Non-RC Polysomnography Program
The Department of Respiratory Care offers an accredited Course of Studies in Polysomnography at both the undergraduate and at the post-bac level. Upon completion of the Polysomnographic Technology Post-Bac Course of Studies, individuals will be eligible to immediately sit for the Board for Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) national board examination without serving a clinical internship. Students who are admitted to the Interdisciplinary Studies program may petition up to 15 post graduate hours from the polysomnography program for degree credit toward a Masters of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (MSIS) degree at Texas State.
In order to provide a pathway for non-RC credentialed healthcare providers wishing to transition into polysomnography, a PSG Bridge Curriculum has been developed. Qualified non-RC applicants that meet the CoARC criteria for eligibility will be assessed for academic and professional course completion of the “Basic Sciences” and “Specific Professional Content” areas. Transcripts will be used to verify course completion.
For non-RC professionals lacking documentation of prior education and/or training in the specific content areas, an assessment exam will be administered to comprehensively test domain knowledge. Modules and exam questions developed to specifically address the “Basic Sciences” and the “Specific RC Profession Content” areas will be utilized for the assessment and remediation. A “challenge examination” containing test questions from the specific modular content areas lacking in the non-RC professionals academic preparation will be constructed for assessment. A predetermined cut-score in each content area will be used to assess minimal competency in each content area.
Individuals requiring remediation in a basic science or specific RC content area will register for RC 4246, Respiratory Care Internship during the summer preceding the fall semester and modular studies will be provided. After studying the modules, the individual will be retested on the modular content until minimal competency can be demonstrated via the cut score. Successful completion of all required modular exams for RC 4246 will result in a “CR” (credit) on the individual’s Texas State transcript. The individual will then be considered qualified to begin the PSG curricular studies in the fall.
The following areas must be represented on an individual’s transcript or assessment of the content area through the challenge examination will be required:
In order to provide a pathway for non-RC credentialed healthcare providers wishing to transition into polysomnography, a PSG Bridge Curriculum has been developed. Qualified non-RC applicants that meet the CoARC criteria for eligibility will be assessed for academic and professional course completion of the “Basic Sciences” and “Specific Professional Content” areas. Transcripts will be used to verify course completion.
For non-RC professionals lacking documentation of prior education and/or training in the specific content areas, an assessment exam will be administered to comprehensively test domain knowledge. Modules and exam questions developed to specifically address the “Basic Sciences” and the “Specific RC Profession Content” areas will be utilized for the assessment and remediation. A “challenge examination” containing test questions from the specific modular content areas lacking in the non-RC professionals academic preparation will be constructed for assessment. A predetermined cut-score in each content area will be used to assess minimal competency in each content area.
Individuals requiring remediation in a basic science or specific RC content area will register for RC 4246, Respiratory Care Internship during the summer preceding the fall semester and modular studies will be provided. After studying the modules, the individual will be retested on the modular content until minimal competency can be demonstrated via the cut score. Successful completion of all required modular exams for RC 4246 will result in a “CR” (credit) on the individual’s Texas State transcript. The individual will then be considered qualified to begin the PSG curricular studies in the fall.
The following areas must be represented on an individual’s transcript or assessment of the content area through the challenge examination will be required:
Human Anatomy and Physiology (Module 3)
Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology (Module 3)
Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology (Module 4)
Pharmacology (Module 7)
Assessment & monitoring of cardiopulmonary status (Modules 8 & 26)
Medical gas therapy (Module 5)
Infection control (Module 6)
Hemodynamics & ECG (Module 10)
BLS & ACLS (cards required)
Principles of case management/patient & caregiver education (Module 25)
Health Promotion/disease prevention (Module 6)
Disaster response/bio-terrorism (Module 28)
Pediatrics and perinatology (Module 26)
Geriatrics (Module 25)
Medical record keeping, reimbursement (Module 1)
Medical ethics (Module 13)
Licensure/credentialing/professional association membership/professional behavior/cultural awareness/diversity (Module 1)
Application to the Post-Bac Polysomnography Course of Studies must be made through the Graduate College. The minimum admission requirements and procedure include the following:
- Submit a Graduate College Application for Admission to the Office of the Graduate College
- Pay a $10 non-refundable application fee
- Submit one official transcript from each senior level post-secondary institution attended. These transcripts must be mailed directly from the institution to the Office of the Graduate Office.
- Applicants must have a 2.5 GPA on the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work before the bachelor’s degree. If the applicant has completed a master’s or doctoral degree, a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA is required.