10-Day Training Course (Live)

a comprehensive training that covers everything you need to know to become a sleep technologist
hand-crafted and instructed by an award-winning sleep technologist who has a passion for educating
relevant & practical learning material that is to the point and based on 20+ years of real-life experience

Current Trainings

Fall 2024
Date TBA
Sep 21
November 23, 2024
Saturdays Only
Unfortunately, we did not receive enough interest to hold this class session. Students who joined this waitlist are encouraged to also join the waitlist for our next session to help us reach the minimum enrollment needed.

Upcoming Trainings

Spring 2025
Date TBA
February
1
Interested in this course?
We aim for at least five interested students to confirm a class. Let us know you're interested, and we'll update you on upcoming classes.

Course Overview

Introduction

This program is designed for individuals seeking entry into the field of polysomnographic technology. Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to advance your career, this comprehensive course equips students with the fundamental knowledge and practical skills necessary to perform diagnostic and therapeutic sleep studies in various healthcare settings.

We are approved by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) for Pathway #3 of the CPSGT & Pathway #4 of the RPSGT Exams. We are also an approved Focused 2 STAR provider with the BRPT. Our school number is F2006.

What You'll Learn

This course teaches the intricacies of polysomnography through hands-on training and immersive coursework. From mastering patient interaction techniques to conducting diagnostic sleep studies, it covers essential topics such as electrode placement, equipment setup, respiratory monitoring, therapeutic interventions, and clinical interpretation.

Who Is This Course For?

Whether you're a newcomer eager to kickstart your career or a healthcare professional seeking to expand your skill set, this course caters to individuals at various stages of their professional journey. Ideal for aspiring polysomnographic technicians, respiratory therapists, EEG technologists, and anyone interested in the field of sleep medicine.

Prerequisites

  • Must be at least 17 years old and possess a high school diploma or GED.
  • Certification in CPR by the American Heart Association (AHA) or Red Cross is required.
  • No prior experience in sleep technology is necessary, making this course accessible to beginners.

Course Location

For students local to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in North Texas, arrangements can be made to attend the course in person with Larry Brewer. This in-person option allows for direct interaction and hands-on training under Larry's guidance.

For students who are not local and are unable to travel to the DFW area for each of the 10 class days, we offer an alternative solution. We can try to partner the student with a local sleep lab in their area that has a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) who might be willing to proctor the course for them. However, if we cannot find a local proctor, the student will need to travel to the DFW area or another location with an available proctor to complete the course. This ensures that all students receive the same quality of education and training, regardless of location.

Graduation Requirements

To successfully complete the course, students must attend at least 90% of the sessions and pass the final exam with a score of 70% or higher. Additional retests are available, and all requirements must be fulfilled within 12 months of starting the program.

Certification

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive a Certificate of Completion from First Sleep School.

Terms and Conditions

Students are required to agree and follow First Sleep School's Terms of Use, including the prohibition of unauthorized distribution of course materials. Violating these terms may result in loss of access privileges and forfeiture of refunds.

Course Outline

Day 1: Intro to Sleep and the Sleep Disorder Patient

  • The Sleep Tech
  • The Sleep Tech Shift
  • The Sleep Tech Associations
  • Shift Work & Sleep Strategies
  • Code of Conduct
  • Confidentiality
  • Patient and Employee Safety – Overview
  • Personal Safety and Chemicals
  • Infection Control – General
  • Infection Control – Cleaning Equipment
  • Medical Waste
  • Proper Lifting Techniques
  • Emergency Plan
  • Security Threats
  • Fire Safety
  • Electrical Safety
  • Patient Emergencies – Cardiac
  • Patient Emergencies – Seizures
  • Patient Emergencies – Violent Patients
  • Neurons and Neurotransmitters
  • Neuroanatomy of Wakefulness
  • Basic Sleep-Brain Anatomy
  • Basic Sleep Physiology

Day 2: EEG & Waveform Appearance

  • New Patient Encounter
  • Chart Review – Physician’s Order
  • Chart Review – Health and Physical
  • Chart Review – Sleep Questionnaires
  • Patient Arrival and Assessment
  • Patient Facility Orientation
  • Patient Accommodations
  • Patient Challenges
  • Patient Procedure Orientation
  • Patient Interview – Pre-Sleep
  • Patient Interview – Post-Sleep
  • Electrical Principles
  • PSG Component – Overview
  • PSG Component – Electrodes
  • PSG Component – Amplifier Processing
  • PSG Component – Amplifier Modification 1
  • PSG Component – Amplifier Modification 2
  • PSG Component – Amplifier Sampling
  • Waveform Appearance
  • Intro to Scoring
  • Waveform Features
  • Waveforms to Recognize
  • Stage Wake
  • Stage NREM 1
  • Stage NREM 2
  • Stage NREM 3
  • Stage REM
  • Different Staging Rules for Children
  • Different Staging Rules for Infants
  • What is an Arousal?

Day 3: Sleep and Cardiovascular Monitoring

  • Basic Cardiac Anatomy
  • Basic Cardiac Pathophysiology
  • Cardiac Events to Recognize
  • Before the Patient Arrives
  • Patient Hookup – Overview
  • Patient Hookup – 10-20 System
  • Patient Hookup – EEG Electrodes
  • Patient Hookup – EOG Electrodes
  • Patient Hookup – EMG Chin Electrodes
  • Patient Hookup – ECG Electrodes

Day 4: Respiratory Monitoring

  • Basic Respiratory Anatomy – Upper Airway
  • Basic Respiratory Anatomy – Lower Airway
  • Basic Respiratory – Breathing Mechanics
  • Basic Respiratory – Physiology
  • Basic Respiratory – Controls
  • Basic Respiratory – Pathophysiology
  • SRBD – Overview of Sleep Related Breathing Disorders

Day 5, Part 1: Positive Airway Pressure

  • Therapeutic Interventions – Overview
  • PAP Acclimation – Summary
  • PAP Acclimation – Scope
  • PAP Acclimation – Equipment
  • PAP Acclimation – Techniques
  • PAP Acclimation – Preparing the Patient
  • PAP Acclimation – The Interface

Day 5, Part 2: Midterm Exam

Day 6: Polysomnographic Procedure

  • PSG – Summary
  • PSG – Scope
  • PSG – Indications
  • PSG – Electrode Application
  • PSG – EEG
  • PSG – EOG
  • PSG – EMG Chin
  • PSG – EMG Limb
  • PSG – ECG
  • PSG – Snoring

Day 7: EMG and Movement Disorders

  • Overview of Sleep-Related Movement Disorders
  • Movement – Restless Legs Syndrome
  • Movement – Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
  • Movement – Bruxism
  • Movement – Rhythmic Movement Disorder

Day 8: Hypersomnia and Parasomnia

  • Hypersomnia – Overview of Disorders
  • Hypersomnia – Narcolepsy Type 1
  • Hypersomnia – Narcolepsy Type 2
  • Hypersomnia – Kleine-Levin Syndrome

Day 9: Insomnia and Circadian Rhythm Disorders

  • Insomnia – Chronic
  • Insomnia – Short Term
  • Insomnia – Isolated Symptoms
  • Circadian – Overview of Circadian Rhythm Disorders
  • Circadian – Delayed Sleep Phase
  • Circadian – Advanced Sleep Phase
  • Circadian – Irregular Sleep-Wake Rhythm

Day 10: Final Exam

Tuition & Payment Info

Tuition

  • The total program tuition is $3,000.
  • Tuition includes all necessary textbooks and study materials. Study materials will be shipped to you once your tuition payment is received.
  • Tuition must be paid in full before the first day of class. Payments can be made in incremental amounts, but the total must be paid by Day 1.
  • To ensure timely receipt of training materials, we recommend completing your payment at least 7-10 days before the course starts.
  • Payment can be made via Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Cashier’s Check, Personal Check, or Money Order.

Financing

  • Currently, we do not offer any financing options for this course. As a small, private college and career school, our 10-Day (80-hour) course does not meet the requirements for federal government student aid.

Cancellations and refunds

  • All cancellations should be requested in writing.
  • A full refund will be made to any student who cancels the enrollment agreement within 3 days after the enrollment agreement is signed OR within the student’s first three scheduled class days. Pro-rated refunds are available up until the seventh scheduled class day.
  • For cancellations made after the expiration date, the student should refer to the School Catalog and/or Enrollment Agreement for complete details about cancellations and refunds.
  • For detailed information regarding our Cancellation and Refund procedures, please refer to the Terms & Conditions tab.

Terms & Conditions

Cancellation Policy

A full refund will be issued to any student who cancels the enrollment contract within 72 hours (until midnight of the third day, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) after signing the enrollment contract. Additionally, a full refund will be granted to any student who cancels enrollment within the first three scheduled class days. However, the school reserves the right to retain no more than $100 for administrative fees and necessary items of extra expense that are stated separately on the enrollment agreement.

Refund Policy

  1. Refund calculations will be based on the scheduled course time of class attendance up to the last date of attendance. Leaves of absence, suspensions, and school holidays will not be considered part of the scheduled class attendance.
  2. The effective date of termination for refund purposes will be determined as follows:
    • The last day of attendance, if the student is terminated by the school.
    • The date of receipt of written notice from the student.
    • Ten school days following the last date of attendance.
  3. If tuition and fees are collected in advance and the student does not enter school after the 72-hour cancellation period, the school may retain up to $100 in administrative fees.
  4. If a student withdraws or is terminated after the cancellation period, the school may retain up to $100 in administrative fees for the entire program. The minimum refund will be the pro rata portion of tuition, fees, and other charges for the remaining hours of the course or program unless the student has completed 75 percent or more of the total hours.
  5. Refunds for additional expenses such as books, tools, or supplies will be handled separately from tuition and academic fees. Once materials are purchased, no refund will be issued unless they were not required for the attended portion of the program.
  6. A student who withdraws after completing 75 percent of the program may receive an "incomplete" grade and re-enroll within 12 months without additional tuition.
  7. A full refund is due in cases where:
    • The student is not accepted by the school.
    • The course is discontinued, preventing the student from completing it.
    • The enrollment was based on misrepresentation.
  8. Refund Policy for Students Called to Active Military Service: Options include a pro-rata refund, a grade of incomplete, or an assignment of an appropriate final grade or credit.
  9. Refunds will be processed within 60 days of termination.

About the Instructor

Larry Brewer BA, RPSGT, RST

Owner, Chief Executive Officer, Instructor

Larry is a Registered Sleep Technologist with over 20 years of experience in the sleep technology field. He focuses on providing a clear understanding of the content through a relational styled teaching approach. He appreciates the value of providing real-life examples to explain even the most complex content.

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Frequently asked questions

Here are some common questions about the course.
If you have any further questions, feel free to contact our support team.
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