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All questions on the RPSGT exam related to
scoring are referenced to the the "AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep
and Related Events", and not to the R&K manual. The AASM
manual contains a significant amount of information -- in addition to scoring
rules -- which is useful and important knowledge for all RPSGT candidates. The
"AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Related Events" is
strongly recommended as a resource to all candidates preparing
for the RPSGT exam. |
 How much time will
it take me to prepare for the RPSGT exam?
That depends on the current
academic and professional experience you have in the field. A general guideline
is to allow at
least six months to prepare.
As an RPSGT candidate - where do I begin?
A
good place to start is by carefully reviewing the (available free for
downloading online). The
Handbook includes a list of Primary Reference
Materials to study in preparing to take the exam, as well as a complete
Examination Content Outline. This Content Outline is developed from a yearlong
study conducted following best practices for exam development and involving the
services of a psychometrician and a group of practitioners ranging in experience
level and geographic distribution. This Content Outline is fine-tuned based on a
survey of PSG technologists and the application of
statistical analyses.
These results determine the content areas that make up the practice of
polysomnography, as well as how those areas should be weighted by number of
items on the examination.
Study Tips to Share?
Send
an email to with
“Study Tips to Share” in
the subject line. Include your name, credentials, sleep
facility, city and
state and we’ll consider including them on the web site in our Study
Tips
section. | |
Is there a Study Guide for the Exam?
Yes! The
BPRT has published a RPSGT Study Guide, which includes a great deal of
information to help you. The Study Guide has a “Flexcoil” binding, which allows
the guide to lie flat on a surface when opened. Sections include:
- The Study and Review Process
- Terminology
- Appendices
- Sample questions
- More
This is a true Study Guide to help understand the types of questions, how to
best prepare for the exam and is only one tool for prospective candidates to
utilize in preparing for the RPSGT examination.
Does the BRPT offer prepatory or review
classes?
The BRPT does not accredit or endorse training courses. The
BRPT does recognize those standalone polysomnography programs or polysomnography add on
programs that are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory
Care (CoARC). A list of these accredited polysomnography programs can be found
at www.brpt.org under
education. For further information regarding the accreditation of training
programs and other educational aids we suggest visiting the following websites:
www.aastweb.org, www.aasmnet.org, www.caahep.org, or www.coarc.com.
What other resources are available?
Flashcards
and other resources for studying for the RPSGT exam are available from various
sources including the American Association of Sleep Technologists. Visit their
web site at www.aastweb.org for prices and
ordering information. You can also take RPSGT practice exams from a link at
the BRPT web site, www.brpt.org.
- Before I began studying for the exam, I took a practice exam (available on
the BRPT web site). This told me what areas I really needed to focus my studying
on. Then periodically, I would retake the test to see if I needed to re-focus my
studies again.
- Laurie Stewart-Hanson, RPSGT | Fargo, ND
General Advice on Studying
| 1. |
Start preparing early (at least 6 months in advance) |
| 2. |
Set aside specific times in the day or week to study and stick to the
schedule |
| 3. |
Find a mentor, study partner or study group |
| 4. |
Adjust study time to allow coverage in all areas about 1 month before taking
exam. |
| 5. |
Refer to the Examination Content Outline continually to stay on
course. |
| 6. |
Order the BRPT Study Guide. |
| 7. |
Take at least one of the practice exams offered by BRPT
online. | | |
- The study tip I have found most helpful is to put together a notebook using
the exam outline. I allot a page or two for each item in the outline. While
reading the recommended study references, I make notes under each topic. Once I
have gone through all the recommended reference materials, I have my notebook
complete and can easily carry it around to study…this is impossible when you
have 12 reference books which often duplicate the same material. Studying from a
single notebook like this has gotten me through both EEG, EP and PSG registry
exams.
- Kathy Johnson, R.EEG/EP T., RPSGT | Huntington, WV
I created flash cards for myself from information in review
programs, the Atlas of Sleep, R & K and some of my respiratory therapy
books. I studied daily for a minimum of 30-min to 1 hour for
4 months. I also
created audiotapes that I could listen to.
- Tammy P. Muth, RRT, RPSGT | Athens, Georgia
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Most important study tip: Study, Study, Study! Knowing some of
the basics like: Ohm’s Law, what capacitors do, what is the fall and rise time
constants, what impedance is, different forms of electricity, how to compute the
voltage of any EEG waveform,
etc... Take a slow deep breath, take one topic
at a time and learn it. If you don’t understand it ask for help (even if it
means calling a colleague at another lab).
- Ginny Rueber, RPSGT, BS | Rochester, MN
Many sleep techs feel that since they are technically skilled
they should have no problem passing the exam. The exam, however, draws heavily
on knowledge of basic scoring skills and rules. I have always believed that when
you are studying sleep medicine you should start with the seminal papers written
by the authors
who developed the concepts. Many of these articles are on in
the BRPT reference
reading list. They will serve you well both on the exam
and in your career as a sleep tech.
- George Juszynski, RPSGT | Norwalk, CT
The best thing about being able to take the RPSGT exam is having
to work a year before. Great idea. This should be a must for all healthcare
exams. There were three from our center getting ready to take the exam. We
quizzed each other, went to all the
seminars, but best of all we all scored
on the fly. We were at a 6 bed center, during the night we picked each others
brains — what do you think about this, how do I do that? We all scored above 90
on the exam and one of us scored 99! Just read everything you can get your hands
on. Do not go unprepared.
- Lisa Hodgin, RPSGT, CRT | Dennis, Ms
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