Central Piedmont Community College will launch a new associate degree program in polysomnography (sleep study) when the 2019 fall semester begins in August.

The polysomnography curriculum will prepare students, working in conjunction with a physician, to perform sleep studies and provide a comprehensive clinical evaluation and treatment required for sleep-related disorders. Graduates of the program will find employment opportunities in hospitals, freestanding sleep centers, medical equipment companies, medical device sales, education, research, healthcare management, and interdisciplinary patient management roles.

“The field of sleep technology is growing at a rapid pace, with estimated beginning salaries around $52,000 per year,” explained Dr. Auburne Hutchins, chair of the new Central Piedmont program. “This program will be one of only 15 associate degree programs in the country and the only program in the Charlotte area. We plan to open with 10 to 12 students.”

Graduates of accredited polysomnography programs usually apply to take the certification examination offered by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists. Central Piedmont also has an articulation agreement in place with the bachelor’s degree program in sleep medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for students who want to continue their studies.

Central Piedmont students will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to perform sleep studies, including recording and recognizing events observed during sleep. These tests involve recording, monitoring, and analyzing EEG (electroencephalography), EOG (electrooculography), EMG (electromyography), ECG (electrocardiography), and multiple breathing variables during sleep and wakefulness. Students also will receive comprehensive training for the treatment of sleep-related disorders and clinically significant patient education focused on healthy sleep habits. The program includes extensive lab time and more than 400 hours of clinical experience followed by a board exam prep course before graduation.

For more information about the new associate degree program in polysomnography at Central Piedmont, email Dr. Hutchins or call 704-330-2722, ext. 3179.