December - The Busiest Month of the Year

December 9, 2011

December always seems to be – and, I guess, actually usually is – the busiest month of the year! At BRPT we’re working to get all RPSGTs with a recertification date of January 1, 2012 on track to recertify on time. Actually, we’re working to get those RPSGTs to recertify ahead of time. The BRPT office will close for the holiday break the week of December 26, re-opening on Tuesday, January 3; no live recertification help will be available during that period. If you’re not sure of your own recertification date, Click Here to check your records in our online database. And, remind your colleagues to do the same. We don’t want to see credentials jeopardized because an RPSGT “didn’t know” about recertification.

Speaking of recertification, BRPT, in partnership with Sleep Health Management Resources, Inc. is about to offer the third in a three-part series of one-hour online programs offered at no cost to RPSGTs working to earn the continuing education credits required to recertify. The third webinar, Sleep Health Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Monitoring, will be offered December 12 -- 16th. Each program carries one CSTE credit, automatically uploaded to your BRPT recertification portal. For program and registration information Click Here.

And, of course, December is about the holidays and holiday shopping. We have just launched an expanded BRPT Store. Take a quick look – we think you will find some items perfect for recognizing colleagues and team members, and an item or two that will let you show off your own “RPSGT Pride!”

Best Regards,

Janice East, RPSGT, R. EEG T.
BRPT President

A Sound Infrastructure

It is important to me and to my colleagues on the BRPT Board of Directors that our credential holders have both confidence in the BRPT leadership as effective stewards of the BRPT credentialing program, and an accurate understanding of the management model in place to assure that BRPT operations are conducted in a stable, consistent, and cost effective manner.

There is a misperception among some technologists that the development and maintenance of the BRPT exams is handled by Association Management Group (AMG), the management firm retained to provide operational management services to BRPT. That is not correct: the BRPT exam development process is handled by volunteer subject matter experts (our SMEs), each of them experienced, working sleep technologists. These SMEs work in close cooperation with our testing partner, Pearson VUE, and under the direction of the Exam Development Committee (EDC) chair to manage the ongoing activities related to the BRPT exams. Pearson VUE, a recognized global leader in the field of standardized testing, assures the psychometric validity and the reliability of our exams and delivers our exams to technologists through testing centers all over the world. Our EDC chair, with years of experience both as a sleep technologist and as a facility manager, paired with extensive experience in the development of the BRPT exams, assures that our exams are developed and delivered according to best practices in professional credentialing. The staff assigned to BRPT through AMG -- a four-person team including an executive director, credentialing manager, credentialing coordinator, and program coordinator -- are focused on the day-to-day operations of BRPT: application review and processing, management of the RPSGT recertification program, customer service, communications, and program marketing. If BRPT did not use a company such as AMG, more expense would be incurred for office space, equipment, staff, IT support, etc.

The management decisions made by the BRPT Board have been made carefully and are reviewed throughout the year. The savings realized by BRPT through a relationship with a management firm are material compared to operation of BRPT as a stand-alone organization. The American Society of Association Executives, in an annual review of non-profit organizational operations, estimates those savings at 25-30%. Financial stewardship is a key responsibility of the BRPT Board. The Board has, for many years, maintained a level of reserve funding at or above the level recommended for stable operation of a non-profit organization of BRPT's size and scope. Revenues generated by the BRPT credentialing program are directed toward an expansion of the programs and services in place to serve our stakeholders: an on demand testing model, the highest quality exam development and delivery model, the development of an online tool for the management of the RPSGT recertification process, and an effective marketing and communications program on behalf of our credentials. All twelve members of the BRPT Board of Directors are volunteers and are not paid for the work they contribute. New directors are selected from interested volunteers as position terms expire. Directors’ terms are typically four years while officer positions are two.

The relationship of BRPT -- a credentialing body -- to our credential holders is not identical to the relationship of a membership body to its members. We are charged with developing and delivering credentialing exams, and maintaining those exams at a level which will assure that the credentials we offer will retain their value and will support the standing of our field within the broader allied health community. That is a responsibility which the BRPT leadership takes very much to heart.


Janice East, RPSGT, R. EEG T.
BRPT President

Excitement For Tomorrow

October 10, 2011

Last month, the BRPT held its 5th Annual Symposium: In Tune With Today—
Collaborating For Tomorrow and to say it was a success is an understatement. A strong sense of community, pride and passion for the field was palpable among the more than 200 RPSGTs gathered in Nashville. Their enthusiasm was contagious and exciting.

Dr. Charles Atwood delivered the keynote address. He dove into the future of sleep medicine and the number of changing sleep paradigms. He talked about three future trends he sees impacting the profession, he believes: home sleep testing will become the focus of managing obstructive sleep apnea; sleep labs will become centers for testing much more complicated patients; and RPSGTs will have more diverse and specialized roles. He talked about the need to work with and educate patients more than ever before and the need to be more technologically oriented.

Dr. Atwood described RPSGTs as “the linchpin of the sleep medicine enterprise” and I couldn’t agree more. Sleep disorders are not going away, but the way we manage them is changing. He advised us all to train for the future, not the past.

It was a full two days with speakers covering the increasingly important role of the Clinical Sleep Educator – the importance of knowing advanced therapies – and the elements of chronic care management.

We learned about exploring external and internal expansion options for sleep centers, paving the way for the future. We received detailed information around choosing an accrediting organization making certain the choice we make brings value to our sleep center and to our patients.

One presenter led us through the process of developing and implementing a solid quality assurance program in our sleep center. And, a well-known legal expert in the field provided a detailed overview of the laws impacting sleep centers and how to stay informed and in compliance with them.

The feedback I received from both RPSGTs and the vendors who joined us in Nashville was unanimous: it was an enriching and enjoyable professional experience. Click here to view photos of your fellow RPSGTs learning, working and enjoying themselves with colleagues. Thanks to everyone who participated: you were integral to making this an event to remember!

For now, mark your calendars for the 2012 BRPT Symposium in Reno, NV, September 20-22!


BRPT President

My Turn

From time to time BRPT invites a "guest blogger" to contribute a short article in this space. The opinions, representations and statements made within a "guest" article are those of the author and should not be construed as statements made on behalf of BRPT. Copyright remains with the author.

September 6, 2011

My Turn
By Bonnie Robertson, AAHA, CRT, RPSGT

The Indiana Society of Sleep Professionals held their annual symposium in Fishers, Indiana on August 18th and 19th. It was an excellent meeting with several speakers discussing the future of sleep medicine and the challenges presented by changes in the field.

One of the speakers, Mr. Bruce Blehart, is the Director of Health Policy and Government Relations for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). He was asked to address the “State of Sleep Medicine” by the conference organizers.

Mr. Blehart’s presentation covered several aspects including local coverage determination (LCD) criteria for polysomnography in hospitals, outside of lab testing, and IDTFs. The LCD for the state of Indiana directly refers to the BRPT and the RPSGT credential in its language, which he noted. Mr. Blehart also discussed state statutory language for sleep technologists and covered the details surrounding practice acts in several states.

As the final piece of his presentation, Mr. Blehart presented information regarding the development of a new ABSM sleep technologist competency assessment examination. He said that “center managers” do not think the RPSGT credential indicates a technologist can perform the standard tasks necessary in a sleep lab. This “information” was also included in his slides. He emphasized that the “historically low pass rate” has completely stifled growth of education in the field. He stated that the AASM developed the curriculum for the educational CoA PSG programs. He also implied that the removal of pediatrics and MSLTs from the BRPT exam was done to increase the pass rate. This is simply not true.

Mr. Blehart stated several times during his presentation that the BRPT removed the 2011 pass rates from their website and he assumes that it was done because the pass rates must be even lower than previous years and the BRPT does not want anyone to know that. Again, this is simply not true. In fact, the year-to-date pass rate for the RPSGT exam through July 2011 was 63%.

He went on to state that the BRPT has always been “wagged by the tail” in their decision-making process and that the ABSM will be “controlling the wagging” by asking employers what they want instead of using nationally recognized standards for accrediting bodies.

And finally, Mr. Blehart equated the ABSM to the NBRC.

As a past president of the BRPT, I took the opportunity to speak at the end of Mr. Blehart’s presentation. Some of the information he presented was one-sided, incomplete, and not entirely factual.

I addressed the group of 200 sleep technologists who are predominantly RPSGTs. I spoke of the long history of the BRPT, the rigorous standards employed by the BRPT for exam development and exam delivery. I underscored BRPT’s commitment to the field through its long-standing support of the CoA PSG and even stipulated that I had personally chaired the syllabus committee, a group of very hard-working sleep technologists, who volunteered countless hours of time to develop a curriculum that fairly and accurately represented the field of sleep medicine technology and used the BRPT blueprint to do so. I talked about the countless number of volunteers and hours of labor done by those volunteers over the years to keep the exam legally viable and defensible. I encouraged everyone to visit the BRPT website to make their own decisions about the situation as it currently stands.

And I definitely corrected Mr. Blehart’s comparison of the NBRC and the ABSM. The NBRC was started by respiratory therapists and is still governed by respiratory therapists. The ABSM is not governed by sleep technologists. The true equivalent would be the BRPT and the NBRC.

The conference was attended by a very large number of RPSGTs many of whom approached me afterwards to thank me for standing up for their credential. They worked very hard to earn the credential and they felt a huge sense of pride and accomplishment when they passed the RPSGT exam. They, without exception, expressed concerns that another credential in the field will cause confusion by employers and regulatory bodies, derision in the field, and degradation of their accomplishments. To these committed, hard working RPSGTs, I say: the RPSGT credential is and will remain the highest level of achievement in sleep technology. The gold standard will continue to shine.

ASET Is Once Again An Asset

I was reminded again about what I like so much about this volunteer role of BRPT President: it allows me to meet colleagues and other professionals within the field of sleep medicine, always resulting in engaged, rich discussions about our profession. The recent ASET conference in Atlanta was no different. With more than 540 attendees, speakers and vendors, the annual conference had its highest turnout since 2002!

Fellow Board member and President-elect Cindy Altman, RPSGT, R. EEG/EP T. and I were both honored to give presentations on The Value of Proven Credentials in Today’s Healthcare Market and Scoring the Polysomnogram, respectively. In addition, the Trends in Polysomnography program included presentations on portable PSGs, parasomnias, licensure issues and process for a total of 5.75 CECs. The program director, Steve Semich, RPSGT, R. EP T., CNIM, did an exceptional job.

Other terrific courses included Trends in Neurodiagnostics, EEG Key Topics, Advance Intraoperative Monitoring, Epilepsy Monitoring, Nerve Conduction Studies Key Topics, and Evoked Potentials.

The BRPT booth was teeming with activity. Cindy and I had the pleasure of speaking with scores of RPSGTs, many of whom are in the process of recertifying and were interested in CECs, deadlines, and BRPT’s free online portal used by so many to track continuing education. Congratulations, once again, to Clive Patterson, RPSGT who was the lucky winner of the Amazon Kindle at our booth.

Save the date -- the ASET 2012 annual conference will be in St. Paul, MN August 2-4 and if it’s anything like this year’s, you won’t want to miss it.

Janice East, RPSGT, R. EEG T.
BRPT President

Proud To Be An RPSGT

(originally published 06/30/2011 at brpt.org)

I don’t know that I have ever been more proud to be part of the BRPT volunteer leadership team than I was at Sleep 2011 in Minneapolis earlier this month. For two and a half days, my colleagues on the BRPT Board – all volunteers, all offering their personal time to support BRPT and our credential holders – spent hours in the BRPT booth on the Sleep 2011 exhibit floor. They were there to talk with our credential holders and our candidates: to help them through the RPSGT recertification process, to talk openly and candidly about the launch of an exam for sleep technologists through ABSM, and to share their personal pride in the RPSGT credential as we officially launched the “Proud to Be an RPSGT” campaign.

The response my colleagues on the BRPT Board of Directors and I received was remarkable: literally hundreds of RPSGTs visited our booth, eager to share their great pride in the credential that has shaped their career in sleep and to commit to continued support of the credential in the years to come. If you were unable to join us in Minneapolis and didn’t pick up a “Proud to Be an RPSGT” button or win a coveted “Proud to Be an RPSGT” t-shirt, check our website over the next few weeks as we launch an expanded online store, stocked to help you celebrate your pride in your RPSGT credential.

We do listen to our credential holders, in person at every opportunity, on the telephone, by email and on social networking sites and professional message boards. I have read a small number of posts on those message boards recently that have underscored for me some misconceptions that remain about the nature of BRPT as an organization.

BRPT is not a membership organization; we are a credentialing body. Our core mission is to develop and deliver a credentialing exam for sleep technologists according to best credentialing practices: a credentialing exam that will be widely respected within the allied health disciplines and by the public we serve. Our credential holders pay no annual dues; unlike several of the most prominent allied health credentialing programs, we do not require an annual fee to maintain the RPSGT credential. Since its inception, the overwhelming percentage of BRPT revenue has been generated by exam fees. The responsibility of the BRPT Board of Directors is to assure that revenues are directed to the enhancement of the BRPT credentialing program, and that sufficient funds are built up and retained in reserves to assure the long-term stability of our credentialing program.

Careful stewardship of BRPT resources has enabled us to maintain our reserves at a level well within best practices recommended for non-profit organizations. At the same time, we have channeled revenues back into the credentialing program, enabling us to move the RPSGT exam to an on demand model, to develop and deliver the RPSGT exam at the state of the art, to build an enhanced online presence to serve our stakeholders, and to build out a recertification tracking tool offered to our credential holders at no charge. We benefit from literally thousands of volunteer hours devoted annually to the development of the BRPT exams and to the other programs of BRPT. Our organization has for many years been administered by a three-person staff, housed within an association management company – a management model which has, year after year, enabled us to reduce our operating overhead by 25-30% compared to operating as an organization providing it’s own staffing and daily operations. At the same time, our management model has enabled us to operate as a strong, independent credentialing body, without the direct influence of a parent organization. As a point of reference, the AAST, a membership organization, has chosen a similar management model, though their choice has been to be managed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.


So thank you for your comments, questions and continued engagement in the BRPT credentialing program. I value your input and am very proud to serve as BRPT president.


Janice East, RPSGT, R. EEG T.

BRPT President

Reflections From The ABSM Information Session At SLEEP 2011

By Cindy Altman, RPSGT, R.EEG/EP T.
President-Elect, BRPT

(originally published 06/22/2011 at brpt.org)

I recently attended an American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM) technologist examination information session at the American Association of Sleep Technologists (AAST) program in Minneapolis. Most technologists went to lunch, but a hundred or so were present.

Dr. Richard Rosenberg gave the presentation. Dr. Nathaniel Watson was also there. He was introduced as president of the ABSM and he sat next to Dr. Rosenberg on the stage but really didn’t say much.

Dr. Rosenberg is a full-time American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) employee, and Dr. Watson is on the AASM board of directors. How can the ABSM be “an independent, nonprofit, self-designated board” separate from undue influence by the AASM? The relationship between the two groups is not transparent.

On several occasions Dr. Rosenberg let the audience know that he trained in sleep with Dr. Rechtschaffen, and he serves on the Committee for Accreditation of Polysomnographic Technologists Education (CoA PSG). He talked of all the good the AASM has done for sleep technologists and education. He forgot to mention the role that the AAST and the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) played in advancing technologists’ professional status, or in the formation and continued support of the CoA PSG.

Dr. Rosenberg said there was absolutely no financial motivation, as rumors implied, behind the development of the new technologist exam. He said the ABSM simply wants to offer a technologist examination that is relevant for all “stakeholders.” And they want a pass rate that is higher than the RPSGT exam... for the good of the profession. In other words, for the good of the physicians who employ the techs who are unable to pass the RPSGT exam. After all, he implies, the problem in passing the RPSGT exam is with the exam itself, and not the individuals or educational pathways.

To them, it doesn’t matter that the BRPT works with a well-respected professional testing company, or that the BRPT uses best practices for developing, maintaining, reviewing, delivering, and scoring the RPSGT examination. Or that it uses a geographically and professionally diverse group of Subject Matter Experts. Or that at every step along the way, the RPSGT examination is checked for validity and relevance not only by the professionals in the field, but by professionals in the testing community. What matters is that the ABSM believes it has produced a better technologist exam that will result in a higher pass rate. After all, the ABSM knows “some psychometricians” who help with the exam. What matters is that the ABSM will do what the AASM asks.

Dr. Rosenberg said the ABSM would apply for NCCA accreditation for the technologist examination. He fumbled with the terms and relationship between the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), and the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA), which is now ICE. I hope he gets these organizations straight for his next presentation.

Dr. Rosenberg blamed the RPSGT exam pass rate on “stifling” the development of formal sleep technology education programs across the country. He based this on a conversation with a dean at a school in the Chicago area. Dr. Rosenberg talked about the dissatisfaction physicians have with the RPSGT credential, yet he has no data to support that. The AASM is certainly capable of surveying a large number of people and institutions to determine the extent of this dissatisfaction... if they were interested.

Dr. Rosenberg repeatedly referred to outdated RPSGT exam pass rates and did not discuss the difference in pass rates based on educational pathway or over time, or compare the pass rates of similar examinations with multiple pathways. When program directors from two different schools challenged the assertion that the exam was too difficult for CAAHEP students, Dr. Rosenberg indicated their schools were the exception, not the norm.

Dr. Rosenberg told us that the RPSGT requirement for AASM sleep center accreditation would still stand. Yet when asked if he would put that statement in writing, he let the audience know it wouldn’t have any weight. When asked if the new examination should be viewed as a mid-level credential, with the CPSGT on the lowest level and the RPSGT on the highest level, he made it clear that the new credential was to be on equal terms with the RPSGT.

Dr. Rosenberg reminded the audience that the AAST supports the new exam. He let us know AAST’s immediate past president and current president have been involved in the development of the ABSM technologist exam. The audience was already aware of AAST’s position to support “all” technologist examinations—even those not yet developed or evaluated—but it was surprising that AAST leaders were actually assisting in the exam development. This was news to current AAST board members as well. Did Dr. Rosenberg let the cat out of the bag?

When it was time for questions and comments at the end of the presentation, not one person stood up to voice support for the new exam. However, many stood in line to question or comment on the purpose of it. At times those in attendance clapped enthusiastically in support of the techs or physicians who challenged the ABSM. Suffice it to say, the new ABSM technologist examination was not well received.

So why, exactly, is the ABSM getting involved in technologist credentialing? Could it be that the BRPT is truly an independent organization adhering to best practices in credentialing, and the AASM does not like that?

The RPSGT is the Gold Standard. Don’t let grandfathering into the new credential confuse you. While it is “only $25” and you may think that you have nothing to lose, you do. You risk losing the professional identity that technologists have worked for over 32 years to achieve. As technologists we can stand united to keep the RPSGT credential strong. Don’t let the AASM divide and conquer. That is really what this is all about.

Getting Involved With Your State Sleep Society

From time to time BRPT will invite a "guest blogger" to contribute a short article in this space. The opinions, representations and statements made within a "guest" article are those of the author and should not be construed as statements made on behalf of BRPT. Copyright remains with the author.

April 26, 2011

Getting Involved With Your State Sleep Society
By Randy Townsend, RPSGT

A couple of weeks ago I highlighted the Maryland Sleep Society in a note I put forth via Facebook.https://www.facebook.com/#!/topic.php?uid=45526737450&topic=17507 I asked the question, “What will the Maryland Sleep Society do?”

In response to my note, the BRPT has requested that I write a guest blog entry for you, elaborating on exactly what I feel RPSGTs/CPSGTs should do to get involved with their state sleep societies.

Step 1: Find out what type of organization is in your state.

A basic rule of thumb would be true non-profit organizations are not lobbying groups as they are restricted by their tax status in terms of what they are permitted to do on the political front. That said,they can be very effective in mobilizing their respective memberships for advocacy efforts. Other types of organizations, including for profit organizations, are able to get involved more directly in politics.These organizations have specific agendas. Question: What is their goal? What are they trying to accomplish and how do you benefit from it? A better question might be if they accomplish their goal,how will it affect you?

Regional sleep societies such as the New England Polysomnographic Society, Southern Sleep Society and Carolina Sleep Society, tend to provide continuing education without pursuing political or legislative agendas. State sleep societies, like the Georgia Association of Sleep Professionals, North Carolina Academy of Sleep Medicine and South Carolina Sleep Society, tend to be involved with the legislative aspect of sleep medicine.

Step 2: Who do they represent.

All sleep organizations are not alike, so which one should benefit from your participation? Remember,you are going to pay to attend; they are going to spend your money. The AASM supports physicians;while not a membership organization, the BRPT supports RPSGTs/CPSGTs; the AARC supports RRTs/CRTs; and the AAST supports…ummmm, ok, moving on.

When choosing the meeting to attend, it only makes sense to support the sleep society that supports you and your credential. Unfortunately, all of us do not have the luxury of large salaries, corporate reimbursements or other types of financial freedom. That means we have to attend the closest or cheapest meeting available. Out of necessity, you may be forced to financially support a group that doesn’t represent your best interests. What can you do about that?

Step 3: Take action.

Get involved, change the organization. Sound simple? Actually, it can be. Look at the organization’s website, read the bylaws, newsletters and other information available. Find out what they stand for. If you want change, it can be done in two ways:

One: Run for office. All membership organizations will have some type of board to represent the members. Board members decide the direction of the society. Being on the board allows you to have input into the actions taken. Suppose they take your money for membership, and they do not allow you to run for office, that’s probably a big legal no-no. That can be easily changed with a phone call to an attorney.

Two: Call for a membership vote at the meeting. Most organizational bylaws allow for a percentage of members present to take action, make proposals or call for a vote. This can be done at the meeting, on the spot. Typically, the bylaws will not specify what you can call for a vote on. If a board member does not perform as expected, you can call for a vote. In a broader sense, if you don’t like the way the board is set up, or perhaps you think a section of the bylaws should be changed, you can call for a vote on that too.

Why should you get involved? Sleep medicine is changing. The days of being registered and attending meetings just to get your CEU’s are ending. Medicare and Medicaid are broken. Those organizations will reduce or completely eliminate sleep study reimbursements. Physician reimbursements will be reduced.Testing profit margins are going to drop so businesses will cut costs. Home testing is on the verge of becoming the standard and reimbursements are low.

You, the licensed RPSGT, CPSGT, RRT, CRT, RRT-SDS, are the most expensive part of the testing process.If the physicians and business owners can implement or find a lower cost alternative, they will. You are expendable. The only way to secure your position in sleep medicine is to:

A: Prevent special interest groups from controlling your sleep society by electing individuals who support your position.

B: Support yourself and your credential by promoting your position in sleep medicine.

C: Pay attention to what’s happening in the field of sleep medicine. Read periodicals and keep track of events.

D: Ask questions. (This may be the most important thing you do. Quiet people tend to be ignored by the talking heads.)

Good luck.

Randy Townsend, RPSGT

Staying Focused

As I’m scrambling to tie up loose ends at work before leaving for a conference or other professional meeting, I always find myself asking the same question: Do I really have time to attend this conference? The answer is almost always no, but when I return home I’m often grateful for having had the opportunity.

This year’s Focus on Respiratory Care and Sleep Medicine Conference in San Diego was well worth the pre-trip frenzy. I attended a full-day Sleep Educator course in the good company of engaged RPSGTs, nurses, nurse practitioners and DME providers. Topics included an overview of Sleep Disordered Breathing, how to interpret a sleep report, adult learning principles and PAP set-up and follow-up. Many of the attendees expressed interest in a credentialing exam for this subspecialty. The speakers were top-notch – from Dr. Barbara Phillips to Dr. Nareesh Dewan to Ed Grandi and Robin Woidtke, RN, RPSGT. At the end, all participants received a clinical and patient tool kit provided on a thumb drive. Kudos to Robin Woidtke for organizing such an excellent seminar!

The BRPT booth was busy with lots of techs asking good questions about RPSGT recertification, what’s happening legislatively in specific states, and of course, concern expressed about the ABSM exam.

With 1,700 attendees, Focus is a good opportunity to network with other techs, therapists and vendors. It’s a terrific bargain with a low registration fee and many continuing education credits available. The combination of education and entertainment made the pre-trip scramble a distant memory.

Janice East, RPSGT, R. EEG T.
BRPT President

Maintaining Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

“When I earned my RPSGT credential, I thought I had earned a ‘credential for life.’ Why doesn’t the BRPT allow grandfathering for the RPSGT credential, exempting longtime credential holders from the requirement to recertify?” That’s a question I see raised on message boards on a regular basis. The answer is very straightforward.

The RPSGT exam is the only exam specific to the sleep field that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accrediting arm of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). NCCA accreditation standards are rigorous. They call for certification programs to have a strong mechanism in place to measure and enhance the continued competence of all certificants. That mechanism is recertification. NCCA standards prohibit “grandfathering;” we cannot allow credential holders to continue to use the RPSGT credential and offer them an exemption from the recertification requirement.

The BRPT’s recertification requirements assure that all RPSGTs maintain current knowledge and skills. This is particularly important in our rapidly evolving field. Simply put, grandfathering is not an option. A grandfathering policy would mean loss of NCCA accreditation for the RPSGT exam, and that would not be acceptable.

NCCA accreditation represents independent third-party validation of all processes involved in the development and delivery of the RPSGT exam. We’re very proud of the NCCA accreditation the RPSGT exam has achieved. NCCA accreditation has been critical in winning recognition of the RPSGT credential as proof of professional competency in state legislatures, before state medical and licensing boards, and in CMS reimbursement guidelines.

With more than 17,000 RPSGTs worldwide and BRPT’s strong 32-year history of providing a robust and valid credentialing program, the RPSGT credential will remain the gold standard in sleep technology.

Many of you have begun the active RPSGT recertification process and are logging your CECs into BRPT’s free online recertification platform. To help facilitate the recertification process and to answer any questions you may have, I’ll be conducting a free one-hour webinar, courtesy of ADVANCE magazine, on February 24 at 1:00 EST. To register, go to http://respiratory-care-sleep-medicine.advanceweb.com/Webinar/Editorial-Webinar/RPSGT-Recertification-A-Primer.aspx. I hope you’ll join me!

Janice East, RPSGT, R. EEG T.

BRPT President

Stronger Than Ever

Over the past week, BRPT shared information with you regarding the AASM’s decision to develop a sleep technologist exam. I have truly been energized by the passionate responses and thoughtful insights from so many of you. I appreciate the phone calls, emails and postings to the BRPT message board and other locations.

Several important themes came across in your messages – too many to recount in a single blog entry. But the comments that have encouraged me the most have been those detailing your steadfast devotion to your patients and your deep concern for their care; the pride you have in your profession, writ large, and in the duties you carry out each day; and, the great sense of achievement and accomplishment you share for the RPSGT credential.

Here’s what some of you have said regarding the development of a new certification exam, how you feel about your credential and what you think would benefit our profession:

• The patients are the ones that will ultimately pay the price.
• This will affect patient care and proper diagnosis.
• I thought we were all on the same side to help improve the quality of patients’ lives.
• Having several different credentials will only cause confusion and destabilize our profession.
• The problem lies in education.
• We need quality training programs for people entering the field.
• I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment when recently passing the RPSGT exam. This [development] feels like a slap in the face.
• I take great pride in my hard work over the years and the time and effort I put into my profession.
• Those of us who pass and become registered have achieved something special and are proud of what we have accomplished.

There is one other point I’d like to address here. Many of you rightfully questioned why the BRPT and the AASM can’t work together to unite – not divide – the profession. We’re asking the same question. I’ve already noted the genesis and development of the CPSGT exam as one example where we thought we were collaborating and responding to their concerns. But in addition, we’ve had several meetings over the last couple of years with AASM and AAST leadership – most recently in September 2010 at the AASM headquarters. We thought the meeting was open and collaborative and underscored the shared commitment of our organizations to working together to strengthen the profession. We were mistaken.

We stand now, more than ever, committed to a strong credentialing program for our field. The RPSGT credential will remain the highest level of achievement for technologists in sleep medicine. You should be proud of what you have accomplished and the good work you do each day.

Thank you for your comments, suggestions, and words of wisdom. Please continue to make your voices heard by reaching out to us, the AASM, AAST and other professional organizations to which you belong.


Janice East, RPSGT, R. EEG T.
BRPT President