Polysomnography - Sleep Medicine, A.A.S.

(CIP 51.0903)

281-756-5655

Associate of Applied Science Degree Program (A.A.S.)

Purpose: The sleep technologist cares for patients with sleep disorders that affect sleep and wakefulness, providing care for patients who range in age from infants to the elderly. The range of services provided includes comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders including in center polysomnographic testing and home sleep apnea testing, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, comprehensive patient care and direct patient education. This broad range of services requires that the sleep technologist exercise critical thinking and independent judgment, and possess an advanced knowledge of sleep technology, sleep/wake disorders and associated co-morbid conditions such as cardiac disease, pulmonary disorders and diabetes.

Program Overview: The majority of technical course work for the program is completed on-campus. The clinical experiences are 1-2 nights per week at hospitals and Sleep Centers in the greater Houston area. Graduates are prepared for Board Registration by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT). The program is fully accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Polysomnographic Technologists Education (CoA-PSG), and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), www.caahep.org.

Admission Requirements: A new class begins each spring semester. Application period begins June 1 and ends November 1. Application must be submitted by November 1.

To be considered for admission to the Polysomnography program, the applicant must:

1. Apply to Alvin Community College and fulfill the admission requirements. Admissions  
2. Apply to the Polysomnography Program: Application Packets located at ACC or at http://www.alvincollege.edu/Polysomnography
3. Attend a Polysomnography Information Session: 
4. Proof of college credit for BIOL 2401 , BIOL 2402 , and ENGL 1301  before the January start date.
5. Not currently be on suspension or academic probation.
6. Meet technical standards to perform procedures safely with accuracy and precision as listed in the application.
7. After acceptance, applicant must complete a physical examination, meet immunization requirements, pass a background check, clear drug screening, provide proof of medical insurance, and attend the Polysom Program Orientation. Details on when and where to complete these will be provided in the acceptance Email.

PLA-Prior Learning Assessment
Credit may be awarded toward the AAS degree it the student meets the department requirements.

1. Registered by BRPT as a RPSGT with a minimum of 2 years’ full time experience in Polysomnography
2. Non Registered Polysomnography Technician with a minimum of 5 years’ full experience in Polysomnography

Progression Policy

1. The Polysomnography students will abide by the admission and curriculum requirements of the Polysomnography Department at the time they are admitted or re-admitted to the program.
2. Once a student has enrolled in the Polysomnography Program, all Polysomnography courses must be completed in the proper sequence as shown in the catalog and degree plan
3. No grade below a C is in PSGT, RSPT, or HPRS courses is acceptable.
4. Only two (2) attempts to pass a course will be permitted. An attempt is defined as a course in which a grade of D or F is recorded on the transcript.
5. Students must complete the program within three (3) years after initial acceptance.

Readmission

1. A student who has withdrawn from the Polysomnography program and now wishes to re-enter must:

a. Have a re-entry agreement from the time of their withdrawal

b. Abide by the current admission and curriculum requirements of the department.

c. Notify the Director at least twelve (12) weeks prior to the requested date of readmission.

d. Provide the Polysomnography Department with a completed up-to-date physical examination.  (form to be supplied by the Polysomnography department);

e. Provide the Polysomnography Department and ACC with an up-to-date transcript of any college work done since previous program enrollment.

2. Students who have been terminated from the program or who have withdrawn from the program with academic deficiencies may be readmitted to the program on a probationary status.  If the student fails to maintain a satisfactory grade point average (GPA 2.0) during the first semester after the readmission, he/she will be terminated from the program and will be ineligible for readmission at any future date.
3. Students requesting reentry into the program must be evaluated on the competencies that they learned prior to their withdrawal.  This evaluation of their skills will be done in the laboratory setting.  The student must make an appointment with a faculty member four (4) weeks prior to the start of the semester to complete the evaluation.  If the student does not pass the evaluation, the student will be remediated and allowed another attempt. 
4. Students are readmitted on a space available basis and on the student’s compliance with conditions/requirements established by the Director. These requirements may include remediation in academic course work, repeat of Polysomnography course(s) previously taken, or documentation of recovery from illness. Inability to meet the readmission stipulations may be grounds for denial or permanent dismissal from the program.

Statutory law (Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 53) requires the Alvin Community College nursing and allied health programs to notify prospective applicants and future healthcare professionals a licensing/credentialing authority may suspend or revoke a license/credential, disqualify a person from receiving a license/credential, or deny to a person the opportunity to take a licensing/credentialing examination on the grounds that the person has been convicted of certain criminal behavior.