AAST, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT), have established job descriptions for Sleep Technologists that established a progression through the learning and development cycle for the entry level technologist, and that established three levels of training and experience.
Sleep trainee is considered an entry-level position. The Sleep technician level indicates successful completion and mastery of certain tasks. Sleep technologist indicates a mastery of the tasks and successful completion of certification process through the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM) or the BRPT.
These job descriptions focus on qualifications needed for each position and the education and skills required to move to the next level. All levels of technologist practice are under supervision of the sleep center's medical director or designee (MD, PhD, DO). The following job descriptions have been ratified by the Boards of Directors of AAST, AASM, and BRPT.
AAST has also developed job descriptions that address the evolving opportunities that are taking place in the healthcare arena, and in sleep medicine and technology. These job descriptions have been developed to address new roles that sleep technologists are filling in many sleep centers and practices, and reflect additional educational needs for technologists filling these positions. They were established to provide a guide for employers and practices integrating these new roles.