How to choose a sleep center: accreditation, credentials and questions to ask

What accreditation and board certification mean, plus questions on referrals, insurance, wait times, follow-up and CPAP suppliers.

Sleep centers differ in staffing, services and how they coordinate care. Some are hospital-based, others are independent clinics or part of physician groups. This guide lists credentials to look for and practical questions to ask. It is general information, not medical advice, and a listing in a directory is not an endorsement or a guarantee of quality.

Accreditation

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) runs a voluntary accreditation program for sleep medicine practices. It covers sleep clinic services, in-lab testing, home sleep apnea testing and durable medical equipment (DME) supplier services. Since January 1, 2025, AASM has used a service-based model in which programs can choose which services are accredited. That means a facility may be accredited for some services and not others, so ask exactly what is covered. AASM provides an accreditation verification tool and a sleep center directory at sleepeducation.org. Accreditation is not legally required in every setting, and some good programs are not accredited, so treat it as one signal among several.

Physician credentials

Sleep medicine is a subspecialty certified through boards that belong to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Physicians from internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry and neurology, otolaryngology, family medicine and anesthesiology can pursue certification. Examples of boards offering it include the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Older certificates were also issued by the American Board of Sleep Medicine, which administered its own exam through 2006. Ask who will read your study and who is the treating physician, and whether that person is board certified in sleep medicine. You can verify certification through the relevant board or ABMS.

Technologist credentials

Sleep technologists set up sensors, monitor recordings and support patients. The Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) is a credential from the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists, which is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and requires renewal every five years. Ask whether technologists at the facility are credentialed, and how they are supervised.

What some Medicare contractors require

Medicare coverage of sleep tests is also shaped by regional contractors' local coverage policies, and some set standards for the facility and the physician. For example, Palmetto GBA's polysomnography policy (LCD L36593 and its accreditation article), which applies in states including Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina, requires that:

• the sleep center or lab be accredited by the AASM, the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) or the Joint Commission's ambulatory care program;
• the lab be affiliated with a hospital or be directed by a qualified physician;
• every study be reviewed and interpreted by a physician certified in sleep medicine by the American Board of Sleep Medicine or a member board of the ABMS or the American Osteopathic Association, or who has completed an accredited sleep medicine fellowship and is certified within two exam cycles.

Other regions have their own policies, so ask the center whether it meets the Medicare rules where you live.

Checking the record yourself

1. Search the NPI Registry for the center's name and state. Centers on this site are registered as "Clinic/Center, Sleep Disorder Diagnostic" (261QS1200X). The record shows the address and when it was last updated, not accreditation or quality.
2. Use the AASM's accreditation verification tool to see whether the center is accredited and for which services.
3. Look up the interpreting physician's license on the state medical board's site, and the sleep medicine certification with the certifying board.

Referrals, insurance and access

• Referral. Some centers accept self-referral; others require an order from a primary care clinician, and some insurance plans require a referral or authorization for testing.
• Network status. Confirm that both the facility and the interpreting physician are in network. They can be billed separately.
• Test type. Ask whether the plan requires a home test first or covers in-lab testing for your situation.
• Costs. Request an estimate of what you will pay for the visit, the study and follow-up. Do not rely on verbal quotes alone.
• Wait times. Ask how long it takes to get the first visit, the study and the results. Times vary by region and center, so compare a few.

Follow-up and continuity of care

Diagnosis is only the start. Ask who will follow you after the study, how often, and whether visits can be done by telehealth. For PAP therapy, good follow-up includes mask refitting, review of machine data, and troubleshooting. Medicare, for example, requires an in-person visit within a set window early in therapy to document benefit under NCD 240.4, so a center that tracks this well can help you keep coverage. Ask how to reach staff between visits and what happens if you cannot tolerate treatment.

CPAP suppliers and conflicts of interest

A sleep center may own a DME supplier, work with a preferred one, or leave the choice to you. Common arrangements are legitimate, but you are entitled to know about them. Ask:

• Does the practice have a financial relationship with the supplier it recommends?
• Can I choose another supplier, and will you send the order there?
• Is the supplier in my plan's network and, for Medicare, enrolled and willing to accept assignment? See Medicare.gov.
• Who handles supplies and machine problems?

Also ask whether the center is compensated for particular devices, and whether it is open to non-PAP options such as oral appliances if they suit you. Independent advice from a second clinician is reasonable for costly treatments.

Other signs of a good fit

• Staff explain results in plain language and answer questions.
• The facility offers the services you need, such as pediatric care or treatment for insomnia, or can refer you.
• The facility is accessible, clean, private and able to accommodate your needs.

When to see a doctor

If you have loud snoring, breathing pauses, gasping, strong daytime sleepiness, or trouble sleeping most nights, talk with a clinician. The CDC advises seeking care for regular sleep problems. Seek urgent help for chest pain or severe breathing difficulty, and avoid driving when drowsy.

Updated 2026-10-03.

General information only, current as of the date above. The information on Sleep Clinic Index is not medical advice and does not replace a doctor, nurse, discharge planner or other qualified professional. Do not use it to make decisions about diagnosis or treatment. If you have a medical emergency, call 911. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.