One of my favorite Will Rogers quotes describes the current state of education for sleep technologists: "Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."

As a profession, we are on the right track with education, but we need to keep going and accelerate the process of standardized education for polysomnographic technologists.

I am a strong believer that polysomnography is a distinct profession and specialized allied health field. Patient safety, the fact that we interface with the public on many levels, and pending licensure issues all demand that we step up to the plate and promote the development of standardized training and education for our profession.

Because it is a credentialing board, the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) cannot sponsor educational activities that would include preparation for the credentialing exam. Though we have produced a BRPT Study Guide, it is restricted to include a content outline and details about the topic areas in each of the five domains covered in the RPSGT exam. By mandate, we leave the educating of sleep technologists to membership organizations, schools, public institutions, and online courses. However, that doesn't mean we don't like to weigh in from time to time.

Polysomnographic education does have a huge impact on the BRPT, because well-educated applicants do better on the RPSGT exam. Nothing makes us happier than having large numbers of applicants pass our certification exam.

The new BRPT exam eligibility requirements include successful completion of the A-STEP (an acronym for Accredited Sleep Technologist Education Program) online self-study modules (or an equivalent educational program), and are effective for the September exam cycle. This additional requirement has contributed to a very large number of applicants taking the RPSGT certification exam. In this rush to "beat" the need to meet the new requirements, we have had record-breaking numbers of applicants. While we are happy to see the increasing numbers of applicants, we have also seen less prepared candidates taking the exam, which has resulted in a lower pass rate in the recent testing window. In spite of this, there has been a 75% increase in the number of registered sleep technologists between 2005 and the present.

Newsday, based on Long Island in New York, and one of the top 11 largest newspapers in the United States, just 2 years ago cited sleep technology as an "emerging profession." There is certainly a shortage of sleep technologists, and there is also a shortage of schools and training programs in the field. In the past few years, much progress has been made, but we need to continue to support and encourage the development of new educational opportunities to increase the preparedness of applicants taking the exam, which will increase the number of applicants who are successful in their quest to become RPSGTs.

As an initial step to enhance education, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) created the A-STEP program. There is also an increasing number of "equivalent" programs being developed. I support these efforts wholeheartedly; there cannot be too many educational programs. The need for education is felt most acutely outside major urban areas; the BRPT is supportive and encourages the development of formal educational programs for persons wanting to enter the field of polysomnography, as well as the development of educational opportunities for those already involved in the field of sleep medicine. There is a section of the BRPT Web site at www.brpt.org dedicated to clarifying the criteria that an educational program must meet to become an equivalent program.

As AASM notes on its Web site, A-STEP was developed "to promote the standardization of sleep technologist education and training. A-STEP equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in the profession of sleep technology." This is a program for those who want to earn the RPSGT credential. A-STEP is not required for recertification.

WHY THE NEED FOR A-STEP?

The program is meant to temporarily fill the gap in the lack of educational polysomnographic programs for the next few years. The changes in educational requirements for a candidate to take the RPSGT exam will occur in three stages, with the ultimate goal being the development of enough standardized accredited educational programs to provide for education similar to that required for other allied health professionals.

The first of the three phases is in effect for the September exam. Six-month and 18-month experiential candidates are required to complete all 14 A-STEP self-study (online) modules (or an equivalent program), in addition to fulfilling the appropriate length of experience and meeting all other eligibility criteria. The A-STEP Introductory Course is not required at this time. Graduates of a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) program who have already completed a rigorous, standardized training program are not subject to these additional requirements and are eligible to sit for the exam upon program graduation.

In two years, phase 2 will begin. To meet eligibility requirements for the RPSGT exam, both 6-month and 18-month experiential applicants must complete both the A-STEP introductory course and the A-STEP online self-study modules or an equivalent program, in addition to fulfilling the appropriate length of experience and meeting all other eligibility criteria. Graduates of a CAAHEP program are eligible to sit for the exam upon program graduation.

The third phase will begin in July 2012. Applicants must complete a comprehensive training program accredited by CAAHEP under the Committee on Accreditation of Education for Polysomnographic Technologists (CoA-PSG), or an add-on polysomnography program under the CoA-END (electroneurodiagnostic technology) or the CoA-RC (respiratory care). Polysomnographic education will be on a comfortable par with many other allied health professions in terms of education.

This is an important direction in our profession and one we should all actively support. We need to continue to work diligently to promote standardization of our profession's educational requirements to better position ourselves for licensure issues ahead. State regulatory decision-makers often look to validated credentials when making decisions regarding which professionals may perform sleep evaluations.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Beyond basic education and training for those entering the profession, I believe wholeheartedly in the need for continuing education. Continuing education has always been the lifeblood of career progress, but never more than today. It is critical to patient safety for us to assure not only that RPSGTs are properly trained and educated, but also that they continue their education. This is particularly true in a profession such as ours where technological advances occur at such a rapid pace.

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The BRPT has been proactive regarding the need for continuing education, and has made recertification a requirement to maintain your RPSGT credential. This can be accomplished through continuing education. While we did eliminate the requirement for minimum-per-year credits, a RPSGT must still earn at least 50 continuing education hours every 5 years. The BRPT's intent in requiring recertification was to promote continuing education as a normal and essential part of every technologist's professional path. Whether you are an entry-level professional, mid-career, or in management, whether you are a new RPSGT or have been in the field for many years, continuous learning is critical to maintaining and enhancing your skills and expertise. Requiring that a technologist acquire continuing education adds validity to the RPSGT credential and to our profession.

As a sign of commitment to promoting education, the BRPT is launching the BRPT Education Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation is to foster education for students entering the field of polysomnography, promote and encourage the development of new educational programs, and provide opportunities for financial support through scholarships. The BRPT Education Foundation will officially kick off with a special dinner at the second annual BRPT Symposium. The Symposium will be held September 4-6 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla in San Diego.

Increasing the range and caliber of educational opportunities for the sleep profession will put us on the fast track to better prepare sleep technologists to meet the challenges of the RPSGT exam, and of a dynamic, rapidly changing health specialty where patients need and expect exemplary care by the most qualified professionals.

Becky Appenzeller, RPSGT, R. EEG T., CNIM, is president of the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists. She can be reached at .