Education Position Statement

Minimum Education and Credentialing Recommendations for the Practice of Sleep Technology

This position supports best practice by requiring both:

  1. Formal education through an accredited sleep-technology program (certificate or associate degree) or an associate’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college/university with relevant coursework in sleep/wake disorders.
  2. Current, recognized certification from a national credentialing body—no clinical‐experience‐only routes. The following are accepted:
    • Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) via the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists
    • Certified Respiratory Therapist – Sleep Disorders Specialist (CRT-SDS) via the National Board for Respiratory Care
    • Note: The former Registered Sleep Technologist (RST) pathway has been retired and is no longer accepted—except under New York State’s legacy regulations.
  3. State licensure, where applicable, in any jurisdiction that requires a sleep‐technology license.

If not credentialed at hire, employers should establish a firm deadline for the individual to obtain one of the accepted certifications.