakes on future questions.
Sometimes the greatest learning happens after getting a question wrong.
3) Think in Clinical Scenarios
EEG doesn't exist in isolation.
Board questions often connect EEG findings to real-world patient situations.
As you study, consider:
• What does this pattern look like?
• What patient might I see this in?
• Why is this finding important?
Connecting EEG concepts to patient care improves retention and makes information easier to recall during the exam.
🎯Tip of the Week
Create an "Exam Clue List."
As you study, write down recurring clues that appear in practice questions.
For example:
• Sleep spindles → Stage N2 sleep
• Eye movement artifact → Frontal predominance
• Generalized spike-and-wave → Generalized epilepsy
• Breach rhythm → Skull defect
Over time you'll begin noticing patterns in how questions are written and how answers are tested.
Those patterns can become powerful study tools.
🔗From the Site
This month we'll continue focusing on:
• EEG pattern recognition
• Common board-tested concepts
• Artifact identification
• Clinical correlations
• Exam-style question strategies
The goal is not just learning more information.
It's learning how to use the information you've already studied.
You can always explore more tips, resources, and tools on the site anytime.
Just click here.
💬Closing Thought
The candidates who pass aren't necessarily the ones who study the most hours.
They're often the ones who learn how to recognize patterns, think critically, and apply what they've learned.
Keep building one concept at a time.
The confidence you're looking for comes from repetition, understanding, and practice—not perfection.
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
If you want more tips to your inbox – please be sure to follow by entering your email address on the site.
This is public, please share. Much appreciated!
Posted on May 30, 2026 by The Neurodiagnostic Niche

Reach out to today to hear how board prep lessons can help you on your journey!
Just email me @ Rtompkins@TompkinsAssociates.com for more information.
This is Your Year to Getting Registered!
Posted on May 15, 2026 by The Neurodiagnostic Niche
This is Your Year to Getting Registered

Hi everyone,
Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about:
• Focusing on the process
• Staying connected to your “why”
• Showing up consistently—even on difficult days.
Now it’s time for the next step:
EEG board prep content
🔍 Quick Insight
Confidence comes from repeatedly learning, reviewing, and recognizing patterns over time.
That’s how successful technologists prepare for boards.
Not by cramming.
Not by memorizing everything at once.
But by steadily building familiarity with the material until concepts begin to feel recognizable instead of overwhelming.
🧠 Deep Dive:
How to Study EEG More Effectively
One of the biggest mistakes candidates make is trying to study EEG passively.
Reading alone is rarely enough.
EEG learning improves when you actively engage with the material.
Here are three ways to make your study sessions more effective:
1) Study Patterns, Not Just Definitions
EEG is visual and pattern-based.
Instead of only memorizing terminology, train yourself to recognize:
• Normal variants
• Artifacts
• Seizure patterns
• Slowing patterns
• State changes
Review each point above 1 by 1.
The more examples you see, the more natural interpretation becomes.
2) Focus on High-Yield Concepts First
You do not need to master every advanced concept immediately.
Start with:
• Basic waveforms
• Normal awake and sleep patterns
• Common artifacts
• Fundamental epilepsy terminology
• Pattern recognition basics
Strong fundamentals make advanced topics much easier later.
Again review each topic above 1 by 1.
3) Use Repetition Intentionally
One review session won’t make something stick forever.
Revisit concepts multiple times:
• Quick daily reviews
• Question practice
• Looking at EEG examples repeatedly
• Teaching concepts back to yourself
Recognition grows through exposure.
🎯Tip of the Week
Start building a “Pattern Notebook.”
Click Here for a GREAT option on Amazon to help with this.
Print the notecard size waveforms and build your set of flash cards.
Each time you study:
• Write down one EEG pattern
• Add its key characteristics
• Include why it matters clinically
• Note common exam clues associated with it
Over time, you’ll create your own rapid-review guide for boards.
🔗From the Site
Over the next several weeks, we’ll begin integrating more:
• EEG board prep tips
• High-yield review concepts
• Pattern recognition strategies
• Clinical correlations
• Exam-style thinking
The goal isn’t just to help you study harder.
It’s to help you study smarter.
You can always explore more tips, resources, and tools on the site anytime.
Just click here.
💬Closing Thought
Board preparation can feel intimidating at first because there’s so much information to learn.
But remember: No one masters EEG overnight.
Every technologist who became registered once sat exactly where you are now—learning one concept at a time.
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
If you want more tips to your inbox – please be sure to follow by entering your email address on the site.
This is public, please share. Much appreciated!
Posted on May 6, 2026 by The Neurodiagnostic Niche
This is Your Year to Getting Registered

Hi everyone,
Over the past two weeks, we’ve talked about:
This week, let’s bring it all together with something you’ll face every single day while preparing:
Showing up—even when you don’t feel like it.
Stick with me and subscribe on the site – Next week we dive into content!
🔍 Quick Insight
Consistency isn’t built on motivation.
Everyone starts strong. What separates successful candidates is their ability to keep going on the days that feel harder, busier, or less focused.
🧠 Deep Dive:
What Actually Builds Consistency
Motivation comes and goes—but habits are what carry you forward.
Here are three ways to stay on track, even on low-energy days:
1. Lower the Barrier to Start
On difficult days, don’t aim for a perfect study session—aim to just begin.
Instead of: “I need to study for 2 hours”
Try: “I’ll review one concept” “I’ll do 5 questions” “I’ll read for 10 minutes”
Starting is the hardest part. Once you start, momentum often follows.
2. Have a “Minimum” Day
Not every day will be your best—and that’s okay.
Define what a successful low-effort day looks like:
Review 1 EEG pattern
Revisit notes
Watch a short clip
This keeps the habit intact, even when energy is low.
3. Focus on Repetition
You don’t need to master everything in one sitting.
Learning EEG—and preparing for boards—is about:
Seeing patterns multiple times
Reinforcing concepts gradually
Letting understanding build over time
Progress is layered, not instant.
🎯Tip of the Week
Try this simple system:
The “No-Zero Days” Rule
Every day, do something that moves you forward—no matter how small.
Even 5–10 minutes counts.
Zero days break momentum.
🔗From the Site
Now you have the full framework:
Structure (how you study)
Purpose (why you study)
Consistency (how you keep going)
This is the foundation for long-term success.
If you missed the earlier posts, go back and review them together—they’re designed to build on each other.
You can always explore more tips, resources, and tools on the site anytime.
Just click here.
💬Closing Thought
There will be days when you feel focused and motivated. And there will be days when you don’t.
Both are part of the process.
What matters most is this: You keep showing up anyway.
Because every small step forward adds up.
And over time, those steps turn into confidence, skill, and success.
Keep going—you’re closer than you think.
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
If you want more tips to your inbox – please be sure to follow by entering your email address on the site.
This is public, please share. Much appreciated!
Posted on April 22, 2026 by The Neurodiagnostic Niche
This Is Your Year to Getting Registered

Hi everyone,
Since it’s Neurodiagnostic Week, this feels like the perfect time to zoom out for a moment and remember why you started this journey in the first place.
Last week, we talked about focusing on the process.
This week, let’s talk about something just as important:
Staying connected to your “why.”
Quick Insight
Progress is easier when it has meaning behind it.
Studying for boards isn’t just about passing an exam. It’s about becoming more confident, more capable, and more impactful in the work you do every day.
Deep Dive:
What Keeps People Going
Even the most structured plan can fall apart without a strong reason behind it.
Here are three things that help successful candidates stay consistent:
1. Tie Your Study to Real Patients
Every waveform you review… Every concept you revisit… It all connects to real clinical decisions.
This isn’t abstract knowledge—it’s patient care.
2. Track More Than Just Study Time
Ask: What did I understand better today?
What feels less confusing than it did last week?
3. Celebrate Small Wins
Finished a tough topic? Understood something that used to trip you up?
That counts.
Momentum builds when you recognize progress along the way.
Tip of the Week
Try this simple shift:
1) At the end of each study session, write down one thing you learned
2) Keep it in a running list (notes app, notebook, anywhere) 3) Review it at the end of the week
You’ll start to see just how much ground you’re actually covering.
From the Site
If you haven’t already, go back and pair this with last week’s post on building structure.
Process + purpose is what creates consistency.
You can also explore more tips, resources, and tools on the site anytime.
Just click here for Tips, Resources and the Marketplace.
💬 Closing Thought
This field demands a lot—but it also gives a lot back.
During Neurodiagnostic Week, take a moment to recognize the work you’re doing:
You’re building expertise. You’re improving patient care. You’re growing into the next version of your professional self.
Keep going.
This can be your year.
Let’s stay curious and grow what we know.
If you want more tips to your inbox – please be sure to follow by entering your email address on the site.
This is public, please share. Much appreciated!
Posted on April 14, 2026 by The Neurodiagnostic Niche
This Is Your Year to Getting Registered

Hi everyone,
If this is your year to get registered, there’s one idea I want you to keep front and center:
Focus on the process—and progress will follow
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the end goal. But success in this field doesn’t come from one big push… it comes from consistent, intentional steps over time.
🧠 Quick Insight
Getting registered isn’t about cramming or hoping for the right timing—it’s about building a system you can stick to.
The most successful candidates don’t rely on motivation. They rely on structure.
🔬 Deep Dive:
What Actually Works
Here are four principles that consistently show up in successful board prep:
1. Start with a Plan
Use the exam content outline as your roadmap. It tells you exactly what to focus on—don’t guess your way through studying.
2. Build Structure Into Your Routine
Routines remove decision fatigue. When you know when and how you’ll study, you’re far more likely to follow through.
3. Make the Effort
Manageable Break your day into realistic goals. Big, vague plans lead to burnout—small, consistent actions build momentum.
4. Stay Flexible Life happens.
Missing a day doesn’t mean failure—it means adjust and keep moving.
📊 Tool / Tip of the Week
Instead of waiting for a full day to study, try this:
👉 15–30 minute focused sessions
👉 One topic at a time
👉 Repeat consistently throughout the week
Small efforts, repeated daily, are far more effective than occasional long sessions.
🔗 From the Site
If you want to go deeper, revisit the “Your Year to Getting Registered” series on the site—there are multiple posts that build on these same principles.
Just click here for Tips, Resources and the Marketplace.
💬 Closing Thought
You don’t need perfect conditions to start.
You need a plan. You need consistency. And you need to keep going—even when it’s not perfect.
This can be your year.
Let’s stay curious and grow what we know.
If you want more tips to your inbox – please be sure to follow by entering your email address on the site.
This is public, please share. Much appreciated!
Posted on April 4, 2026 by The Neurodiagnostic Niche

Working in healthcare has a way of making everything feel urgent. Turning that feeling off after the work day isn’t always easy.
But what if we took a moment to re-calibrate?
When things seem out of control, focus on what you can control.
Our habits can keep us grounded.
Have the goal of getting registered this year?
Re-read some of my earlier posts to help get on track:
Your Year to Getting Registered
Check out the Marketplace on this site:
A weekly Study Guide to help you either stay on track with your learning or help you gauge where you are with your Board Preparation.
Click here to access the Board Prep Study Guide.
Use the questions that you know to help you feel confident in your abilities and use the questions that you don’t as a focus point for your studying.
If you like what your reading please take a moment to follow me via the email link on the bottom on this page. You can also find me to follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
Posted on February 22, 2026 by The Neurodiagnostic Niche
Visit the Neurodiagnostic Niche Marketplace for Study Guides, Notecards, and Tutoring options – don’t forget to check out the Neuro-Scholar Bundle to take advantage of built-in discounts & savings!
While your on the website – be sure to check out the Neuro Amazon Finds for links to supplies and a great textbook recommendation!
Just click here to visit today!
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
Posted on January 27, 2026 by The Neurodiagnostic Niche

The 2025 Exam Rate statistics are out!
An Overall Pass Rate of 56% for the R.EEG T Exam
Pass % rates are:
Some things to note about the stats:
And the most important thing to note:
However a technician qualifies to take the exam – our field needs them!
For those that are working towards Registry these exam statistics can still be discouraging:
Whichever Pathway you are in…..you have a team of mentors available to help!
For those of us in this field…we want to be sure we leave it stronger than we found it – we are here for you!
There are a whole host of resources available to you – You.Got.This!
For some specific to this site:
To reference the 2025 stats and previous year’s pass rates – just click here to access the ABRET site.
Helpful Tip: Be sure to sign up for the ASAP practice test on the ABRET site before you sign up to take the actual exam. The practice tests are not all you will need – but they are a good indicator for your foundational knowledge.
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
Posted on November 4, 2025 by The Neurodiagnostic Niche

Is this Your Year to Getting Registered?
It’s the Home Stretch!
Remember it’s the Sum of Small Efforts…Daily Efforts.
There is no cramming for this test.
If you have tried to prep without reading a textbook – I highly encourage you not to miss this step!
Click Here to Amazon for one of my favorites and it’s the one I read many years ago preparing for my boards; however, there are many good textbooks.
To search other good EEG books on Amazon just click here.
Reading and understanding a book is not optional in this process.
It’s essential.
Today’s educational models have substituted a lot of digital content instead of text books.
Although digital resources are useful – they are not an equal substitute for a book.
With the remaining weeks of the year – let’s use them wisely and READ.
Like really Read – a Book : )
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know

Alpha/Theta Candle Set – New on the Neurodiagnostic Niche Marketplace
