News

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: 2025 ASTEP/STAR GRANT PROGRAM

… Active RPSGT and CCSH credential holders, we kindly ask that you please share with your colleagues!

The BRPT is excited to once again offer a scholarship program intended to provide educational assistance to an individual who’s interested in pursuing a career in sleep technology or who’s currently working as a sleep technician and would like to become a registered polysomnographic technologist (RPSGT).  The winner will receive a grant of up to $800 towards an RPSGT A-STEP or STAR designated educational program.

The BRPT is now accepting applications for the A-STEP/STAR Designated Educational Grant! The deadline for receipt of applications is the close of business March 26, 2025. The BRPT Educational Grant Task Force will review the applications to determine the best qualified applicant after which the grant recipient will be notified within 45 days after the Call for Applications closes.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or the equivalent.  In addition, applicants must hold a current BLS/CPR certification.

All applicants must submit:

  • A completed application form found here
  • Your resume or short biography addressing your work experience
  • A copy of your BLS/CPR
  • A written statement in 200-500 words that describes your interest in sleep medicine and what you hope to accomplish by earning the RPSGT credential

Please visit our ASTEP/STAR Grant page for direct access to all details as well as the application.  Applications and supporting documentation should be emailed to edgrant@brpt.org.

 

Best Regards,

BRPT Staff

News

The BRPT Names Steve Glinka President-Elect of The Board Of Directors

Su Jeong Linstrom Begins Term as Treasurer; Kenan Hoelke Begins Term As Secretary

Arlington, VA – January 21, 2025  – The Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) elected Steve Glinka, MPH, RPSGT as President-Elect of the Board of Directors.  His two-year term as President will begin in January 2026. Glinka is currently the Director of Clinical Operations at MedBridge Healthcare.  In addition, Su Linstrom, RPSGT, RST was elected Treasurer and Kenan Hoelke, BS, RPSGT, CCSH was elected Secretary both of whom began their terms January 1, 2025.

“Steve, Su and Kenan’s ongoing commitment to the BRPT and their expertise has been instrumental in furthering our goals this past year and we are confident they will continue to lead with the same passion and excellence in these pivotal roles,” said BRPT President Amber Allen, BA, AAS, RPSGT, RST, CCSH “We look forward to the positive impact their leadership will bring in the coming term.”

In addition, Steve Glinka oversees the Continuing Sleep Technology Education (CSTE) Program and Kenan Hoelke is Chair of the Exam Development Committee (EDC).

“As I step into my second year as President of the BRPT, my primary focus is on continuing to raise awareness of the organization and the value of our credentials,” added Allen. “The global sleep community is growing rapidly, and it is essential that we continue to position these credentials as the gold standard in sleep technology and clinical sleep health. My goal is to strengthen our outreach efforts, foster new collaborations, and ensure that our credentials continue to be the benchmark for excellence in the profession. Through these initiatives, we can advance our mission to elevate the profession and improve sleep health worldwide.”

“I’m excited to work with the Board of Directors and staff in my new role as President-Elect to further advance the mission and vision of the organization,” said Glinka. “My goal is to enhance the recognition and value of the polysomnography profession, advocate for ongoing professional development, and ensure that BRPT remains a leader in sleep technologist credentialing that supports the industry.”

About The BRPT Board

The BRPT Board of Directors is comprised of volunteer members, all of whom serve four-year terms. The Board is international in scope and blends the expertise of the sleep community representing the interests of the consumer, patients, educators, and sleep technologists. Biographies of all BRPT Board members can be found at brpt.taupecatstudios.dev.

BRPT Welcomes Two New Members

Qiyang Li, MPH, MBA, RPSGT, CCSH

Qiyang began his career as a sleep technologist at Vitup International Hospital and currently serves as Head of Operations at HuiCi Healthcare Group, a leading network of sleep clinics in China with over 50 beds across seven sites. He is the co-founder of New England Sleep Academy LLC, where he launched the first STAR program in China to address the region’s critical shortage of trained sleep technologists. As Associate Director of the Sleep Committee under the Chinese Non-Governmental Medical Institutions Association, Qiyang and his team have provided clinical and operational guidance to sleep technologists across a network of more than 15,000 member hospitals.

Kayla Sidorski, MBA, RPSGT

After graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Notre Dame College, Kayla began her career in the field of sleep medicine in 2016. As an RPSGT, she gained comprehensive expertise in the field, including the areas of scheduling, insurance, and quality assurance. Kayla is currently the Director of the Home Sleep Apnea Testing Department at MedBridge Healthcare. Throughout her time at MedBridge, Kayla rapidly advanced through her prior roles of Sleep Technologist, Area Clinical Manager, and most recently Regional Manager. In 2024, she earned her Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a focus in Healthcare Leadership from Anderson University. Throughout her time in the field, Kayla has made valuable contributions as the former Program Director and Adjunct Instructor for the Polysomnography A-STEP Program at Greenville Technical College.

About The BRPT

The BRPT develops and administers credentialing exams for polysomnographic technologists and technicians. The RPSGT is respected worldwide as the leading credential for polysomnographic technologists.  Since the first credentialing exam administration in 1979, BRPT has credentialed more than 20,000 RPSGTs worldwide. In 2014, BRPT launched the Certification In Clinical Sleep Health (CCSH) examination for healthcare providers specializing in sleep medicine who work directly with sleep medicine patients, families and practitioners for patient care management, improved outcomes, and sleep health education and advocacy for patients and the community.

Headquartered in Arlington, VA, the BRPT is an independent, non-profit certification board that cultivates the highest professional and ethical standards for polysomnographic technologists.  The BRPT administers the RPSGT, CPSGT, and CCSH exams in the United States and internationally, as well as the Pediatric Sleep Certificate Program. Additionally, the BRPT maintains the RPSGT registry and CPSGT roster. The BRPT also provides its Continuing Sleep Technology Education (CSTE) Program for educational providers seeking continuing education credits for their offerings. For more information, please visit brpt.taupecatstudios.dev.

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News

Muhammed Ajmal Wins BRPT’s 2024 DEI Educational Grant

Arlington, VA – November 19, 2024 – Today, the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) announced Muhammed Ajmal – from Eccles, England – is the winner of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Educational Grant. Muhammed, who has been in sleep for five years, first as an IONM Technologist and currently an IOM Physiologist, was selected out of more than 45 applications; the grant covers the cost of one RPSGT or CCSH exam fee.

The DEI Grant Program recognizes a sleep technologist who is actively advocating or involved with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives within their community and/or Health Care institution, influencing continual impacts to patient care.

“Muhammed is deeply passionate about enhancing patient care and access, addressing disparities and fostering an inclusive environment for both patients and colleagues,” said BRPT Chair of the DEI Committee, Michelle DiMaria, BS, RRT, RPSGT. “He eloquently described that as a sleep technologist promoting DEI within the field has been both impactful and deeply personal.”

Muhammed has been actively involved in advocating for more equitable access to sleep studies, understanding that many individuals from marginalized communities face barriers such as financial constraints, lack of transportation, or limited access to healthcare. To address these challenges, he worked with his team to implement a sliding scale fee system for sleep studies and established partnerships with local community organizations to offer transportation assistance.

In addition, Muhammed made it a priority to support and mentor colleagues from underrepresented backgrounds. He began by offering guidance, sharing resources, and advocating for their professional growth. In doing so, he was able to help them navigate the challenges of their careers and to foster a more inclusive work environment. This included encouraging diverse voices to participate in research projects, present at conferences, and engage in professional networks, thereby enriching the field with a broader range of perspectives.

“DEI efforts are profoundly significant to me on a personal level because they reflect my core values of fairness, empathy, and respect for all individuals,” said Muhammed.  “Witnessing firsthand the impact of these initiatives on both patients and colleagues has reinforced my commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive environment. By addressing barriers to care and fostering professional opportunities, I am dedicated to ensuring that the field of sleep medicine is accessible and representative of the diverse populations we serve.”

The application window opened in mid-August and the deadline for receipt of all applications was September 12, 2024. The BRPT’s DEI Committee reviewed all applications through a carefully crafted rubric to determine the best qualified applicants.

The BRPT’s DEI Educational Grant Program provides financial assistance to current Sleep Technologists who are eligible to sit for the RPSGT exam via one of the five pathways, or a CCSH exam candidate who is eligible to sit for the exam via one of the three pathways available.

About The BRPT
The BRPT develops and administers credentialing exams for polysomnographic technologists and technicians. The RPSGT is respected worldwide as the leading credential for polysomnographic technologists. Since the first credentialing exam administration in 1979, BRPT has credentialed nearly 25,000 RPSGTs worldwide. In May 2014, BRPT launched the Certification In Clinical Sleep Health (CCSH) examination for healthcare providers specializing in sleep medicine who work directly with sleep medicine patients, families and practitioners for patient care management, improved outcomes, and sleep health education and advocacy for patients and the community.

The BRPT is an independent, non-profit certification board that cultivates the highest professional and ethical standards for polysomnographic technologists. In addition to administering the RPSGT, CPSGT, and CCSH exams in the United States and internationally, the BRPT also maintains the RPSGT registry and CPSGT roster. In addition, the BRPT provides its Continuing Sleep Technology Education (CSTE) Program for educational providers seeking continuing education credits for their offerings. For more information, please visit brpt.taupecatstudios.dev.

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News

BRPT To Implement Customer Relationship Management System To Better Support Credential Holders

The BRPT is pleased to announce we will be converting to a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, that will launch on November 14, 2024. In preparation for the launch, the current CRM platform (Self Service Portal), as well as Pearson VUE’s scheduling portal, will not be accessible November 6 through November 14.

During the November 6-14 timeframe only:

• Users will not be able to schedule, modify or cancel exams.
• Users will not be able to apply for exams or recertification.
• Users will not be able to request Verification Letters, PDFs or Name Changes.
• Users will not be able to make payments.

New Features And Updates To Improve The User Experience

This new CRM system will provide several innovative tools to enhance BRPT credential holders experience. This includes the following:

• An integrated secure payment processor.

• Communication with credential holders and exam applicants directly within the portal, which means direct communication from BRPT within the CRM.

• A custom dashboard that identifies any missing details or documents for exam or recertification application(s) which reduces the administrative time during application and recertification processes. This will reduce lag-time for those who are approaching the deadline to recertify and/or may be missing information, such as a current BLS certification, CEC documentation, etc.

• Real-time exam results with direct access to the Pearson VUE portal.

• Powerful tracking tools that will capture your activity history with all inbound and outbound credential holder and BRPT communications.

• Easily updatable passwords and contact information.

CRM Launch – Changes And Transition Processes

• All applicants and credential holders who have a log-in with the current CRM platform will be required to create a new one once the new system goes live. Instructions on how to do so will be available to you on the log-in screen.

• Any incomplete or previously saved applications will no longer be available after the launch. If you have a pending application in the current system that was submitted within the past year and is awaiting supporting documentation, please check your email. The BRPT staff has already contacted everyone, with pending or incomplete documentation, with instructions to finalize their application or payment.

• As part of the launch, old CEC uploads from past recertification cycles and application supporting documentation submitted prior to 1/1/2019 will be purged.

We’re very excited to introduce this new updated CRM system – please stay tuned for any updates we may have in the coming days!

News

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: For the BRPT’s DEI Educational Grant Program

The BRPT is excited to again offer its DEI Educational Grant program intended to provide financial assistance to current Sleep Technologists who are eligible to sit for the RPSGT exam via one of the five pathways, or a CCSH exam candidate who is eligible to sit for the exam via one of the three pathways available.

The grant will cover the cost of one exam fee for either the RPSGT or CCSH exam. This grant will recognize a Sleep Technologist who is actively championing or involved with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives within their community and/or Health Care institution, influencing continual impacts to patient care.

Applicants must be eligible to sit for the RPSGT or CCSH exam with no sanctions by the BRPT’s Professional Review Committee. Candidates who have already applied for an exam, paid the exam fee and/or have a date to sit for the exam are not eligible to apply for this grant.

The BRPT is now accepting applications for the DEI grant; the deadline for receipt of applications is the close of business Thursday, September 12th, 2024.

For more details on eligibility, application criteria and to complete the application form, please click here.

News

Griselda Molina Is Awarded The 2024 A-STEP/STAR Educational Grant

Arlington, VA – August 1, 2024 – Today, the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) announced the winner of its A-STEP/STAR Educational Grant Program for individuals interested in pursuing a career in sleep technology and/or those who are currently working as sleep technicians who would like to become a registered polysomnographic technologist (RPSGT). Griselda Molina, from Westminster, Colorado was selected out of more than 40 applications from 23 different states across the U.S. to countries outside of the U.S. including Canada, China, the United Kingdom and India.

Griselda has spent 10 years working in sleep,” said Board member Michelle DiMaria, BS, RRT, RPSGT, Chair of the Scholarship Committee. “During this time, she demonstrated her commitment to furthering her knowledge in sleep by learning and adapting to new  technologies and systems, actively engaging in relevant coursework, participating in committees in her sleep department, serving as a preceptor training new hires and utilizing her bilingual skills to assist colleagues and patients. Griselda is well-poised to take the next step to earn her RPSGT credential.”

Griselda will receive a grant of up to $800 towards an A-STEP or STAR designated educational program.

The application window was open from May 6 through May 31, 2024. The BRPT’s Scholarship Committee reviewed all applications through a carefully crafted rubric to determine the best qualified applicant.

About The BRPT
The BRPT develops and administers credentialing exams for polysomnographic technologists and technicians. The RPSGT is respected worldwide as the leading credential for polysomnographic technologists. Since the first credentialing exam administration in 1979, BRPT has credentialed nearly 25,000 RPSGTs worldwide. In May 2014, BRPT launched the Certification In Clinical Sleep Health (CCSH) examination for healthcare providers specializing in sleep medicine who work directly with sleep medicine patients, families and practitioners for patient care management, improved outcomes, and sleep health education and advocacy for patients and the community.

The BRPT is an independent, non-profit certification board that cultivates the highest professional and ethical standards for polysomnographic technologists. In addition to administering the RPSGT, CPSGT, and CCSH exams in the United States and internationally, the BRPT also maintains the RPSGT registry and CPSGT roster. In addition, the BRPT provides its Continuing Sleep Technology Education (CSTE) Program for educational providers seeking continuing education credits for their offerings. For more information, please visit  brpt.taupecatstudios.dev.

News

Reminder: Changes to Clinical Experience Component of RPSGT Eligibility for Pathways 1, 2, 4 and 5, EFFECTIVE 7/1/2024

Effective July 1, 2024

 

In all instances, the minimum hours of clinical experience required will continue to include on-site polysomnography duties performed as direct patient recording and/or scoring. The new 960 hours of clinical experience requirement is based on calculations that reflect six months of full-time employment, 40 hours per week, for 24 weeks.

The current clinical experience structure for the various RPSGT exam eligibility pathways has candidates – who are all new to the profession of polysomnography regardless of background – demonstrating various levels of clinical experience, with some pathways only requiring a third of the experience of others. This new structure will equalize the clinical experience requirements for everyone entering the field to ensure that all candidates are getting adequate clinical experience prior to taking the RPSGT exam.

RPSGT Eligibility Pathway Clinical Experience Requirement Through June 30, 2024 Clinical Experience Requirement Effective July 1, 2024
Pathway #1 1,638 hours of clinical experience 960 hours of clinical experience
Pathway #2 546 hours of clinical experience 960 hours of clinical experience
Pathway #4 819 hours of clinical experience 960 hours of clinical experience
Pathway #5 546 hours of clinical experience 960 hours of clinical experience
News

Two Important Notices About Continuing Education Credits

Proof of CECs Earned: Effective October 1, 2024

Effective October 1, 2024, credential holders will now be required to show proof of all CECs earned by uploading supporting documentation – certificate of attendance demonstrating credits earned – into the recertification portal.

Using Inter Scorer Reliability Credits For Recertification: Effective January 1, 2025

Recertifying RPSGT and CCSH credential holders will no longer be permitted to use ISR CECs for all required 50 continuing education credits. Beginning January 1, 2025, credential holders will be permitted to use a maximum of 35 ISR credits per recertification cycle.

Recertification, the process through which sleep health specialists retain their credential, is a critical component to promoting and demonstrating continued competency in the sleep health technology profession. Limiting ISR credits to 35 per recertification cycle will ensure that credential holders are obtaining a variety of continuing education credits, thereby demonstrating they’re accomplished professionals committed to developing their skills, staying on top of industry changes and trends, while furthering their knowledge.

News

Spotlight on: Wayne Nelson B.Sc., RRT, RPSGT, CCSH, R. EEG T., who is a Respiratory Therapist/Polysonographer/EEG Technologist in Barrie, Ontario, Canada who has been in sleep for 27 years

In Their Words – BRPT Credential Holders Share Their Stories

As BRPT celebrates its 45th anniversary, we reached out to credential holders who’ve held and retained a BRPT credential for a number of years. Many graciously offered to share their experiences, highlights, career paths and advice with us.

Spotlight on: Wayne Nelson B.Sc., RRT, RPSGT, CCSH, R. EEG T., who is a Respiratory Therapist/Polysonographer/EEG Technologist in Barrie, Ontario, Canada.

“I’ve been in sleep from day one of my professional career. My first job was for a Respiratory Therapist but this immediately translated into the additional role of a Sleep Technologist. I was fortunate to be hired by my hometown hospital and now have 27 years of service. I was told it was my sleep training that gave me an advantage over all the other candidates for the position as it is not uncommon for respiratory services and sleep programs to be linked together. I have since expanded my role to include Clinical Sleep Specialist and EEG Technologist and it’s this multidisciplinary background that enables me to have a greater understanding of the profession.

“By working in a hospital environment on a daily basis, I’m often part of a team of diverse health professionals who participate collaboratively and interdependently for the care of patients. As a multidisciplinary team member, having the different credentials I currently hold, makes me proud and garners respect from my colleagues and patients. Also, as one of the first sleep health specialists in Canada to obtain my CCSH, I’ve been able to translate this certification into opportunities that would otherwise not have been possible. It has allowed me to be considered a subject matter expert (SME) for the BRPT’s Job Task Analysis process and also a member of the Exam Development Committee. Most recently, it has provided recognition for having the expertise necessary to facilitate sleep clinic visits during the current challenges of a sleep physician shortage. I also see myself retaining my sleep credentials long after I retire, as there will always be options to maintain an extra stream of income through outsource scoring or casual employment, even if retirement leads me to another location where experienced techs are always in demand.

“For me, the best part of being a sleep health professional is when I’m able to use more than one specialization to manage complex treatment plans in order to provide outcomes that optimize patient care.

“For those interested in getting into sleep, the most helpful advice I can share is to keep learning and educate yourself to the highest standards. Whether you enter the profession with another health credential, have formal education in sleep medicine, or are just beginning to acquire new competencies and skills through on-the-job training, you will set yourself up for success and have a much more rewarding career if you seek out opportunities to expand your knowledge and/or scope of practice. There are countless opportunities for online courses that can lead to other certifications. Volunteering with professional organizations is another great way to work alongside your peers. Attending conferences and events allow you to stay connected and up-to-date within the profession. The sleep community is such a passionate group of professionals and it should always be seen as a privilege to be on this journey together.”