Polysomnography Professional Standards Committee

Licenses and regulates those qualified to practice polysomnography in Tennessee.

About  the Polysomnography Professional Standards Committee

To assist the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, the Polysomnography Professional Standards Committee was established by the General Assembly in 2007 to license those individuals actively engaged in the practice of polysomnography as that term is defined in T.C.A. §63-31-101(9)(A). The Committee is responsible for safeguarding the health, safety and welfare of Tennesseans by ensuring those who practice polysomnography are qualified. The Committee, working with the Board of Medical Examiners, interprets the laws, rules and regulations to determine the appropriate standards of practice to ensure the highest degree of professional conduct. The Committee is authorized to issue licenses to qualified candidates who have completed appropriate education and successfully completed required examinations. The Committee, along with the Board, determines the appropriate standard of care, investigates alleged violations of laws and rules, and disciplines licensees who are found guilty of such violations.

The Committee meets three (3) times per year. The meetings are open to the public and are held at the Department of Health, Health-Related Boards Office located at: 665 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN. The Committee consists of seven (7) members, appointed by the Governor and is composed of the following:

Three (3) registered polysomnographic technologists;
One (1) physician who is certified in sleep medicine by a national certifying body recognized by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine;
One (1) person who is the director of an accredited, hospital-based sleep center;
One (1) respiratory therapist who is also a registered polysomnographic technologist; and
One (1) consumer member who is not commercially or professionally associated with the health care field.

Administrative staff of the Division of Health Related Boards supports the Committee by issuing licenses to those who meet the requirements of the law and rules. Renewal notices are mailed from the Committee’s administrative office sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the license to the licensee’s current address on record. Licenses can be renewed online sixty (60) days prior to the expiration at https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/login.do. Click on the "Renew Health License” link and follow the prompts. Licensees are responsible for renewing their licenses on time and keeping the Committee apprised of current information. It is a violation of the law and of the Committee’s rules to practice on an expired license.

Featured Links

Licensure Scam Alert

The Department of Health has been made aware that some licensees of a few different health licensure boards have received fraudulent communications from individuals claiming to be from those licensee’s licensing boards. The communications, often by phone, may threaten arrest or license suspension, demand personal information, or require payment of fines.  Some of them have been accompanied by fraudulent letters claiming to suspend the license. Please note: 

  • Phone calls may “spoof” or appear to be from the boards’ number;
  • If you need to verify the identity of a TN board investigator, call (615) 741-8485 or email OIV.Complaints@tn.gov.
  • The health-related board investigators will never demand that you provide personally identifying information, such as a social security number, date of birth, or bank or credit card account numbers over the phone;
  • These types of licensing scams are a problem nationwide.

 If you believe you are the recipient of a fraudulent communication claiming to be from your licensing board:

  • If you believe you are the recipient of a fraudulent communication claiming to be from your licensing board:
  • Report the communication to the Internet Crime Complaint Center Internet Crime Complaint Center at using the code "TDHHPBSCAM2026".  This will allow law enforcement to link these scams for improved investigation.
  • Complainants can alternatively call the Fusion Center Tipline (800TBIFIND) or submit a tip online at TBI but the IC3 is preferred.

·         Notify the Department of Health at (615) 741-8485 or email OIV.Complaints@tn.gov

  • The Federal Trade Commission also accepts reports about “Imposter Scams” online or at 1-877-382-4357.

Contact

Contact the Polysomnography Professional Standards Committee:

Call 615-532-4384 (local)
or 1-800-778-4123 (nationwide)
Medical.Health@tn.gov
665 Mainstream Drive
Nashville, TN 37243

Note: If you are a licensed Respiratory Therapist and wish to be credentialed to provide polysomnographic services, please contact the Tennessee Board of Respiratory Care by calling 615-253-5087 local or 1-800-778-4123 nationwide or write: 665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor Nashville, TN 37243.

Applying for Licensure

When completing the initial application process, you will be required to submit an official transcript from the institution where you completed your education. The transcript must be mailed directly from the educational institution to the board office located at 665 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN 37243 or emailed to Medical.Health@tn.gov.

Applications

Applying for initial licensure from your professional licensing board has become a bit easier.  The Department of Health has implemented an online application process that will allow all health care professionals to apply online for an initial license and complete (and update as necessary) a practitioner profile mandatory for certain professions.  The process is user friendly and convenient and even allows you to pay for your initial application utilizing a credit card, debit card or e-check.  You will also be able to upload many of the documents required to complete your initial application!  Please go to the initial application link below to begin the online process.

Portability Act for Military and Military Spouse with transfer Orders to Tennessee

Please fill out the application below and email to Medical.Health@tn.gov with a copy of the military orders

Meetings, Members, & Minutes

Meeting Schedule

Click for the [Board] Calendar of Events

Public Notices will remain online until the minutes are ratified and posted on the Meeting Minutes page.

Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at 665 Mainstream Drive, MetroCenter.

Members

Committee Members

Members Title Representation

Term Expires
Vacant Committee Member Consumer Member 12/31/20
Roy Shedd Committee Member Polysomnography Technologist 12/31/26
Charity Worrick Secretary Polysomnography Technologist 12/31/23
James McGuirk Committee Member Physician Certified in Sleep Medicine 12/31/25
Roxanne Valentino, MD Chair Director of Accredited Sleep-Based Sleep Center 12/31/25
Jim O. Donaldson Committee Member Respiratory Therapist/Registerd Polysomnography Technologist 12/31/23
Mark Spiceland Committee Member Polysomnography Technologist 12/31/25

Meeting Minutes

Continuing Education

Failure to comply with continuing education requirements may result in disciplinary action against the licensee or registrant. The disciplinary action will be reported on the Department of Health license verification web site. 

Continuing Education

Failure to comply with continuing education requirements may result in disciplinary action against the licensee or registrant. The disciplinary action will be reported on the Department of Health license verification web site.

All licensees are required to renew their license every two years. The renewal cycle is set up whereby everyone renews in their birth month. The year they renew depends on whether they were born in an even or odd year. Thus the renewal of this professional license is set up in their birth month every two years.

When renewing, the document that is signed states the licensee has fulfilled all the requirements for renewal. That means no continuing education documentation is to be mailed in with the renewal and that the licensee attests to having obtained the required continuing education. The only time continuing education is to be mailed in is when an official audit is conducted and the licensee is mailed a certified letter from this office requiring submission of the documentation.

A licensee is required to complete (10) ten hours of continuing education every calendar year. The continuing education must be approved in content, structure and format by the American Association of Sleep Technologists.

All documentation must be retained by the licensee for at least five years from the end of the renewal period in which the continuing education was acquired.

The Committee or Board may waive or otherwise modify the requirements in cases where there is retirement, or an illness, disability or other undue hardship that prevents a licensee from obtaining the requisite number of continuing education hours. Requests for waivers or modification must be sent in writing to the Administrative Office prior to the expiration of the renewal period in which the continuing education is due.  *This request must be received by our office, in writing, before January 1st of the year your license will expire.*

Educational Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

A polysomnographic technician is a person who has graduated from an accredited educational program but has not yet passed the national certifying examination given by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (“BRPT”) and has obtained a temporary permit from the Board of Medical Examiners (“Board”).

A polysomnographic technician may provide sleep-related services under the general supervision of a licensed physician for a period of up to one (1) year from the time of the technician’s graduation from an accredited educational program.

Yes. The Tennessee Polysomnographic Standards Committee (“Committee”) and the Board, which
meet only on a semi-monthly basis, recognize that the one-time extension under Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-31-107 exists to give polysomnographic technicians adequate time to successfully complete their certifying examination. Accordingly, the Board grants standing authority to the Medical Consultant to approve a polysomnographic technician’s request for an extension of their temporary permit, provided that the technician submits proof of having taken and failed the BRPT’s RPSGT exam at least once before requesting any such extension. You can visit the Committee’s policy here: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/polysomnography/Polysom_Extension%20policy.pdf

Graduation from a polysomnographic educational program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

Roane State Community College in Harriman, Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin (with a separate course section in West Tennessee) and Concorde College in Memphis.Two educational programs have closed: East Tennessee State University and Miller-Motte Technical College.

 No. If the applicant was not practicing polysomnography on or before July 1, 2007 (must submit proof) and is thus eligible for grandfathering, the applicant will be required to attend an accredited polysomnographic technologist educational program before a Tennessee license can be granted.

You can renew online or by paper renewal application. To renew online, please visit https://apps.tn.gov/hlrs/. To renew using the paper renewal application you receive in the mail, please complete the paper renewal application, and return it along with the required renewal fee to the address specified on the renewal notice. If you lose the paper application you received in the mail, you can contact us at 615-532-4384 for a generic renewal notice to be e-mailed to you.Approximately ninety (90) days in advance of your expiration date, you will receive a paper or electronic renewal notice notifying you of your upcoming expiration. Individuals who are “opted in” to receive electronic notifications from our office will receive the notification at the email address we have on file. Licensees who did not opt in will receive a paper renewal notice.

The Committee is not a records keeper of your continuing education. You will only be requested to send in continuing education proof if you are randomly selected for an audit after renewing your license.

The Committee may conduct a continuing education audit of any licensee after the licensee renews. Upon receipt of the audit notice, if you fail to provide the required continuing education then the Committee’s administrative office will enforce the Committee’s policy on continuing education: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/polysomnography/Polysom_CE_Policy.pdf.

 You must complete ten (10) hours of continuing education every calendar year (January 1 – December 31).

Continuing education programs that are provided by, or approved for continuing education credit by, one of the following shall be acceptable to the Committee for credit towards the continuing education
hour requirements:(i) Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists
(ii) American Association of Sleep Technologists
(iii) Canadian Sleep Society
(iv) Australasian Sleep Technologists Association
(v) American Academy of Sleep Medicine

You can request a duplicate certificate after logging into your online account here: https://apps.tn.gov/hlrs/. From a drop down on the main menu, select Request a Duplicate Renewal Certificate or Duplicate Wall Certificate. The Duplicate Renewal Certificate will be a duplicate of the small certificate with your expiration date on it and it is free. The Duplicate Wall Certificate will be a duplicate of the large brown certificate, and costs $25. The certificate(s) will print and be mailed to the mailing address we have on file. We cannot provide an electronic copy of your license.

Contact the Bureau of Investigations at 1-800-852-2187; 615-532-3421
https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/report-a-concern.html

You may retire your polysomnography license with the submission of an affidavit of retirement. You may access the affidavit here: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/PH-3460.pdf. There is no fee to retire your license; however, should you seek to reinstate your license at a later date, the Committee may require that you submit evidence that you have maintained your clinical competency.
Application Processing Questions

You can reach us by phone at 615-532-4384. All documents being mailed to our office should be sent to: Polysomnography Professional Standards Committee, 665 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN 37243.

 If your polysomnography license is currently in “expired status”, you must apply for initial licensure and meet all qualifications.

 You must submit a reinstatement application to seek active licensure again: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/PH-3556.pdf

If reinstatement is requested prior to the expiration of one (1) year from the date of retirement, then the licensee must pay the past due renewal fee and the late renewal fees. If licensure retirement was in excess of two (2) years, the licensee may be required to successfully complete whatever educational and/or testing requirements the Committee determines is necessary to establish current levels of competency.

You may confirm that your application is in progress through our license verification page: https://apps.health.tn.gov/Licensure/default.aspx. If you applied for licensure online, then updates to your application are made available in your online account: https://apps.tn.gov/hlrs/.

The Board’s administrative staff makes every effort to keep applicants apprised of their application status. This includes an effort to send deficiency letters to applicants every couple of weeks. Frequent calls and emails to our office for license status updates interrupt our administrators’ work processes and reduce the amount of time available to review applications and correspond with applicants regarding application deficiencies.

Follow this link for instructions on how to complete your background check. Your OCA Number is 3202:
https://www.tn.gov/health/health-professionals/criminal-background-check/cbc-instructions.html

Yes, if you have been issued a license/certificate number you are allowed to commence practice in Tennessee. If your license/certificate is not ratified by the Committee you will be promptly notified to suspend your practice in Tennessee with an explanation for why your license/certificate was not ratified.

 No. Applications are reviewed and considered in the order in which they are received. To emphasize this point, the application instructions recommend that you do not make arrangements to accept employment to practice in Tennessee prior to being issued a license number. Requesting documents from outside organizations or others could be done prior to submitting your application which would assist in your file being promptly complete.

Policies, Rules, & Statutes

Policies

Rules

Click here for Rules and Regulations pertaining to the Polysomnography Professional Standards Committee

Statutes

Statutes are proposed and made law by the Tennessee State General Assembly (Legislature). The Committee, following specific notice requirements and hearings, adopts rules. Both have the force of law and may be used in the regulation of a profession. The statutes pertaining to this Committee are found at T.C.A. § 63-1 (Division of Health Related Boards) and T.C.A. § 63-31-101, et seq.  (Polysomnography Professional Standards Committee)

Click here to review the Tennessee Code Annotated. (This link will take you to a website that is not maintained by the Tennessee Department of Health).

This Page Last Updated: March 30, 2026 at 2:53 PM