Polysomnographic registrants must work under the supervision and direction of a
licensed physician and surgeon.
The supervising physician must hold a valid California license and either:
- Possess a current certification or subspecialty certification (or be eligible for
such a certification) in sleep medicine by a member board of the American Board
of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM), or
- Hold active staff membership at a sleep center or laboratory accredited by the American
Academy of Sleep Medicine or by the Joint Commission.
The supervising physician may not supervise more than:
- Eight polysomnographic technologists at one time; or
- Eight polysomnographic technicians and/or trainees at one time.
In addition, the supervising physician and surgeon shall remain available, either
in person or by telephone, at the time that the polysomnographic services are provided.
If the supervising physician is not physically present on the premises, a supervising
polysomnographic technologist or other licensed health care professional (registered
nurse, physician assistant, or respiratory care practitioner who holds a current
California license) must be physically present on the premises and available to
the technicians and trainees under their supervision.
A supervising polysomnographic technologist and their supervising physician
must establish written guidelines for the adequate supervision of technicians and
trainees by the technologist. This requirement can be satisfied by the supervising
physician adopting protocols for some or all of the tasks performed by the technicians
and trainees. The protocols must be signed and dated by the supervising physician
and the polysomnographic technologist.
The delegation of procedures to a polysomnographic registrant or other licensed
health care professional does not relieve the supervising physician of primary, continued
responsibility for the care of the patient.
