Additional Information & Application Forms
- PSG Undergraduate Brochure
- Polysomnography Program Application
- Polysomnography Reference Form
- Polysomnography ADA Form
Online Resources
Share This Page
Polysomnography Undergraduate Program
The following links will assist with navigation:
General Information
Curriculum
Admissions
What Is A Polysomnographic Technologist Or A “Polysomnographer?”
Polysomnography is an exciting area of healthcare that has emerged as a unique profession for performing the technical evaluation of a broad range of sleep disorders. The field of polysomnography (PSG) involves the complex evaluation of many physiological parameters during sleep to produce a quantitative “sleep study.” PSG evaluations are necessary to document sleep disorders and to assist physicians in identifying sleep issues and the appropriate treatment. The disruption of proper sleep can complicate or cause many chronic disorders and conditions.
What Is The Job Outlook?
There is a critical need for well-trained healthcare professionals in the area of polysomnography. The field of sleep studies, or polysomnography, is a rapidly growing area of health professions. Estimates reflect over 18,000 sleep labs and sleep centers are currently performing sleep diagnostics with only 7,000 credentialed Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (RPSGT) in the nation. Medical practice and insurance guidelines require each sleep lab to have access to a RPSGT healthcare professional in order to process the diagnostic data before completing and returning the study results to the physician. The need for credentialed, well-trained RPSGT professionals is profound. According to the National Sleep Foundation, over 82 million Americans suffer from sleeping disorders with greater than 12 million Americans suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.
Who Should Apply?
The qualities of a Polysomnographic Technologist include being a caring person, people-oriented, knowledgeable of the biological sciences, an ethical, critical-thinker and a strong problem solver.
What Are The Requirements?
Admission requirements to the Respiratory Care PSG Program at Texas State include being a high school graduate, admission to Texas State, an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher, completion of the Polysomnography Program application packet, credentialed as a RRT, CRT, or any healthcare credential with a patient-care focus, and an interview with the Department Chair of Respiratory Care or a faculty member.
Additional Information
Department of Respiratory Care
Texas State University-San Marcos
601 University Drive
San Marcos, Texas 78666-4616
(512) 245-8243
Polysomnography is an exciting area of healthcare that has emerged as a unique profession for performing the technical evaluation of a broad range of sleep disorders. The field of polysomnography (PSG) involves the complex evaluation of many physiological parameters during sleep to produce a quantitative “sleep study.” PSG evaluations are necessary to document sleep disorders and to assist physicians in identifying sleep issues and the appropriate treatment. The disruption of proper sleep can complicate or cause many chronic disorders and conditions.
What Is The Job Outlook?
There is a critical need for well-trained healthcare professionals in the area of polysomnography. The field of sleep studies, or polysomnography, is a rapidly growing area of health professions. Estimates reflect over 18,000 sleep labs and sleep centers are currently performing sleep diagnostics with only 7,000 credentialed Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (RPSGT) in the nation. Medical practice and insurance guidelines require each sleep lab to have access to a RPSGT healthcare professional in order to process the diagnostic data before completing and returning the study results to the physician. The need for credentialed, well-trained RPSGT professionals is profound. According to the National Sleep Foundation, over 82 million Americans suffer from sleeping disorders with greater than 12 million Americans suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.
Who Should Apply?
The qualities of a Polysomnographic Technologist include being a caring person, people-oriented, knowledgeable of the biological sciences, an ethical, critical-thinker and a strong problem solver.
What Are The Requirements?
Admission requirements to the Respiratory Care PSG Program at Texas State include being a high school graduate, admission to Texas State, an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher, completion of the Polysomnography Program application packet, credentialed as a RRT, CRT, or any healthcare credential with a patient-care focus, and an interview with the Department Chair of Respiratory Care or a faculty member.
Additional Information
Department of Respiratory Care
Texas State University-San Marcos
601 University Drive
San Marcos, Texas 78666-4616
(512) 245-8243
Prospective Students: Individuals with RRT or CRT credential OR individuals with a credential (state or national) as an allied health professional with a patient-care focus. Upon completion of the PSG Program, 18 hours will be awarded. The PSG Program is fully-accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) through 2016.
FALL
RC 4310 Fundamentals of Polysomnography. (3-0) Introduction to the physiology of sleep including sleep neurology, sleep architecture, classification of sleep disorders. Review of basic cardiac physiology and ECG arrhythmnia recognition. Sleep pathologies will be discussed according to etiology, pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
RC 4211 Polysomnography Instrumentation I. (2-0) Designed to teach the function, operation and design of electroneurodiagnostic equipment. Monitoring devices, electrode application and patient connection will be covered in detail.
RC 4412 Clinical Polysomnography-Sleep Staging I. (0-10) Direct patient diagnostic monitoring is performed under close supervision in a sleep lab. Differential amplifiers, amplifier calibration, artifact correction and the professional role of the sleep tech will be demonstrated.
SPRING
RC 4313 Polysomnographic Therapeutic Intervention. (3-0) In-depth study of the treatments available for sleep apnea including CPAP, BiPAP, oxygen therapy, patient adjunctive fitting, surgical intervention and the role of the sleep tech in titration. Special attention will be given titration algorithms, nocturnal seizure disorder studies, REM behavior disorder studies, MSLT’s and MWT’s.
RC 4214 Polysomnography Instrumentation II. (2-0) Advanced study of waveform characteristics and montage development, filters and PSG electronics. Signal pathways, reference electrodes, impedance checking and filter settings in calibration waves will be covered.
RC 4415 Clinical Polysomnography-Sleep Staging II. (0-10) Advanced clinical education in sleep staging rules, light, delta and REM sleep scoring and analysis. EEG, EMG, ECG and respiratory events will be discussed in depth are components of the polysomnogram report.
Total: 18 hours
FALL
RC 4310 Fundamentals of Polysomnography. (3-0) Introduction to the physiology of sleep including sleep neurology, sleep architecture, classification of sleep disorders. Review of basic cardiac physiology and ECG arrhythmnia recognition. Sleep pathologies will be discussed according to etiology, pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
RC 4211 Polysomnography Instrumentation I. (2-0) Designed to teach the function, operation and design of electroneurodiagnostic equipment. Monitoring devices, electrode application and patient connection will be covered in detail.
RC 4412 Clinical Polysomnography-Sleep Staging I. (0-10) Direct patient diagnostic monitoring is performed under close supervision in a sleep lab. Differential amplifiers, amplifier calibration, artifact correction and the professional role of the sleep tech will be demonstrated.
SPRING
RC 4313 Polysomnographic Therapeutic Intervention. (3-0) In-depth study of the treatments available for sleep apnea including CPAP, BiPAP, oxygen therapy, patient adjunctive fitting, surgical intervention and the role of the sleep tech in titration. Special attention will be given titration algorithms, nocturnal seizure disorder studies, REM behavior disorder studies, MSLT’s and MWT’s.
RC 4214 Polysomnography Instrumentation II. (2-0) Advanced study of waveform characteristics and montage development, filters and PSG electronics. Signal pathways, reference electrodes, impedance checking and filter settings in calibration waves will be covered.
RC 4415 Clinical Polysomnography-Sleep Staging II. (0-10) Advanced clinical education in sleep staging rules, light, delta and REM sleep scoring and analysis. EEG, EMG, ECG and respiratory events will be discussed in depth are components of the polysomnogram report.
Total: 18 hours
What is the Admission Policy for the Undergraduate Polysomnography Program?
An applicant may be admitted to the Polysomnography (PSG) Undergraduate Program by following the application procedure and meeting the following minimum admission requirements:
An applicant may be admitted to the Polysomnography (PSG) Undergraduate Program by following the application procedure and meeting the following minimum admission requirements:
- Submit a PSG Application for Admission to the Department of Respiratory Care at Texas State.
- Submit one official transcript from each higher education institution attended. These transcripts must be mailed directly from the institution to the Department of Respiratory Care. Applicants must have an overall 2.5 GPA.
- Apply for admission to Texas State University-San Marcos Admissions Office and fulfill all admission requirements.
What are requirements for completion of the PSG Program?
PSG Certification requirements include completion of the six courses with a minimum 2.5 GPA with no grade below “C.”
Who is eligible to apply to the Undergraduate PSG Program?
Individuals with a RRT or CRT credential OR individuals with a credential (state or national) as an allied health professional with a patient-care focus.
What is the length of the PSG Program?
The PSG Program is offered during the fall and spring semesters only and must be taken in sequence. Upon completion of the PSG certificate, 18 hours will be awarded.
Is the PSG Program accredited?
The PSG Program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) through 2016.
When can I sit for the BRPT national board exam for PSG?
Because the Texas State PSG Program is fully accredited, individuals completing the certificate program can immediately sit for the BRPT national board exam without serving a paid clinical internship.
If my credential/license is NOT in an area of Respiratory Care, how can I qualify for PSG Program Admission?
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)PSG Certification requirements include completion of the six courses with a minimum 2.5 GPA with no grade below “C.”
Who is eligible to apply to the Undergraduate PSG Program?
Individuals with a RRT or CRT credential OR individuals with a credential (state or national) as an allied health professional with a patient-care focus.
What is the length of the PSG Program?
The PSG Program is offered during the fall and spring semesters only and must be taken in sequence. Upon completion of the PSG certificate, 18 hours will be awarded.
Is the PSG Program accredited?
The PSG Program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) through 2016.
When can I sit for the BRPT national board exam for PSG?
Because the Texas State PSG Program is fully accredited, individuals completing the certificate program can immediately sit for the BRPT national board exam without serving a paid clinical internship.
If my credential/license is NOT in an area of Respiratory Care, how can I qualify for PSG Program Admission?
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)