Technical Staff Fact Sheet

Applicable Accreditation Standards

Entities must maintain appropriately trained, supervised, and, where required by state law, licensed sleep technologists. It is the responsibility of the Site Director to ensure that training is provided and documented for technical personnel.

Each location providing diagnostic services ( In-Lab Testing and/or HSAT), must employ at least one registered sleep technologist who is registered or accepted to sit for the registry examination through one of the following:

  1. American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM)
    • Registered Sleep Technologist (RST)
  2. National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
    • Registered Respiratory Therapist – Sleep Disorder Specialist (RRT-SDS)
  3. Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT)
    • Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT)
  4. Another organization that offers an equivalent examination accepted by the AASM

The registry exam must be passed within one year from acceptance to sit for the examination; otherwise the individual will be considered a non-registered technologist.

For accreditation networks providing diagnostic services (In-Lab Testing and/or HSAT), all technologists and technicians performing technical duties (except scoring) who are not registered by the ABSM, BRPT, or NBRC (as defined in Standard N-9):must be enrolled in or have completed: 

  1. The A-STEP Online Self Study Modules. Non-registered technologists and technicians must complete A-STEP Online Self Study Modules within two years of enrollment. 

OR

  1. Training in polysomnography in a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) program with the polysomnography option. 

For accreditation networks providing diagnostic ( In-Lab Testing and/or HSAT), scoring personnel must be one of the following: RST, RPSGT, CPSGT, respiratory therapists with the sleep disorders specialist certification (either CRT-SDS or RRT-SDS), or medical staff members/PhDs board-certified in sleep medicine (as defined in Standard N-1 and Standard N-3). Scoring personnel not credentialed in sleep as identified above ) e.g., non-registered or non-certified sleep technologist or respiratory therapists without sleep disorders specialist certification) may score only under the supervision of one of the above while adhering to Standard N-11.. 

When a subcontractor scores sleep studies, the entity must have a written agreement with the subcontractor that enumerates the performance expectations of the subcontractor. The scorers of the subcontractor must meet all applicable AASM Accreditation standards for scoring personnel. The entity is responsible for assessing the performance of the subcontractor in meeting contractual obligations including meeting applicable standards on an annual basis.

Technologist staffing must be adequate to address the workload of the lab and assure the safety of patientsThe AASM recommends a patient to technologist ratio of 2:1 under usual circumstances for attended PSG at the service location. 

Labs must have on staff at least one registered sleep technologist (as defined in Standard N-9). The individual(s) fulfilling this standard must be present (virtually or in person) at the lab at least 30 hours per week. If the lab is open fewer than 40 hours per week, then the registered sleep technologist(s) must be present at the lab for 75% of operating hoursA Lab that loses its sole registered sleep technologist will have 120 days to fulfill this standard.  

Sleep Technologists Staff

Requirements

  • All technical staff must be appropriately trained to ensure patient safety.
  • Must be licensed, where required by state law.
  • Must be trained in the proper use of HSAT devices, including operations, sensor application, usage, maintenance, warnings, safety, patient instruction and troubleshooting.

Registered Sleep Technologist

Requirements

  • At least one technical staff member must be registered by the, ABSM, NBRC or BRPT (RST, RPSGT, RRT-SDS) or accepted to sit for the registry examination.
  • The registered technologist must be on site a minimum of 30 hours per week (this can be met by multiple individuals). 
  • Provide a copy of the registry certificate by one of the approved providers (ABSM, NBRC, or BRPT).
  • Provide a copy of the state license for polysomnography if required by state law.
  • Provide a copy of a current, valid CPR certification, including both cognitive and skills training.

Non-Registered Sleep Technologists

Requirements

  • Must be enrolled in or completed the A-STEP online self-study modules within 2 years of enrollment, or
  • Must be enrolled in or completed a CAAHEP or CoARC program.
    • Proof of enrollment in A-STEP with evidence of completion of at least one module.
    • Evidence of enrollment in an accredited CAAHEP or CoARC program with a polysomnography option.
    • Certificate of completion from an accredited CAAHEP or CoARC program in polysomnography.

Scoring Personnel

Requirements

  • Must be a RST, RPSGT, CPSGT, CRT-SDS, or RRT-SDS or medical staff member or PhD board certified in sleep. 
  • Non-registered scoring sleep technicians must be supervised by one of the above credentialed staff members.

Key Things to Keep In Mind

  • AASM recommends 2:1 patient-to-technician ratio under usual circumstances.
  • Online cognitive CPR training is acceptable as long as evidence of skills training is also submitted.
  • Non-registered sleep technicians must complete all A-STEP online self-study modules within two years.
    • If all modules are not completed within this timeframe, the non-registered technician must re-enroll. 
  • If the facility is open less than 40 hours per week, a registered technologist must be present (either virtually or in person) for at least 75% of the operating hours.
  • The AASM must be notified if the entity loses its sole registered sleep technologist.