DOT Qualified Substance Abuse Provider – What Are the Requirements?

When becoming a qualified Substance Abuse Provider for the Department of Transportation there are certain requirements that must be met. Qualified Substance Abuse Providers are clinicians and are assigned the task of evaluating an employee or applicant in the event that they failed a DOT-mandated drug or alcohol test.

Clinicians must remain neutral and are never permitted to side with an employee or his or her employer. To qualify as a Substance Abuse Provider under the DOT regulatory guidelines, practitioners must meet one of the following licensing requirements:

  • Licensed Physician (Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy)
  • Licensed or certified Psychologist
  • Licensed or certified Social Worker
  • Licensed or certified Marriage and Family Therapist
  • Licensed or certified Employee Assistance Professional
  • Drug and Alcohol Counselor certified by the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors Certification Commission (NAADAC), by the International Certification Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and other Drug Abuse (ICRC) or by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)

In addition to the above licensing credentials, other requirements include clinical experience in diagnosing and treating those with a disorder related to alcohol and controlled substance disorders along with retaining “DOT Qualification Training & Testing” certificates and completing 12 hours of continuing education during each three-year period from the date on which the SAP examination was completed.

Those who are interested in qualifying to be a qualified Substance Abuse Provider must complete a required enrollment form online. For more information about becoming a qualified Substance Abuse Provider in the SAP Referral Services’ network, click here.

SAP Referral Services (SRS) is the leading facilitator for mandated substance abuse evaluations. SRS maintains an extensive network of qualified providers in more than 3,000 locations nationwide for testing violations that originate from any of the DOT’s modes including FMCSA, FAA, FRA, FTA, USCG and PHMSA, or a company’s internal drug and alcohol testing policy.