•
SLEEP
TECH - What is a sleep
technologist? A registered
polysomnographic technologist has
many duties centered on
the collection of
polysomnography data
(sleep study) to
rule out or confirm the
diagnosis of a sleep
disorder. Sleep
technicians and sleep
technologists work under the supervision
of physicians, performing sleep
latency tests, polysomnograms
and titrating therapeutic interventions. Sleep techs also
have a crucial role in
diagnosing and monitoring
patients and researching sleep
disorders using the results of
the sleep study.
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WORK
SCHEDULE - What is a typical work schedule?
In sleep tech jobs, often the schedule
consists of 10 hours per
night, four nights a week,
usually 8pm - 6am or 9pm -
7am. Some centers have a
weekend shift consisting
of 12 hours per night for
3 nights (Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday),
usually 8pm - 8am or 9pm -
9am.Part of that time
is spent scoring and
analyzing the data
collected by the sleep
study during the
night.Some sleep labs will pay more for technologists who can
“score on the fly,” or
analyze the study as the
data is being collected -these technologists
are quite experienced.
Benefits
of being registered
•
RPSGT
- How will being
registered help me?Successfully
passing the RPSGT exam can
open many doors - job
security, promotions,
salary increases and
bonuses may all be
possible for the newly
credentialed sleep
technologist. A
great deal of prestige and
recognition is gained when
you have earned the right
to add “RPSGT” after
your name. And then, there
is the feeling of immense
satisfaction (and possibly
relief!) that YOU DID IT!
Attaining this credential
can tremendously increase
your marketability, and
therefore your value.Read on…
Prestige:You’ve worked hard to
get where you are, and you
deserve the respect that goes
with it.However, remember those
who have preceded you and helped
you earn your credential, and in
turn help those who are studying
for their exams, just like your
mentors helped you.Pass it on – mentor
someone who needs your help.
Pay
increase:It depends on the region,
but a sleep technologist may get
an 8%
to 10% raise (or more) when they
pass this exam.
Employment
expectation or requirement: Many sleep tech jobs require the applicant to have the RPSGT credential. More and more sleep
labs are requiring new employees to
become registered within two
years of their hire date.Since they have this requirement, many companies pay the
testing fee.
Career
enhancement:Registered sleep technologists are in higher demand and can
command higher pay rates than
their unregistered counterparts
(polysomnographic
technicians).
Many promotions in the field of
sleep medicine require the
candidate to be registered.
Sleep center owners also expect
their managers to be registered
sleep technologists.
The RPSGT is the difference
between a polysomnographic
technician (not registered) and
the polysomnographic
technologist (registered).
