Professional Associations

The Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) is the world’s leading credentialing organization for sleep technologists. Established in 1978, the BRPT administers the Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) credential, which is widely recognized as the international gold standard for professionals performing and interpreting polysomnography and other sleep related diagnostic procedures. Many Canadian sleep technologists hold the RPSGT credential and participate in BRPT educational and professional activities.

The RPSGT credential is widely recognized throughout Canada and is held by many sleep technologists working in hospital based and community sleep laboratories. The BRPT has played a significant role in establishing professional standards and competency benchmarks within Canadian sleep technology practice.

Membership / Eligibility:

• Sleep Technologists
• Polysomnographic Technologists
• Sleep Laboratory Personnel
• International Candidates
• Students and Trainees meeting eligibility requirements

Activities:

• Administration of the RPSGT credential
• Certification examinations
• Continuing education requirements
• Professional standards and ethics
• Credential maintenance and recertification
• Promotion of excellence in sleep technology

Credentials:

• Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT)
• Sleep Disorders Specialist (SDS) credential pathway (for eligible healthcare professionals)
• Continuing education and recertification programs

Purpose:
To promote competency, professional standards, and excellence in the field of sleep technology through credentialing and continuing professional development.

The Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists (CSRT) is the national professional association representing respiratory therapists across Canada. Founded in 1964, the Society supports excellence in respiratory care through education, professional development, advocacy, research, and leadership. Respiratory therapists play a significant role in the delivery of sleep medicine services throughout Canada, including sleep testing, PAP therapy, patient education, sleep laboratory management, and the treatment of sleep disordered breathing.

The CSRT is one of Canada’s most important allied health organizations involved in sleep medicine. Respiratory therapists form a substantial component of the Canadian sleep workforce and play key roles in sleep laboratories, hospital sleep programs, community sleep clinics, and PAP therapy services.

Membership:

• Respiratory Therapists
• Sleep Clinicians
• Researchers
• Educators
• Students
• Allied Healthcare Professionals

Activities:

• Continuing professional education
• National conferences and educational events
• Clinical practice resources
• Professional advocacy
• Research and knowledge translation
• Professional networking
• Development of respiratory care standards

Sleep Medicine Focus:

• Sleep Testing
• Polysomnography
• Home Sleep Apnea Testing (HSAT)
• PAP Therapy
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Sleep Disordered Breathing
• Patient Education and Follow Up

Purpose:
To advance respiratory health and excellence in respiratory care through leadership, education, advocacy, and professional collaboration

The Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) is Canada’s national professional society dedicated to respiratory health, lung disease, and respiratory medicine. As the medical arm of the Canadian Lung Association, the Society provides leadership in clinical practice, education, research, and advocacy. Sleep medicine is represented within the CTS through physicians and researchers involved in sleep disordered breathing, obstructive sleep apnea, hypoventilation syndromes, and related respiratory sleep disorders.

The CTS is one of Canada’s most influential medical organizations involved in sleep medicine. Many Canadian sleep physicians are members of both the Canadian Thoracic Society and the Canadian Sleep Society, particularly those with backgrounds in respirology and pulmonary medicine. The Society has played an important role in the development of Canadian guidelines and standards for the diagnosis and management of sleep disordered breathing.

Membership:

• Respirologists (Pulmonologists)
• Sleep Physicians
• Internists
• Family Physicians
• Researchers
• Respiratory Therapists
• Nurses
• Trainees and Students
• Allied Healthcare Professionals

Activities:

• Clinical practice guidelines
• Continuing medical education
• Scientific meetings and conferences
• Research support and collaboration
• Advocacy for respiratory and sleep health
• Professional networking
• Development of evidence based standards of care

Sleep Medicine Focus:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
• Sleep Disordered Breathing
• Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome
• Central Sleep Apnea
• PAP Therapy
• Respiratory Physiology During Sleep
• Sleep and Pulmonary Disease

Purpose:
To improve respiratory and sleep health through leadership in research, education, clinical excellence, and advocacy.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is the leading professional society dedicated to the advancement of sleep medicine and sleep health. Founded in 1975, the Academy represents physicians, scientists, sleep technologists, advanced practice providers, and other healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. Although headquartered in the United States, the AASM has an international membership that includes many Canadian sleep physicians, researchers, and allied healthcare professionals.

The AASM is one of the most influential sleep medicine organizations for Canadian sleep physicians and healthcare professionals. Many Canadian clinicians attend AASM educational programs, participate in the annual SLEEP meeting, contribute to Academy committees, and utilize AASM clinical practice guidelines in patient care.

Membership:

• Sleep Physicians
• Pulmonologists
• Neurologists
• Psychiatrists
• Pediatricians
• Psychologists
• Researchers
• Sleep Technologists
• Advanced Practice Providers
• International Members
• Students and Trainees

Activities:

• Annual SLEEP Meeting (jointly with the Sleep Research Society)
• Clinical practice guidelines
• Professional education and continuing medical education
• Sleep centre accreditation
• Board certification support
• Research and advocacy initiatives
• Public sleep health awareness programs

Purpose:
To advance sleep care and enhance sleep health through education, research, clinical excellence, professional standards, and public advocacy. The Academy develops many of the clinical guidelines and standards used internationally in the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders.

The Canadian Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines (CACSDD) is the Canadian chapter of the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines (ACSDD), a multidisciplinary organization focused on education, credentialing, and professional development in sleep related breathing disorders. The organization promotes collaboration among dentists, physicians, and allied healthcare professionals involved in the management of sleep disordered breathing and oral appliance therapy. The ACSDD currently provides programming in Canada through the CACSDD chapter.

CACSDD represents one of the few identifiable Canadian organizations specifically involved in Dental Sleep Medicine and interdisciplinary sleep education. Historical documentation shows Canadian leadership participation and Canadian board representation

Membership:

• Dentists
• Physicians
• Allied Healthcare Professionals
• Clinical Team Members
• Students and Trainees

Activities:

• Continuing education programs
• Academic certificate programs
• Fellow and Diplomate credentialing pathways
• Multidisciplinary collaboration
• Professional networking
• Annual educational meetings
• Promotion of evidence based approaches to sleep disordered breathing

Purpose:
To advance the understanding, diagnosis, and management of sleep related breathing disorders through multidisciplinary education, credentialing, and collaboration. The organization emphasizes integration of medical and dental approaches to patient care.

The American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine (ABCDSM) is an independent, nonprofit credentialing organization dedicated to advancing standards of care in Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine. The Board provides Diplomate status to qualified dentists who demonstrate advanced knowledge and clinical proficiency in the assessment and management of sleep disordered breathing, including snoring, Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS), and obstructive sleep apnea. The ABCDSM emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of airway health, craniofacial development, occlusion, temporomandibular disorders, and interdisciplinary patient care. Canadian dentists are among its Diplomates and members. In the absence of an active national Canadian Dental Sleep Medicine certifying body, Canadian dentists seeking advanced education and credentialing in airway and craniofacial aspects of sleep disordered breathing may pursue Diplomate status through the ABCDSM. The organization’s scope extends beyond oral appliance therapy to include broader craniofacial and airway considerations relevant to sleep medicine.

Membership / Eligibility:

• Licensed Dentists
• International Applicants
• Qualified practitioners meeting published education, examination, and clinical experience requirements

Activities:

• Diplomate credentialing
• Written certification examination
• Continuing education requirements
• Maintenance of certification
• Professional standards and ethics
• Promotion of interdisciplinary management of sleep disordered breathing
• Professional networking and leadership opportunities

Purpose:
The ABCDSM exists to identify and recognize dentists who have achieved advanced competence in Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine through formal education, clinical experience, examination, and ongoing professional development. Diplomate status signifies a commitment to high standards of patient care but does not constitute a recognized dental specialty or confer specialty licensure.

The American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM) is an independent, nonprofit credentialing organization established in 2004 to assess knowledge and clinical proficiency in Dental Sleep Medicine. The Board provides Diplomate certification to qualified dentists involved in the treatment of snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS), and obstructive sleep apnea using oral appliance therapy and other accepted treatment modalities. The ABDSM credential is widely regarded as the gold standard certification in Dental Sleep Medicine and includes diplomates from Canada and around the world. In the absence of an active national Canadian Dental Sleep Medicine certifying body, many Canadian dentists pursuing advanced credentials in Dental Sleep Medicine obtain Diplomate status through the ABDSM.

Membership / Eligibility:

• Licensed Dentists
• International Applicants
• Qualified practitioners meeting published certification requirements

Activities:

• Diplomate certification
• Examination and credentialing
• Maintenance of certification
• Promotion of professional standards
• Public directory of Diplomates
• Recognition of excellence in Dental Sleep Medicine practice

Purpose:
The ABDSM exists to evaluate and recognize dentists who have demonstrated advanced knowledge, clinical proficiency, and experience in Dental Sleep Medicine. The Board does not create a dental specialty or confer licensure privileges; rather, it recognizes dentists who have successfully met established certification standards.

The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) is the leading professional organization dedicated exclusively to the practice of Dental Sleep Medicine. Founded in 1991, the Academy promotes evidence based care for snoring and sleep related breathing disorders, particularly obstructive sleep apnea, through education, research, clinical guidelines, and professional collaboration. Although headquartered in the United States, the AADSM serves an international membership that includes many Canadian dentists.
The AADSM is the primary professional organization for Canadian dentists practicing Dental Sleep Medicine and effectively serves as the principal academy for the specialty in the absence of an active national Canadian Dental Sleep Medicine association.

Membership:

• General Dentists
• Dental Specialists
• International Members
• Dental Team Members
• Students and Residents
• Other healthcare professionals with an interest in Dental Sleep Medicine

Activities:

• Annual scientific meeting
• Continuing education programs
• Clinical practice guidelines
• Research support
• Professional networking
• Public and physician awareness initiatives
• Educational resources for dentists treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea

Annual Meeting:
The AADSM Annual Meeting is widely regarded as the premier conference in Dental Sleep Medicine, attracting dentists, physicians, scientists, and other healthcare professionals interested in the treatment of sleep disordered breathing. Recent meetings have attracted more than 1,000 attendees and feature clinically focused, evidence based education.

An international professional society dedicated to advancing behavioural sleep medicine through education, research, advocacy, and evidence based clinical practice. The Society promotes the behavioural and psychological treatment of sleep disorders, particularly Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), and includes Canadian clinicians, researchers, and educators among its membership.

Membership:

• Psychologists
• Physicians
• Researchers
• Behavioural Sleep Medicine Specialists
• Allied Health Professionals
• Students and Trainees

Activities:

• Annual scientific meeting
• Professional education and training
• Research collaboration
• Clinical practice resources
• Professional networking