Program Description
This course series prepares students to sit for the board certification exam to become a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist or RPSGT. Sleep Technologists work overnight and collect data using polysomnograms that measure bioelectrical sleep activity. They acquire and analyze signals from electroencephalograms (EEG), electrocardiograms (EKG), electromyograms (EMS), respiratory flow, and effort sensors.
This program provides courses that will fortify the knowledge of the student and allow the student to perform 420 clinical hours at a sleep laboratory while in the program. This academic knowledge and clinical experience allow the student to pass the board exam certification, which will qualify the student to work as a sleep technician in the workforce.
Students entering this program must have a high school diploma or GED. Some experience with college courses is a plus. Students must be prepared to set aside 20 + hours per week for study outside of time in class. This is a challenging program that requires dedication and motivation to complete.
Currently, sleep laboratories in Maryland and throughout the United States are short-staffed and are looking for certified and qualified Sleep Technicians. Many labs are offering a signing bonus or incentives to graduates who are looking for employment. The national average start pay is between $22-$28/per hour to start.
For additional information, contact Rachel Newman Waddy at rnewmanwaddy@ccbcmd.edu
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this Continuing Education Workforce Certificate, students will be able to:
- prepare to successfully complete the Registered Polysomnographic Technologist Exam given by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists for the RPSGT Certification,
- demonstrate effective skills to work in a Sleep Laboratory for a 10-12 hour shift and perform a full Night-time sleep study of a patient,
- demonstrate proficiency in reading EEG activity through all of the sleep cycles and recognizing EEG landmarks in a sleeping patient,
- demonstrate the ability to titrate a PAP machine during an overnight study,
- recognize and document the landmarks that determine sleep issues and sleep obstructions,
- troubleshoot sleep equipment malfunctions, and
- create sleep reports and analyze the data with the report.
CCBC Pathway
Health Professions Pathway. Pathways are designed to help you meet your academic and career goals by aligning related courses and programs. Pathway students participate in a variety of activities that help explore career opportunities in their field of study. You can meet with a CCBC advisor who help align — or realign — your educational plan with the Pathway that best supports you and your goals.
Program Credentials
CCBC Credential:
Students will earn a CCBC Continuing Education Workforce Training Certificate and have access to a Continuing Education academic record (transcript).
Students will be prepared to take the national certification exam through the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists.
Certifying Organization:
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
www.caahep.org
727-210-2350; FAX: 727-210-2354
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775
Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologist exam cost is $450. The cost for the first registry test is included in the course series cost.
Disclosures
CCBC cannot confirm whether the course or program meets requirements for professional licensure in states other than Maryland. If you plan to apply for licensure in a state other than Maryland, contact that state’s licensing board to determine whether the CCBC course or program meets requirements for licensure in that state. If you need assistance finding contact information for your state, click here .
Financial Aid and Payment Options
We offer financial aid by packaging public and private funding options to those who qualify, in select Continuing Education courses and programs. Additional opportunities for financial support include partial payment options through Nelnet Business Solutions and tuition waivers for those who qualify. Resources outside of CCBC may also be available through employer/sponsor paid tuition, the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS), and your local office of workforce development.
Program Length
12-15 months
Program Requirements
Information/Orientation:
Mandatory: Students are required to attend an online orientation after provisional acceptance into this course series. Contact CEHealth@ccbcmd.edu for more information about application process.
Requirements:
High School Diploma or GED; computer literate; and Internet access.
Students must have the following paperwork turned in to the coordinator PRIOR to clinicals:
- Negative PPD (six months) or negative chest x-ray less than one year old
- Positive titer or proof of vaccination/immunity for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella
- Current Flu vaccination
- Hepatitis B vaccination or declination form
- Tetanus shot (less than ten years)
- Copy of health insurance card
- Copy of high school diploma or GED
- Clinical eligibility is in part dependent upon a criminal background check and random urine drug testing. Cost of testing is the responsibility of the student.
Prior Learning Assessment
This program has potential options for waving select courses based on previous coursework or articulated coursework from an approved curriculum. A maximum of 437 program hours may be earned from prior learning. Note: the waiver of program hours may affect Pell eligibility.
Application Process
To apply, go to www.ccbcmd.edu/apply and complete the CCBC Non-Credit Workforce Training Certificate application. Then, email CEHealth@ccbcmd.edu for more information about upcoming course options and the application process.
Provisional Entry - The Sleep Technologist program requires the following application and acceptance process:
1. New Students: Call CCBC Registration at 443-840-2222 or 443-840-4700 to apply for a CCBC Student Identification (ID) number. Application cost is $10.00. After receiving your ID number, proceed to Step 2 below.
2. Go to https://shwa.ccbcmd.edu/ to retrieve your user name and create a password.
3. Go to http://ccbcmd.brightspace.com/ to access the online application.
4. Enter your User Name and Password.
5. Click the “Course” tab at the top of the page. You will see the application course for your area of study on your list: Sleep Technology Series Application - AHC 379
6. Click on the application course and read the instructions on the first page.
7. You must submit the following items by the cutoff date – ‘Assignments’ in Brightspace- to meet all of the requirements for the application:
- Application (2 pages)
- Must be submitted as a .doc, .docx or .rtf
- Scanned copy of one or more of the following:
- High School Diploma or other proof of completion
- GED
- College Transcript
- Other requirements for specific areas of study as detailed in Brightspace
- Sign the Technical Standards document for the Program
8. Check the Brightspace “Gradebook’ for admissions decision approximately 10 days after the submission deadline.
9. Plan to attend the mandatory orientation for your series as detailed on Brightspace
Program Course Sequence
Module I
|
Course Number
|
Course Title
|
Course Hours
|
Textbook Information
(approximate cost; subject to change)
|
Costs
T=Tuition/F=Fees
|
| AHL166 |
Essential Skills for the Health Care Professional |
20 |
Handouts and Online |
$179
T-$54/F-$125
|
|
AHE124
|
Medical Terminology for Health Occupations
|
30
|
Programmed Learning Approach to Medical Terminology, 3rd Edition ISBN: 9781284209129
$64.00 |
$329
T-$99/F-$230
|
|
AHL191
|
Introduction to Polysomnography
|
40
|
Handouts |
$299
T-$90/F-$209
|
|
AHL155
|
Sleep Patient Intake Skills
|
20
|
Handouts |
$329
T-$99/F-$230
|
|
AHE106
|
Clinical Observation
|
40
|
None |
$369
T-$111/F-$258
|
|
AHL180
|
Basic Math for Health Care Workers
|
10
|
Handouts online |
$145
T-$44/F-$101
|
| AHE805 |
CPR for Healthcare Providers |
7 |
none |
$109
T-$33/F-$76
|
|
Module I Totals:
|
|
160
|
Approximately $64 |
$1,759
T-$530/ F-$1,229
|
Module II
|
Course Number
|
Course Title
|
Course Hours
|
Textbook Information
(approximate cost; subject to change)
|
Costs
T=Tuition/F=Fees
|
|
AHE672
|
Anatomy and Physiology Online
|
30
|
The Human Body in Health and Disease; 7th (or latest) edition; Patton and Thibodeau; Elsevier (soft cover); ISBN 9780023101243; $50.00 |
$329
T-$99/F-$230
|
|
AHL152
|
Pharmacology
|
20
|
Handouts online |
$275
T-$83/F-$192
|
|
AHL181
|
Basic EKG Training
|
20
|
ECG Interpretation Made Incredibly Easy!; Jessica Shank Coviello; ISBN: 9871975148263 $49 |
$425
T-$220/F-$205
|
|
AHL182
|
Polysomnographic Technology Training (includes 5 practicum classes)
|
55.8
|
1) Essentials of Polysomnography Bundle; 3rd Edition ISBN 9781284172218; $86.00; Lisa M. Endee; and
2) Fundamentals of Sleep Technology 3rd Edition; Teofilo, Lee-Chiong & Mattice; ISBN 9781975111625; $110
|
$1089
T-$327/F-$762
|
| AHL102 |
Sleep Clinical Internship – NPSG |
100 |
Online materials |
$549
T-$165/F-$384
|
|
Module II Totals:
|
|
226
|
$295
|
$2,667
T-$894/F-$1,773
|
Module III
|
Course Number
|
Course Title
|
Course Hours
|
Textbook Information
(approximate cost; subject to change)
|
Costs
T=Tuition/F=Fees
|
|
AHL702
|
Neuromuscular Systems and Polysomnography
|
32
|
Online materials |
$610
T-$183/F-$427
|
|
AHL703
|
Cardiopulmonary Systems and Polysomnography
|
32
|
Online materials |
$610
T-$183/F-$427
|
| AHL100 |
Positive Airway Pressure Techniques |
40
|
Handouts online |
$469
T-$141/F-$328
|
| AHL103 |
Clinical Internship - Day/Scoring |
100 |
Online materials |
$549
T-$165/F-$384
|
|
Module III Totals:
|
|
204
|
$0 |
$2,238
T-$672/F-$1,566
|
Module IV
|
Course Number
|
Course Title
|
Course Hours
|
Textbook Information
(approximate cost; subject to change)
|
Costs
T=Tuition/F=Fees
|
| AHL098 |
Sleep Staging & Scoring Guidelines
|
40 |
Online materials |
$479
T-$144/F-$335
|
|
AHL713
|
Polysomnographic Clinicals
|
80
|
None |
$866
T-$260/F-$606
|
|
AHL104
|
Sleep Clinical Internship – Titration
|
100
|
None |
$549
T-$165/F-$384
|
|
AHL134
|
BRPT Board Exam Preparation for CAAHEP
|
40
|
None |
$439
T-$132/F-$307
|
|
Module IV Totals:
|
|
260
|
$0 |
$2,333
T-$701/F-$1,632
|
|
Course Series Totals:
|
|
857
|
$359 |
$8,997
T-$2,797
F-$6,200
|
Additional Information
Course Substitutions:
Medical Terminology AHE 124 can be substituted with OFAD/MDAS 141, or ALHL 115, or AHL717 or AHE534
Anatomy and Physiology AHE 519 can be substituted with AHE672, or AHL715, or BIOL 109, or BIOL 220 and BIOL 221.
Basic Math WOS 064 can be substituted with AHL716 or MATH083.
Additional Expenses:
Course Series: Students are responsible for the cost of all medical testing, background check, drug screening, and scrubs/uniforms. These expenses total approximately $800.
BRPT National Exam Certification: CCBC will pay for the student’s first attempt at the Certification Test at a cost of $450.
Post-Course Series: Licensure is obtained through the Maryland Board of Physicians at a cost of $200. This cost includes registration of your certification and license as an Allied Health Care provider through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Sleep Technologists must be certified and licensed to work in the State of Maryland.
Skills for Success:
See the Technical Standards at the end of this document.
Career Opportunities:
There is currently a large shortage of sleep technologists in the state of Maryland due to certification and licensure regulations. Regulations currently state you must participate in a CAAHEP accredited program to receive certification in MD.
Students who complete the program and receive their certification can receive credits toward an Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health through the School of Health Professions.
Student Completion and Placement Outcomes:
2020—17 Students Completed the Program
2021—11 Students completed the Program
2022—19 Students Completed the Program
The Polysomnographic Technology Program achieved 100% positive placement for students that have passed the board BRPT exam and obtained their licensure.
Career Coach
Research your career interests, explore live job postings, take a career assessment, discover which companies in the Baltimore region are hiring, and more. View a brief tutorial video on how to use Career Coach at https://youtu.be/C7KpznbPYfA. Explore career and training opportunities at https://ccbcmd.emsicc.com/.
Technical Standards
Technical Standards for CCBC’s Sleep (Polysomnographic) Technologist Training Series
The primary goal of The Community College of Baltimore County’s Polysomnographic Technologist Series is to adequately prepare students for an entry-level position in the sleep medicine field. Sleep Technicians are critical staff in preparing for and conducting the actual sleep studies. They also play a vital role in the reading and scoring of studies before they are reported to physicians.
The duties of a sleep tech require the ability to stay focused on a variety of patients/equipment during ten to twelve hour night shifts. They need to exercise safe practices while exposed to unpleasant sights, odors, materials, and communicable diseases. Their duties also require them to be detail oriented and to have strong human relation skills. A high level of manual dexterity, psychomotor skills, and integrity are vital.
Following is a partial listing of the types of skills usually required for adequate job performance:
Physical Requirements:
A. Sufficient strength and mobility to:
- Lift and position patients as needed.
- Move swiftly within close quarters
- Lift up to 50 pounds without assistance
- Move quickly among tasks in different areas of the sleep center
- Sit for long periods of time
- Stand for periods of one hour or more
B. Fine motor coordination sufficient to perform precise and delicate tasks such as:
- Set up equipment such as EKG and EEG machines requiring excellent manual dexterity in both hands
- Perform a variety of tasks requiring strong eye-hand coordination
- Record medical information into an electronic record system
C. Adequate vision to:
- Read physician or lab orders
- Read small numbers on thermometers, sphygmomanometers, or other equipment
- Read printouts (electronic or paper) of sleep equipment
- Recognize patterns on EEG/EKG and other machines/equipment
- Read small print as found on medication labels
- Read instruction sheets and computer screens
D. Sufficient hearing to:
- Hear and understand verbal instructions under noisy conditions from masked personnel
- Sufficiently record breaths, heart rate or other sounds in noisy conditions
- Hear equipment sounds that indicate need for attention (beeps, buzzers)
- Respond to audible alerts from patients
Interpersonal Skills and Professionalism:
A. Have the ability to:
- Work in a professional manner as a member of a medical team in stressful situations
- Remain calm and perform as trained during emergency and life and death situations
- Interact in a professional manner with many personalities and attitudes and with people from many different backgrounds
- Respect and protect patient rights and confidentiality without regard to personal beliefs and judgments
- Maintain proper certifications required to perform the duties of the profession
- Work shifts as assigned, which may include on-call, holidays, and weekends
- Respond professionally to patients, colleagues and physicians in all circumstances
- Demonstrate a strong work ethic (reliable, dependable, strong attendance)
- Demonstrate ability to be detail oriented and work with little direct supervision
B. Sufficient communication skills to:
- Give and receive accurate written and verbal instructions
- Carry out all written and verbal instructions
- Follow proper channels of communication
- Communicate in a calm and professional manner
- Accurately interpret the patient’s needs
- Communicate clearly and effectively to any team member
- Provide patient/public education
Intellectual Ability and Emotional Stability To:
- Exercise independent judgment to properly care for patients
- Accurately utilize all resource material available to perform tasks assigned
- Accurately identify, calculate dosage, and transfer medications
- Work calmly and efficiently in stressful situations
- Maintain calm during emergency situations
- Perform duties while exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights, odors, and materials
- Accept feedback from others
- Complete program requirements
- Competently operate computers and medical equipment used in sleep medicine
Environment Requirements:
Sleep Technician work involves risks and/or discomforts that require special safety precautions including, but not limited to:
- Wearing gowns, caps, masks, gloves, and eye protection
- Providing proof of recent immunizations against infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella
- Receiving Hepatitis B vaccine and annual testing for exposure to tuberculosis
- Submitting to periodic drug screening
- Being exposed to bio-hazardous materials (blood) on rare occasions
Return to: