Polysomnographic Technology Certificate
If you want a short-term program that will allow you to work directly with patients in a challenging, high-tech and in-demand career, Mercy College’s Polysomnographic Technology Certificate program might be the perfect program for you. Polysomnographic Technologists are the health care practitioners who perform and help interpret sleep studies, which gather extensive data concerning an individual’s physiologic activity while sleeping. Our program will prepare students to work as part of the healthcare team in the growing fields of sleep medicine and polysomnography.
Program Information
This credit certificate program is designed in a three semester format, which allows the student to complete the required 28/29* credit hours in one year. Currently, classes are set up in a Tuesday/Thursday format to allow students to schedule work and outside interests more easily. Courses include both lecture and lab, providing students with both the knowledge and hands-on experiences required to be successful in the field of polysomnography. Students are also required to complete a Clinical Practicum in both the second and third semesters, beginning at 7pm and going into the night, sometimes until morning (when people generally sleep).
This program was designed to specifically prepare students for immediate employment in the field and to sit for the Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) examination as administered by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT). As a polysomnographic technologist, you will enjoy being part of a team in a career that offers both flexibility and growth. (This program is approved by the Higher Learning Commission and Ohio Board of Regents).
What will my role be in healthcare?
You will be trained to collect medical histories, perform patient hook up, monitor patients’ physiologic readings and make appropriate adjustments, and score sleep studies to help to ensure the accurate diagnosis and treatment of a variety of sleep disorders. You may also be called upon to educate patients about the use of various types of equipment to treat their sleep disorder.
What environment will I be working in?
As a Polysomnographic Technologist, you will work in sleep disorder centers, preparing patients for sleep studies, monitoring patients during studies and recording results. Some senior technologists may spend all or part of their time scoring sleep recordings, performing daytime tests or managing a center, but most technologists work nights. Typical shifts are three to four 10 to 12 hour shifts per week.
What are the credentialing requirements?
Completion of the Polysomnographic Technology Certificate program prepares the student for the RPSGT (Registered Polysomnographic Technologist) exam. Beginning in June of this year, the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) will offer this exam on an “on demand” basis, meaning you can schedule the exam at your convenience at local testing centers. The fee for this exam is currently $350 but will increase to $450 in June of 2010. The RPSGT credential is the highest available in the field of sleep technology.
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