Want to be among the first to take the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT)’s new sleep certification exam? Save the date: The initial testing window for the Certification In Clinical Sleep Health (CCSH) is May 1 through May 29. Applications for the CCSH exam will be available April 1 at www.brpt.org, and the sign-up window closes at 5 pm EDT on April 30.

Following the initial window, the exam won’t be available again until August 2014. This allows the BRPT and its testing partner, Pearson VUE, to conduct the standard setting. The standard setting is the methodology used to determine the cut score—or passing score—that corresponds to a qualified CCSH specialist. Exam results for this first group of test takers will not be available until completion of the standard setting and psychometric evaluation by BRPT and Pearson VUE. Candidates taking the examination during the initial exam window in May should expect up to a 4-month delay before receiving exam results.

“We are thrilled to offer this first administration of the CCSH exam,” says BRPT president Theresa Krupski, RPSGT, RRT, in a release. “This was an incredible effort led by the Exam Development Committee, our team of subject matter experts, psychometricians, and BRPT board members, all of whom worked tirelessly to bring this exam to fruition. The standard setting, a critical component of the test development process, is the final step in offering an exam according to best credentialing practices.”

The BRPT will conduct a drawing at the end of each week in May for this initial testing window. All applicants who sit for the exam that week will be eligible to win $1,000. Krupski says, “This drawing is a fun way to say thank you to this inaugural group of test takers who won’t receive exam results immediately after testing, but are eager to expand their scope of work and level of expertise in this evolving healthcare environment.”

The CCSH is an advanced-level exam. It was developed for experienced healthcare practitioners in the field of sleep medicine. To prepare for the CCSH exam, candidates should consider using a sampling of textbooks, clinical guidelines, practice parameters, and key articles relating to the major exam domains. In general, educational materials should focus on evaluation and management of sleep disorders; pathophysiology, epidemiology, and clinical presentation; patient education and communication; sleep health and hygiene; normal sleep over the lifespan; and public health issues relating to sleep. Candidates should review the exam blueprint for guidance on knowledge areas and specific topics covered on the exam. They should be prepared to apply their knowledge to clinical situations to demonstrate critical thinking skills. To review a list of primary references, visit www.brpt.org/default.asp?contentID=301.