By Felipe Lerida, CPSGT

March of 2010 was a very important month in the field of Polysomnography technology as it marked the first time the Certified Polysomnographic Technician (CPSGT) exam was administered.

The CPSGT is an entry-level program and exam for those entering the sleep technology profession looking for a certificate on their way to the RPSGT credential. The CPSGT credential is not required to sit in for the RPSGT exam and is only valid for three years; both exams are administered by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT).

I was lucky enough to be among one the first to take and pass this exam in March of 2010.

Coming from an engineering background, I was very excited to sit in for this test after completing all of the AASM Web modules. I felt as if this would be my first true test to the knowledge acquired in the three years that I have been working directly in the fascinating field of sleep and my first of many credentials to come.

I think that the AASM modules progressed perfectly from start to finish with the level of knowledge expected from an entry-level sleep tech and I also feel that the BRPT did a great job in selecting their questions based on what was on the AASM web modules.
I strongly recommend the AASM Web modules and the CPSGT certificate to anyone entry level in the industry who is not eligible for the RSPGT or anyone looking to further expand their career in these competitive times.

Below is the current CPSGT Pathway:

Candidates must complete a minimum of three months of fulltime paid experience in PSG, defined as 36 hours per week or a cumulative total of 432 hours.

Candidates must have proof of completion of a designated subset of the AASM A-STEP Self-Learning Modules:

1.    Introductory Topics
2.    Performing PSG 1: Theory
3.    Performing PSG 1: Preparation and Setup
4.    Arousals, Artifacts and Arrhythmias
5.    Patient Assessment
6.    Sleep Related Breathing Disorders
7.    Positive Airway Pressure & Oxygen Therapy for Sleep Related Breathing Disorders (PAP only)
8.    Scoring of Sleep Stages
9.    Performing PSG 2: Recording and Monitoring

Candidates must include proof of completing secondary education. Acceptable forms of proof are copies of transcripts or diplomas from high school, GED or equivalent, or college or university education.

Candidates must Hold certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) or the equivalent (international only) that remains current at the time of testing.

For further information feel free to visit:

http://www.brpt.org/
http://www.aasmnet.org/astep/Modules.aspx

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Tags: CPSGT, CPSGT Certificate, sleep medicine, sleep study, students and sleep