A-STEP Training Pathway

The 80-Hour Introductory Course provides training and education on the history of sleep medicine, sleep disorders, sleep studies, and patient care. This hands-on course equips trainees with the critical knowledge needed to start working as a sleep technician, leading to a successful career as a sleep technologist.

To Become an RPSGT/CPSGT, read the following steps:

1. The course must be completed as the first step toward meeting the Focused Training pathway requirements, which involves hands-on training. As a result, you will put theory into practice, so the hands-on training cannot be completed online. 

2. The course concludes with an online final exam consisting of 106 multiple-choice questions based on the 80-Hour Introductory Course. The instructor will provide further instructions on how students can take the final exam before the completion of the course. 

There is a one-time cost of $50 for this online exam. It gives you three (3) attempts to obtain a passing score of 70% or higher. The exam fee is not included in the tuition.

3. After passing the final exam, you officially completed the 80-Hour Introductory Course. However, to advance your education and career, you must work on a series of Online Self-Study Modules with the American Academy Of Sleep Medicine. The module series consists of interactive learning components, each of which is followed by a short set of post-test questions. These modules comprise the second part of the ASTEP program, which we do not offer. Learn more about it at https://astep.aasm.org/about-modules/

After successfully completing the course, students should be able to perform duties specified in the job description for a Polysomnographic Trainee. 

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During the six weeks (80 hours), you will be involved with Live Zoom Meetings, online modules, and a hands-on live program in Columbus, GA. The coursework focuses on didactic presentations and the practical component of preparing patients for sleep studies, acquiring data, and staging and scoring. Faculty for the course include registered polysomnographic technologists and board-certified sleep specialists.

ATTENTION. 

• Completing an A-STEP training course at the National School of Sleep Medicine does not guarantee employment in a sleep laboratory. Job placement is not available through the school, although we advise students during the course on obtaining their first job in sleep medicine.

• The program has a $3,000 tuition fee. It does not include the cost of the A-STEP final examination, textbook, and materials .

• The registration fee is $500 and is NON-REFUNDABLE. The $500 is part of the total tuition cost of $3,000.

• If applicable, students interested in sleep technology courses should check with their respective state medical boards to determine licensing requirements in polysomnography.

Please note: Financial aid is not available for the A-STEP course. Please contact us for details.

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The National School of Sleep Medicine is accredited as an A-STEP provider by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

• The Role of the Polysomnographic Tech
• Hookup Procedures
• Electrode Placement
• Instrumentation
• Tech Documentation
• Artifact Recognition and Correction
• CPAP - Clinical Interface and Titration
• Sleep Stage Scoring
• Normal Sleep
• Limb Movement Disorders
• Sleep Disordered Breathing
• CPAP and Bi-level Titration and Compliance
• Surgical Approaches for Sleep Disordered Breathing
• Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome
• Recording and Scoring of Respiratory Activity
• Narcolepsy
• MSLT/MWT: Techniques, Indication and Interpretation
• Insomnia
• Parasomnias
• Nocturnal Seizures
• Pediatric Sleep Disorders
• Review of Polysomnogram
• DC Amplifiers and Infection Control Workshop
• Home Sleep Testing
• Finding Your First Sleep Job
• Overview of the Registry Exam Process