Sleep Technology

Sleep technologists assist sleep specialists in the assessment, testing and monitoring, diagnosis, management and care of patients with sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, REM behavior disorder, narcolepsy, and insomnia. Most sleep technologists work 10 to 13 hour night shifts. This career choice should be made after careful consideration of the nature of the job and the student’s desire and ability to work the night shift.

If you are considering  transferring to a four-year college or university to obtain a bachelor's degree using courses from this program, make an appointment with an academic advisor to review your options.

Several states require a license; Illinois currently does not. The national credentialing examination given by the Board for Registered Polysomnographic Technologists, the BRPT,  earns you the credential RPSGT. Most area employers require this credential. Our curriculum has been developed in accordance  with the examination content. For more information about the BRPT, visit www.brpt.org. Once you have successfully completed the program, you are eligible to take the national board examination.

Millions of people annually are tested in sleep centers and limited accredited educational programs exist nationwide. Employment opportunities for qualified sleep technologists are excellent.

The Sleep Technology Associate in Applied Science program has special admission requirements and limited enrollment. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all admission requirements are met, and all documents and scores are submitted on time. Only complete application files will be reviewed for admission.

Documents to be Submitted for a Complete File

• Moraine Valley application for admission if not currently enrolled in college credit courses at Moraine Valley.
• A completed Sleep Technology Admission Application. Please print and complete the application and return it to Vanessa Melgoza at melgozav2@gxitma.net.
• Official transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended.

Minimum Academic Requirements

• One year of high school biology with lab, or one semester of college biology with lab, with a grade of "C" or better.
• One year of high school algebra, Moraine Valley course MTH-095 or above, or an equivalent college-level course at another college, with a grade of "C" or above.
• A minimum grade point average of 2.5 based on a four-point system. The high school GPA will be used only if students have attempted less than 12 college hours. A GPA of 2.5 will be assigned if the student took the high school equivalency rather than graduate from high school.
• Moraine Valley placement tests. Students may be exempt from placement tests based on previous college credit. Contact an academic advisor for information about placement test exemptions.
• Math placement test score or exemption must qualify applicant to take MTH-109.
• English placement test score or exemption must qualify applicant to take COM-101.
• Reading placement test score or exemption must qualify applicant for courses above RDG-089.

Health Physical
 Prior to clinical placement students will be required complete a health history and physical examination, possess  current CPR health care provider status, and carry current health insurance.

Selection Criteria
Applicants for the program will be considered in the following order:

• Qualified residents of the district and residents of districts engaged in cooperative agreements who submit a Sleep application by June 1 of the year they plan to enroll in the program.
• Qualified nonresidents who submit an application by June 1.
• On a space-available basis, applicants who do not meet all of the admissions requirements or the deadline may be considered after June 1.

RPSGT and a Graduate of Moraine Valley’s Sleep Program
RPSGT-credentialed technologists who are currently working in the field may be eligible for advanced placement into the program. Contact the program coordinator at hallt63@gxitma.net for details.

Point System
Students will be admitted to the Sleep Technologist Program through a weighted score made up of two factors: college GPA based solely on courses inclusive to the Sleep Technology AAS degree,  and grades and credit hours in specified course work.

Points for various criteria will be given according to the chart below. Students will also be required to meet the current minimum standards for admission.

Ties will be broken based on grade point average. Current minimum prerequisites and file completion requirements would still be in effect.

Success Courses
Choose 1: BIO-115
or BIO-180 (and BIO-181) Five credits will be used from BIO-180 AND 181; four credits from BIO-180 and 1 from BIO-181.

Choose: MRT-110

Success Course Weighting
A = 3 points X Credit hours
B = 2 points X Credit hours
C = 1 points X Credit hours
All other grades = No points

Examples
Student has BIO-115 with an A— 3 points X 5 credit hours = 15 points

Student has MRT-110 with a B— 2 points X 3 credit hours = 6 points

Total points for success courses = 15 for BIO-115 + 6 for MRT-110 = 21 Pts

Re-Application
Applicants not selected for one starting class are individually responsible for reactivating and updating their application file for subsequent starting classes. Re-applicants must complete a new Sleep Technology Admission Application and submit it to the Admissions and Records Office during the applicable period stated.

Background Check and Drug Screening
Students are required to complete a criminal background check and drug screen prior to clinical placement. Students with positive criminal backgrounds or drug screens may be prohibited from participating the required clinical component of the program. Application forms for criminal background checks may be obtained through the Career Programs Subdivision Office, B150, and fees paid to the Cashier's Office. For information on criminal background application procedures, contact the Career Programs Subdivision Office at (708) 974-5708. Deadline dates for completion of criminal background checks and drug screens will be announced by program coordinators.

Moraine Valley Community College partners with healthcare facilities to provide clinical experiences for its students. These facilities prescribe various health requirements for all students who are placed at their clinical sites. Students who intend to participate in the clinical component of any program must submit documentation reflecting their compliance with the following clinical health requirements* prior to the deadline established by their program of study.

1. Measles (Rubeola) Titer
2. Mumps Titer
3. Rubella Titer
4. Varicella (Chicken Pox) Titer
5. Hepatitis B Titer
6. QuantiFERON-TB Gold Blood Test Annually
7. Tdap Vaccine every 10 years
8. Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Annually
9. COVID-19 Full Vaccination
10. Physical Exam by Healthcare Professional
11. American Heart Association BLS CPR for Healthcare Professionals every 2 years
12. Background Check Annually
13. Drug Screen Annually
14. Medical Health Insurance – Upload Card Annually

Unless otherwise indicated, in writing, by a student's assigned clinical site, all of the above health requirements must be met before the student may participate in a clinical rotation.

A student who fails to timely submit documentation by set compliance deadlines reflecting compliance with the clinical health requirements listed above may be unable to participate in the required clinical component of their program in a timely manner, and their graduation may be delayed. The college cannot guarantee clinical placements for students who fail to satisfy all clinical health requirements by the set compliance deadlines.

Inquiries regarding the College’s clinical health requirements may be directed to the program coordinator or clinical coordinator via phone, email or the form found at the bottom of this page.

*This list of clinical health requirements is subject to change based upon the policies of the clinical facilities.  Students will be notified, in writing, of any modifications to the list of clinical health requirements.

Sleep Technologists are required to work overnight shifts, and as students of this program, you will be required to attend clinical rotations during the overnight hours two nights per week. Efforts will be made to accommodate clinical requests, but students need to be willing and able to travel to any of the clinical sites, as it is not possible to accommodate all requests.

Careful consideration of your ability and willingness to work the night shift is recommended before beginning this program. This is a very time-intensive program that will disrupt your sleep-wake schedule. Courses are offered in the evening and overnight hours, and the program itself is considered full-time in terms of the total number of hours of classroom, lab and clinical time. Students are required to attend two 10 to 12 hour overnight clinical rotations per week in the first spring semester. There are additional overnight rotations, as long as 13 hours per shift, throughout the second year of the program, in addition to classes on campus all five semesters. Working a full- time job while in clinical will create a level of sleep deprivation that is dangerous for the student and the public.

In addition to attending 10-13 hour overnight shifts, Sleep technology students must meet the following technical standards in order to successfully complete the program and function in the capacity of a technologist. 

Students must:

• Use digital fine motor skills with both hands continually throughout the shift. Tasks include writing, measuring, connecting small pieces of equipment, assessing pulse and blood pressure, attaching equipment to patients.
• Help patients in and out of beds and chairs.
• Stand and walk to and from patient care areas throughout the shift.
• Push and pull heavy objects such as recliners, beds, wheelchairs, and computers.
• See clearly enough to read hand-written and computer generated communication. Be able to view small objects clearly on a computer screen continuously for extended time periods, i.e. six hours. See clearly enough to connect small pieces of equipment.
• Hear patient voices, equipment alarms, intercom sounds, and telephone rings and voices clearly enough to understand them.
• Interact appropriately, and communicate clearly with patients, physicians, peers, and supervisors.
• Function safely and effectively in stressful situations and seek assistance when needed.
• Apply safety and infection control standards required to maintain a safe and clean environment for patients, staff, and self.
• Maintain proper dress code and personal hygiene required for close contact with patients and others.

Expectations

• Earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better in each required career course
• Have transportation to and from the clinical affiliates
• Complete a physical exam and provide up-to-date immunization records
• Successfully complete a criminal background check and drug screening
• Have health insurance
• Maintain a current American Heart Association Health Care Provider CPR card.  (Note: Moraine Valley offers CPR for Health care Provider training through the Workforce Development and Community Services Department. The course number is AH8-039. Students are financially responsible for the CPR training required. For more information on CPR for Health care Providers, contact Aurora Zwick, Workforce Development, at (708) 974-5735.)

The goal of the Sleep Technology program is to prepare competent entry-level sleep technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior), learning domains.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Perform quality overnight in-lab polysomnograms according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and laboratory standards.
• Score overnight in-lab sleep studies with > 85% accuracy of the gold standard.
• Perform quality home sleep studies according to the AASM and laboratory standards.
• Score home sleep studies with > 85% accuracy of the gold standard.
• State the definition, etiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of common sleep disorders.
• Discuss methods to enhance PAP adherence.
• Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct essential of health care workers and as established by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists Standards of Conduct.
• Describe the AASM sleep center accreditation process.

This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) on the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for Polysomnographic Technologist Education (CoA PSG).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 113th Street N., #7709
Seminole, FL 33775-7709
(727) 210-2350
caahep.org

Committee on Accreditation for Polysomnographic Technologist Education (CoA PSG)
1711 Frank Avenue
New Bern, N.C. 28560
(252) 626-3238
www.coapsg.org

Tracy R. Hall, B.S., RPSGT, CCSH
Program Director and Coordinator
hallt63@gxitma.net
(708) 974-5774