Substance Abuse Professional Training and Qualifications

Choosing the right Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is always important. However, it’s even more critical when your job is on the line. For DOT mandated safety-sensitive employees who must complete a return-to-duty process to be eligible for return to work, their livelihood is at stake. If you’re required to see a DOT-qualified SAP after a failed or refused substance test, please read on. Find out more about the Substance Abuse Professional training your SAP must complete before they are qualified according to the DOT regulations.

Learn More About Substance Abuse Professional Training

Employers have different processes in terms of substance abuse programs, but that’s not the case when it comes to DOT mandated safety-sensitive employees. These employees perform work that if done while under the influence can endanger themselves as well as the public. Consequently, the DOT requires regular testing for drug and/or alcohol use. Should an employee fail, they must meet with a DOT-qualified SAP and comply with a return-to-duty process. So, who can be a SAP?

A DOT-qualified SAP must be a licensed or certified, social worker, marriage or family therapist, Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, Employee Assistance Professional, psychologist or a drug and alcohol counselor. Additionally, a drug and alcohol counselor must obtain international certification through either the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) or the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). Each SAP must undergo extensive training in addition to schooling, which includes specific education about DOT agency regulations. These SAPs are trained to go above and beyond to help safety-sensitive employees get back to work safely after a drug and/or alcohol violation.

Help from SAP Referral Services

When you fail or refuse a drug and/or alcohol test as a safety-sensitive employee, you have to find a DOT-qualified SAP. SAP Referral Services can help take some of the stress out of this process by making it easy for you to connect with DOT-qualified professionals.

The best part about SAP Referral Services is the fact that we can connect employees with professionals across the nation. Our network is made up of clinical specialists in over 3,000 locations nationwide. No matter where you need to find a DOT-qualified SAP program, you can count on us to get you connected quickly. Contact us today for more information.

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.