Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
Polysomnographic technologist: means a person who is credentialed by the board of registered polysomnographic technologists and is licensed by the board to engage in the practice of polysomnography under the general supervision of a licensed physician. See Tennessee Code 63-31-101
Practice of polysomnography: means the staging and scoring of sleep by continuous and simultaneous monitoring of the stages of sleep and wake through use of an electroencephalogram (EEG), an electroculogram (EOG) and a submental electromyogram (EMG), in conjunction with the recording and monitoring of other physiological variables, and the assignment of values for duration, frequency and type of event to each stage of sleep in which the event occurred. See Tennessee Code 63-31-101
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) On and after July 1, 2010, any person who is engaged in the practice of polysomnography shall be licensed as provided in this chapter. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the practice of polysomnography after July 1, 2010, unless the person has been duly licensed as a polysomnographic technologist under this chapter.(2) Prior to July 1, 2010, any person who is engaged in the practice of polysomnography without being licensed under this chapter shall not be deemed to be in violation of this chapter or the Respiratory Care Practitioner Act, compiled in chapter 27 of this title.(b) A person seeking licensure as a polysomnographic technologist shall be of good moral character, shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age, shall pay the fees established by the board for licensure, and shall present proof that the person meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Meet one (1) of the following educational requirements:
(A) Graduation from a polysomnographic educational program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs;(B) Graduation from a respiratory care educational program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and completion of the curriculum for a polysomnography certificate established and accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs;(C) Graduation from an electroneurodiagnostic technologist educational program with a polysomnographic technology track that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; or(D) Successful completion of an accredited sleep technologist educational program (A-STEP) that is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine; provided, however, that this option shall not remain available after July 1, 2012, if there are at least four (4) polysomnographic technologist educational programs in this state, at least two (2) in the east grand division and one (1) each in the middle and west grand divisions that remain accredited by the commission on accreditation of allied health educational programs for two (2) years. If there are not four (4) such accredited educational programs by July 12, 2012, this option shall remain available until there are four (4) such programs that have been accredited for two (2) years;(2) Pass the national certifying examination given by the board of registered polysomnographic technologists;(3) Be credentialed by the board of registered polysomnographic technologists; and(4) Meet any additional educational or clinical requirements established by the committee.(c) Any person who is engaged in the practice of polysomnography on July 1, 2007, shall be eligible for licensure under this chapter without meeting the educational requirement of subdivision (b)(1); provided, that the person meets the requirements of subdivisions (b)(2)-(4).(d) To be eligible for renewal of a license to engage in the practice of polysomnography, a polysomnographic technologist shall continue to be credentialed by the board of registered polysomnographic technologists.
