Students should acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to perform sleep studies, including recording and interpreting events observed during sleep.  Treatment of sleep related disorders and patient education focused on healthy sleep habits will also be discussed.

Graduates of accredited programs may be eligible to apply to take the examination offered by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists.  Employment opportunities may be found in hospitals and freestanding sleep centers.

WHAT IS A POLYSOMNOGRAPHY TECHNOLOGIST?

Polysomnography is an exciting area of healthcare that has emerged as a unique profession for performing the technical evaluation of a broad range of sleep disorders. The field of polysomnography (PSG) involves the complex evaluation of many physiological parameters during sleep to produce a quantitative “sleep study.” PSG evaluations are necessary to document sleep disorders and to assist physicians in identifying sleep issues and the appropriate treatment. The disruption of proper sleep can complicate or cause many chronic disorders and conditions.

POLYSOMNOGRAPHY AT SCC

The Polysomnography Technology program will lead to the awarding of an Associate in Applied Science degree, which allows the graduates to sit for the national registry exam.  A certification program is also available for students who already possess an AAS degree in Allied Health.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENT & COURSES

To find out more about the Polysomnography Technology program, contact the Admissions Office at 910.695.3911.  They will be glad to provide you with details, answer questions and explain pre-enrollment activities—placement testing, orientation, advising and registration. You can view the Polysomnography courses here.

Polysomnography Technology is a five-semester program that begins in the fall and includes classes in polysomnography as well as basic anatomy, medical terminology, writing, mathematics, and introductions to electricity and computers.

Students acquire hands-on experiences through a required component referred to as “clinicals.”  This allows students to work in the Polysomnography field prior to graduation.  SCC Works with various area hospitals and sleep diagnostic centers.

JOB OUTLOOK

There is a critical need for well-trained healthcare professionals in the area of polysomnography.  The field of the sleep studies, or polysomnography, is a rapidly growing area of health professions.  Estimates reflect over 18,000 sleep centers are currently performing sleep diagnostics with only 9,000 credentialed Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (RPSGT) in the nation.  Medical practice and insurance guidelines require each sleep lab to have access to a RPSGT healthcare professional in order to process the diagnostic data before completing and returning the study results to the physician. The need for credentialed, well-trained RPSGT professionals is profound. According to the National Sleep Foundation, over 82 million Americans suffer from sleeping disorders with greater than 12 million Americans suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.  Want to learn more?  Visit the national website at www.brpt.org/.

SALARY RANGE

Registered Polysomnographic Technologist                  $17.00-24.00 hourly wage

For more information about the Polysomnography Technology program at Sandhills Community College, contact David DeRemer at  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; or call toll-free at 1.800.338.3944.