645—261.4(148G,152B) Additional requirements for polysomnographic technologist licensure. The following are additional specific criteria for licensure as a polysomnographic technologist:
	261.4(1) Graduation from a polysomnographic educational program accredited by CAAHEP. A transcript shall be submitted to the board office directly from the college or university; or
	261.4(2) Graduation from an entry into respiratory care professional practice program accredited by CoARC or CAAHEP for which a transcript shall be submitted to the board office directly from the college or university; and direct-source verification of one of the following:
	a. 	Completion of a sleep specialist program option accredited by CoARC or CAAHEP, or
	b. 	Obtaining the sleep disorder specialist credential from the NBRC, or
	c. 	Obtaining the registered polysomnographic technologist credential from the BRPT; or
	261.4(3) Graduation from an electroneurodiagnostic technologist program with a polysomnographic technology track that is accredited by CAAHEP. A transcript shall be submitted to the board office directly from the college or university; or
	261.4(4) Requirements for current Iowa licensees holding a license in a profession other than polysomnography. An individual who holds an active license under Iowa Code section 147.2 in a profession other than polysomnography and whose license is in good standing with the board for that profession may receive licensure upon verification from the medical director of the individual’s current employer or the medical director’s designee that the individual has completed on-the-job training in the field of polysomnography and is competent to perform polysomnography.
	261.4(5) Persons practicing sleep medicine on January 1, 2017.
	a. 	A person who is working in the field of sleep medicine on January 1, 2017, may receive a license to perform polysomnography upon verification of the following:
	(1)	Verification that the person has completed 500 hours of clinical polysomnographic work experience within the three years immediately prior to January 1, 2017; and
	(2)	Verification from the medical director of the person’s current employer or the medical director’s designee that the person is competent to perform polysomnography.
	b. 	A person who is not otherwise eligible to obtain a license pursuant to this subrule shall have until January 1, 2018, to:
	(1)	Achieve a passing score on the Registered Polysomnographic Technologist Examination administered by the BRPT. The passing score shall be the recommended passing score set by the BRPT; or
	(2)	Achieve a passing score on the Sleep Disorders Specialist Examination (SDS) administered by the NBRC. The passing score shall be the minimum passing score established by the NBRC.
	261.4(6) Foreign-trained polysomnographic technologists shall:
	a. 	Provide an equivalency evaluation of their educational credentials by either of the following:
	(1)	International Educational Research Foundations, Inc., Credentials Evaluation Service, P.O. Box 3665, Culver City, CA 90231-3665; telephone (310)258-9451; website www.ierf.org or email at info@ierf.org; or
	(2)	International Credentialing Associates, Inc., 7245 Bryan Dairy Road, Bryan Dairy Business Park II, Largo, FL 33777; telephone (727)549-8555.
The professional curriculum must be equivalent to that stated in these rules. A candidate shall bear the expense of the curriculum evaluation.
	b. 	Provide a copy of the certificate or diploma awarded to the applicant from a respiratory care program in the country in which the applicant was educated.
	c. 	Receive a final determination from the board regarding the application for licensure.
	261.4(7) Licensure by proof of work experience. An applicant who has relocated to Iowa from a state that did not require licensure to practice the profession may submit proof of work experience in lieu of educational and training requirements, if eligible, in accordance with rule 645—19.2(272C).
	261.4(8) Licensure by verification. A person who is licensed in another jurisdiction but who is unable to satisfy the requirements for licensure by endorsement may apply for licensure by verification, if eligible, in accordance with rule 645—19.1(272C).
[ARC 2323C, IAB 12/23/15, effective 1/27/16; ARC 3932C, IAB 8/1/18, effective 9/5/18; ARC 5770C, IAB 7/14/21, effective 8/18/21; ARC 6993C, IAB 4/19/23, effective 5/24/23]