The [removed]Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists[/removed] (BRPT) has suspended a slated July 1, 2010, deadline requiring that all RPSGT exam Pathway #1—18-month experiential—candidates must complete both the A-STEP Self -Study Online Modules and the A-STEP Introductory Course. All Pathway #1 candidates will still be required to complete the A-STEP Self-Study Online Modules (or a BRPT-designated alternative educational program) to establish eligibility to sit for the RPSGT exam.

BRPT has also suspended a scheduled July 1, 2012, deadline requiring that all RPSGT candidates must be a graduate of a CAAHEP-accredited program in PSG or a graduate of a CAAHEP-accredited END or RT program with a PSG add-on. Graduates of CAAHEP-accredited programs will still be eligible to sit for the RPSGT exam immediately upon graduation under eligibility Pathway #3.

In [removed]announcing the changes[/removed] to RPSGT exam eligibility requirements, BRPT President Becky Appenzeller, RPSGT, R. EEG T., CNIM, emphasized that BRPT remains committed, but realistic about the development of strong educational pathways to the RPSGT credential. “Strong, standardized educational programs in polysomnography are critical to strengthening our profession,” notes Appenzeller. “But those programs take time to build and replicate. We simply will not have the number of A-STEP Introductory Course programs available by mid-2010 to accommodate the field; and our best estimates, based on the current pace of program development and accreditation, tell us that we will not have an adequate number of CAAHEP-accredited programs available by mid-2012 to make the proposed 2012 CAAHEP requirement realistic.”

New Pathway Added for RPSGT Candidates
The BRPT has also just announced a new pathway to RPSGT exam eligibility—Pathway #4—developed specifically to accommodate individuals who have completed both an A-STEP Introductory Course and the A-STEP Self-Study Online Modules (or a BRPT-designated alternative educational program). Pathway #4 will be available to candidates submitting proof of completion of both an A-STEP Introductory Course and the A-STEP Self-Study Online Modules (or a BRPT-designated alternate educational program), a current BLS/CPR certification, and verification of 9 months of paid clinical experience where at least 21 hours per week per calendar year of on-the-job duties performed are polysomnography direct patient recording and/or scoring. Duties must be within a 3-year period prior to the exam. The new Pathway #4 will be available to candidates beginning with the December 2009 testing window. December applications will be accepted beginning in late September.

Regarding the introduction of the new eligibility pathway, Appenzeller says BRPT “recognizes the commitment to quality education for RPSGT candidates made by both the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a large number of A-STEP Introductory Course providers. We believe a reduced experiential requirement for A-STEP Introductory Course graduates, coupled with the A-STEP Self-Study Online Modules, or a BRPT-designated alternative educational program, is entirely appropriate.”

The RPSGT Exam Candidate Handbook, the RPSGT exam application, and supporting materials available at www.brpt.org are currently being revised to reflect the changes in RPSGT exam eligibility requirements.

Comment on this article at Sleep Review‘s Facebook page.

Related articles:
Application Deadline for September RPSGT Exam Around the Corner
Propaganda and Reality: A Look into Messages from the AARC