What Polysomnographers Do

A polysomnographer is an allied health professional who performs overnight sleep assessments used to diagnose various sleep disorders. In the evening the patient will arrive at a sleep laboratory in a hospital, medical facility, or hotel. Increasingly, physicians are prescribing at-home sleep tests to ensure the patient's comfort and to reduce cost. The polysomnographer will attach various electrodes used to record the patient's brain activity and will then monitor the patient throughout the night.

Types of Work Environments

  • Hospitals
  • Medical facilities
  • Hotels
  • Patients' homes

Education and Training Requirements

Training for polysomnographers can be acquired either on the job or through formal education. The formal education path usually results in a certificate or diploma upon completion or (in some cases, depending on the program) an associate degree in polysomnographic technology. After a certain amount of practical work on the job, polysomnographers can become registered with the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT).

Salary

According to salary.com, the median salary for polysomnographers is approximately $63,927 per year.

Professional Organization

The Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists

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