Official Update on the First Sleep School Live 80-Hour “Focused 2” Program
Released October 2025
In light of growing speculation and ongoing inquiries, we at First Sleep School want to publicly address recent claims that our 80-hour “Focused 2” live training program has been shut down.
Let us be clear: First Sleep School is still here, still active, and still committed to training the next generation of sleep technologists. While there have been changes to our scheduling and program frequency, we have not "shut down" our live training program. Instead, we are navigating a number of operational and regulatory challenges that impact our ability to consistently offer the program on a recurring basis.
Why Classes Have Been Less Frequent
We continue to receive strong interest in our BRPT-Approved STAR-designated Focused 2 program, but a consistent issue has been student follow-through. Though many express interest, few complete enrollment by submitting deposits or full payment. To run a viable class, we require a minimum of seven committed students, and without those commitments, we simply cannot move forward with scheduling.
There are also logistical barriers to consider. The live program requires students to travel to our Frisco, TX headquarters for either a 2-week immersive program or 10 consecutive Saturdays, which can be difficult for out-of-state students or those with full-time jobs. Additionally, our lead instructor must take time off from his full-time role to teach, and onboarding a secondary instructor involves a lengthy state approval process that we are actively working through.
Regulatory Hurdles and Credentialing Changes
One of the biggest systemic challenges we’ve faced stems from changes implemented by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the BRPT allowed schools like ours to deliver live Zoom-based training, giving us the flexibility to reach students worldwise in a safe and effective way. It worked beautifully. However, once the public health emergency ended, that flexibility was rescinded.
We have submitted multiple appeals encouraging the BRPT to reinstate live, synchronous online training, as we firmly believe this format can maintain instructional quality while increasing accessibility for students.
While we do believe this course can be taught effectively in an online, synchronous format—and hope the BRPT will one day align with us on that—we also want to emphasize that we will always respect and abide by the guidelines outlined by the BRPT.
Their commitment to high standards and credentialing integrity is essential to the future of our field, and we value their leadership.
The situation became more complex on July 1, 2024, when the BRPT updated all credentialing pathways, effectively making our Focused 2 program redundant for most RPSGT candidates. The revised Pathway 1 now includes nearly identical requirements to those found in Pathway 4 (which includes the Focused 2 route), reducing the incentive for students to pursue this option—unless they are bound by specific employment or insurance constraints.
Despite these challenges, we continue to believe in the value of the Focused 2 program and remain committed to making it available when enrollment demand allows.
We Still Offer Self-Paced Options
Although we are not currently holding a live class, our team remains deeply committed to supporting students in all stages of their journey. We continue to offer a variety of on-demand self-study courses on our Course Library for those pursuing certification via alternate pathways.
We’ve also created a free online guide that helps aspiring technologists determine which BRPT pathway is right for them: How to Become a Sleep Tech – 101 Guide
We’re Ready When You Are
To be absolutely clear: we are still ready and willing to run our live, in-person program again—but only when we have enough committed students to justify the costs and preparation required.
If you or others are interested in enrolling, we encourage you to join our waitlist and stay connected via our website, Instagram, and Facebook page. We will post class updates, open enrollment announcements, and program timelines as soon as they become available.
We also encourage students, educators, and employers to contact the BRPT directly at info@brpt.org to express support for more flexible training formats and updated eligibility structures. These changes would empower more students to enter the field and help address the growing national sleep tech shortage, which continues to delay patient care across the country.
In Summary
- First Sleep School has NOT shut down our Focused 2 program.
- We need a minimum of 7 paid enrollees to move forward with any live class.
- The BRPT’s recent changes have made this training track redundant for many.
- We’re actively working on solutions—both operational and regulatory.
- We continue to offer online, self-paced training, credentialing resources, and personalized support.
- We are still deeply invested in helping students succeed in this growing field.
For questions, support, or to express interest in a future class, please visit our Support page.
Thank you for your continued interest, advocacy, and support. We hope to see you in a future class.
– The First Sleep School Team
