Polysomnography Technology (Sleep Lab)

Ms. Lisa Tarvin, Program Director
256.352.8410
lisa.tarvin@wallacestate.edu

Certificate (2 semesters)

About the Profession

Polysomnography is a study of sleep cycles and behavior, usually done overnight in a sleep center. This study involves observing a person at sleep while continuously charting brain waves, muscle activity, breathing, eye movements, and heart rhythms. Trained in sleep technology and relevant aspects of sleep medicine, sleep technologists assist in the evaluation and follow-up care of patients with sleep disorders as identified in the current International Classification of Sleep Disorders. Sleep Technology is recognized as a separate and distinct allied health profession. The scope of practice of sleep technologists enables them to work in hospital sleep labs, private sleep centers, laboratories for sleep related breathing disorders, Durable Medical Equipment (DME) settings, academic and industry research settings, home environments, and non-facility-based settings under the direction of the sleep physician.

Sleep technologists assist sleep physicians in the clinical assessment, physiological monitoring and testing, diagnosis, management, and prevention of sleep related disorders with the use of various diagnostic and therapeutic tools providing care to patients of all ages. These tools include but are not limited to polysomnographs, positive airway pressure devices and accessory equipment, out of center sleep testing (OCST) devices, oximeters, capnographs, actigraphs, nocturnal oxygen, screening devices, and questionnaires. 

Program Description

Please visit our program website http://www.wallacestate.edu/programs/health-division/polysomnographic-technologist for further information, program application and program expenses.

The Polysomnography program is a two-semester (Fall and Spring) course of study. 

The clinical requirement offers experiences in a variety of health care settings where students perform clinical procedures under the supervision of polysomnographic technologists and technicians.

After all applications are received (deadline June 1^st), the students selected for program entry will be admitted to the program in the Fall semester. The PSG program admits the newly selected students in the Fall semester only and they should complete in the following Spring semester. There are no PSG classes during the summer semester.

Classes

The PSG program is a hybrid program that combines online coursework with a one-week, daily visit to campus to perform lab check-offs. This will take place at the beginning of the Fall semester, and the Program Director will notify all accepted applicants of the dates and times for this lab week. The rest of the PSG program is online. There may be other situations where you might be required to come to campus and those times will be communicated to you as far in advance as possible. Your other coursework such as lectures, quizzes and regular exams are completed online.

Clinicals 

Students are required to attend clinical rotations weekly. Students will be assigned by the clinical coordinator to area sleep labs that WSCC has acquired student rotation contracts with. The majority of clinical hours will be scheduled for night shifts, generally from 7 pm to 7 am, and you will be required to complete 2-3 night shifts per week as scheduled by the clinical coordinator. Scheduled shifts can be any night of the week, Monday through Sunday, as scheduled by the clinical coordinator. Students cannot select a specific site or nights/days to attend the clinicals. These are assigned by the clinical coordinator on an as-available basis. The student may also be scheduled for a few day rotations as required. Day shift rotations will be very rare, the majority will be night shifts. The student is required to obtain 225 clock hours each semester (Fall and Spring). Clinical assignment schedules will be posted on Canvas one week prior to the start of clinical rotations.

Program Accreditation

The polysomnography program at Wallace State Community College is currently accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) 25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158 Clearwater, FL 33763 (727) 210-2350 http://www.caahep.org/ , Committee on Accreditation for Polysomnographic Technologist Education (COAPSG) 1711 Frank Avenue New Bern, NC 28560 (252) 626-3238. 

Credential Information

Upon graduation, you may be eligible to sit for the national board exam offered by the BRPT. If you are successful in passing the board exam, you will be awarded the credential RPSGT - Registered Polysomnographic Technologist.

The following website is available for reference: BRPT - RPSGT exam website: http://www.brpt.org/ 

Admission Requirements

The Polysomnography (PSG) program accepts a class each fall semester. The following information details the admission criteria for the Certificate Polysomnography program:

Applicants Must

1. Unconditional admission to the college – College application must be submitted by the program application deadline. 
2. Students must be in good standing with the college.
3. Receipt of complete program applications accepted between March 1 and June 1 for Fall entry. Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space-available basis. 
4. The PSG program online application is located on program’s webpage at https://www.wallacestate.edu/programs/health-division/polysomnographic-technologist. Online application instructions are under the Application to Program tab. All applicants are required to upload all necessary documentation for consideration. 
5. Official transcripts from each college attended must be provided to the Admissions Office and all unofficial transcripts must be uploaded.
6. Students must meet the essential functions and technical standards required for the program as documented on the required WSCC physical form at https://www.wallacestate.edu/programs/health-division-see Physical Form Essential Functions and in the Polysomnography Student Handbook. 
7. A minimum of 17 ACT composite score (National or Residual) is required for admission consideration. Proof of score must be uploaded. ALL applicants must submit an ACT composite score regardless of prior degrees or previous college coursework.
8. Meet all the general admission requirements of WSCC.
9. Possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (by the program application deadline). All applicants must have a GPA to be considered.
10. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale from high school for students without previous college coursework (by the program application deadline).
11. Priority for admission is given to first-time applicants. Readmissions/reinstatements, as well as transfer students, are considered on a space-available basis.

Selection and Notification

1. Admission to the Polysomnography Program is competitive; the number of students is limited by the number of faculty and clinical facilities available. Meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee acceptance. 
2. Applications are not complete until all admission requirements have been met, and all documents have been submitted to admissions and the Polysomnography Department. June 1 is the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 
3. Program applications will be reviewed for completion of program admission requirements. Written notification of program acceptance status will be sent to each applicant via information supplied on the program application. All accepted students are conditionally accepted pending clearance of background check, drug screen, appropriate academic placement, and documentation of polysomnography essential functions.
4. Following acceptance into the program, students must respond confirming their intent to enroll by using the internet link provided on their letter, by the deadline indicated on the letter. A student who fails to respond will forfeit his/her place in the class
5. Students accepted into the PSG Program must attend the mandatory orientation session. Confirmation of intent to enroll must be submitted by the posted deadline mentioned in the acceptance email. Instructions will be enclosed in the official acceptance email. A student who fails to confirm their acceptance as instructed by the posted deadline may forfeit his/her place in the class. Failure to attend the required PSG orientation and lab may also result in forfeiture of his/her place in the class. 
6. The accepted student must complete WSCC-PSG physical form by the published due date as well as provide proof of immunizations/immunity, health insurance, and American Heart Association BLS/Healthcare Provider CPR. 
7. Complete applications meeting the admission requirements will be ranked by GPA and composite ACT exam scores to determine admission if there are more applicants than can be accepted. If there is a tie the deciding factor will be the ACT score. 

Program Expectations

Students admitted into the Polysomnography program are expected to comply with the Polysomnography student handbook, WSCC Catalog and the Health Science Program Regulations and Expectations as published in this College Catalog.

Progression

Uninterrupted progression through the Polysomnography program is required. Any student whose progression is interrupted for any reason must apply for readmission. Any changes in the curriculum, catalog, policies, or admission procedures will be applicable upon the student’s readmission.

PSG students must achieve a “C” or above in all general and major required courses. Students who fail to achieve a “C” or above or who withdraw from any general or major required course cannot progress and will be dismissed from the Program and must re-apply for readmission. A minimal grade of 70 constitutes a “C” in Polysomnography PSG courses.

Students selected to the Polysomnography program must meet the following criteria:

• Progress through all Polysomnography courses in the sequence specified by the program faculty.
• Maintain a minimum grade of 70% or higher in PSG-required courses. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program.
• Maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA in all PSG coursework.
• Maintain the ability to meet the Essential Functions listed in the student handbook.
• Successfully complete the program within 20 months from the initial semester of PSG courses.
• Maintain Current major medical health insurance and BLS/Healthcare Provider CPR at the health care provider level.
• Abide by the policies, procedures, and rules of behavior of the college and the Polysomnography program.
• Abide by the policies, procedures, and rules of behavior of the clinical agencies.
• Submit completed medical forms by required deadlines.

Readmission to Program

Students who interrupt the progression in the Polysomnography program must apply for readmission. The student must reapply for admission as a new student would with all of the deadlines and requirements and must complete a new application prior to the application deadline. Readmission students must also submit a readmission request letter prior to the published application deadline. Readmission to the program is not guaranteed even if a student meets all requirements for readmission. A student who fails to progress during any semester is not automatically ranked and/or re-entered. A student who withdraws or is ineligible to continue in the program for any reason must formally re-apply and meet the procedures and requirements for admission to the Polysomnography Program published in the current catalog and prior to the published PSG program application deadline of any given year. Readmission also depends upon the availability of clinical space with students in regular progression given the first option. The student's application will then be considered in relation to all other applicants for admission. A student in good academic standing will be allowed to reapply once to the program.

Students will be readmitted one time only.

First Semester Students

Any student that fails to progress in the program for any reason, (academic or personal) during the first semester will be allowed to apply for readmission but must start the program from the beginning if they qualify (see below). The student will be counseled to withdraw, or possibly will be administratively withdrawn, from all classes. If the student does not withdraw before the posted withdrawal deadline in the WSCC calendar or is not administratively withdrawn, the student will receive the final course grade/s earned in all PSG courses, and if readmitted, must retake all classes regardless of the original grade. Program Director reserves the right to administratively withdraw any student who does not progress at the program director’s discretion. 

Second Semester Students

Students failing to progress in the program for any reason, (academic or personal) during the second semester will be allowed to apply for readmission if they qualify (see below), and take the classes that were not passed with a “C” or better or that they withdrew from, or were administratively withdrawn from. However, it is mandatory that the readmission student re-take the clinical course PSG 116 as well regardless of the original grade. The student will be counseled to withdraw from the failed course/courses and also PSG 116. If the student does not withdraw from the failed classes and PSG 116 before the posted withdrawal deadline in the WSCC calendar or is not administratively withdrawn, the student will receive the final course grade/s earned in all PSG courses and if readmitted, must retake all classes withdrawn from and/or not passed with a “C” or better, and must also retake PSG 116 regardless of original grade. Program Director reserves the right to administratively withdraw any student who does not progress at the program director’s discretion.

NOTE: Even if the student has a passing grade in the clinical course/s, clinicals must be repeated in order for the student to remain proficient in the field. The grade for the 2^nd attempt will replace the initial grade for the course in PSG 116.

Readmission may be denied due to, but not limited to, not meeting any of the following requirements below. These apply to all readmission students regardless of the semester that the progression was interrupted. 

Readmission requires the following:

1. Submission of completed online application and readmission request letter prior to the published application deadline. A readmission request letter can be obtained from the PSG Program Director.
2. A 2.0 cumulative GPA in all coursework and a “C” in all PSG classes.
3. That no longer than 20 months may elapse from the initial admission term to the date of graduation.
4. Submit completed medical forms and immunizations by required deadlines.
5. That no clinical facility has refused to accept the student for clinical rotations. 
6. Ability to meet and comply with standards and policies in the current college catalog and student handbook.
7. Any student that has been dismissed from this program/clinical facility, any other college program/clinical facility, has had any policy violations, complaints, attendance, or disciplinary issues in the past, while in the program or at a clinical facility will not be allowed to re-enter the program/nor be eligible to re-apply.
8. All students must meet all admission requirements to be eligible for readmission.
9. Any changes in the Polysomnography program, curriculum, college catalog, policies, admission, and student handbook will be applicable to any student upon readmission.
10. Maintain the ability to meet the essential functions listed in the student handbook and physical form.
11. Maintain current major medical health insurance and CPR at the health care provider level.
12. Abide by the policies, procedures, and rules of behavior of the college and the Polysomnography program.
13. Abide by the policies, procedures, and rules of behavior of the clinical agencies.
14. Space availability in a course in which the student wishes to be readmitted. (Students in regular progression have enrollment priorities for clinical sites.)
15. Must achieve a clear drug screen and background check.