RPSGTs... Need to re-up your registration? Check out these tips

Don't let the six-month re-certification window creep up on you... there are several tasks that you need to complete in order to re-register your credential via the BRPT. They offer some resources to help you with these tasks, including an RPSGT re-certification handbook, online re-certification walkthrough, FAQs and other tips and information about getting that all important renewal of your credential. For more information, visit the BRPT re-certification page.

PSG students encouraged to apply for BRPT tuition grant

The Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) will accept applications for the fifth annual Andrea Patterson Memorial Scholarship Program through November 30. The grant amounts to $2,500 to cover tuition for PSG students.

Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in or accepted by a CAAHEP-accredited program in PSG, a CoARC-accredited program with a PSG add-on, or an accredited END program with a PSG add-on. The scholarship application, a full description of eligibility requirements, and other program details are available at www.brpt.org. Application deadline is no later than close of business November 30. The winner will be announced in February 2015.

The scholarship is named for Andrea Patterson, RPSGT, R. EEG T., who managed the Hennepin County Sleep Program in Minneapolis for almost 30 years and who published extensively about sleep medicine topics in scientific journals. Patterson led early efforts to develop standardized competency-based board exams for sleep technologists. Those efforts were the precursor of today's RPSGT credentialing program.

“The Scholarship program is a highlight each year as I very much enjoy learning more about the next generation of sleep technologists and what led them into the field. The applicant pool is comprised of motivated professionals on a very clear career path,” said BRPT President Theresa Krupski, RPSGT, RRT.

BREAKING NEWS... CCSH credential results are in the mail!

If you are one of the first wave of applicants for the new Certificate of Clinical Sleep Health Credential (CCSH) offered by the BRPT, which held its first ever testing period last spring, you should expect to see the results of your exam in the mail very soon from Pearson Vue.

If you can't wait another minute to see if you passed, go to the Credential Verification link at the BRPT and use the SEARCH function (this will tell you whether you passed, but not your score).

BRPT Symposium comes to Portland in September

For Washington state RPSGTs interested in learning more about the new CSE/CCSH credentials, including new programming to prepare for credentialing exams, the BRPT annual symposium spotlights new developments in sleep health education this year in Portland, OR. The symposium is slated for September 5-7.

Multiple registration options are available to meet the needs of technologists with varied training backgrounds. For those looking for sleep health education training, Day One is set aside to cover this new area of focus. Day Two introduces a full day of programming entitled "Sleep Through the Ages." Day Three is "RPSGT Day," which addresses the major issues effecting the career paths of sleep technologists, including discussions about regulations and laws, new technologies and devices, and research advances.

Deadline for early-bird registration is August 1, 2014. For more information, go to the BRPT Symposium website.

Did you miss the first round of CCSH tests? Don't worry, another chance is coming this summer

The first window for testing toward completion of the CCSH (Certification in Clinical Sleep Health) exam closed at the end of last May.

However, the BRPT reports they will open up the second testing window after they have worked with testing partner Pearson VUE this summer to calibrate the test (aka conduct the standard setting.) Once this is done, the next opportunity for testing for this new credential is currently scheduled for July 29, 2014.

Note: BRPT will notify candidates of any changes to the exam availability date, should this occur. For more information, go to the CCSH Eligibility page.

BRPT News: The Sleep Activist newsletter launches

A new electronic newsletter has been launched by the BRPT to serve the interests of healthcare providers who work directly with sleep medicine patients, families and practitioners. According to a release from the BRPT, the purpose of The Sleep Activist is to "provide relevant and timely information to spark readers' interest, provide stories from the field and update readers on new developments regarding the advancement and recognition of clinical sleep health specialists." The newsletter, edited by sleep health activist and educator Robyn Woidtke, MSN, RN, RPSGT, will be produced triquarterly. You can access the inaugural edition of The Sleep Activist here.

Woidtke is actively seeking your stories "from the field;" if you have something to share, please send an email to info@brpt.org with the subject line "Stories From The Field."