Substance Abuse Professional Training and the SAP Role
Are you a professional interested in becoming a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) and want to learn more about Substance Abuse Professional training? In order to become a qualified SAP, you must go through the required Substance Abuse Professional training and hold (and maintain) specific credentials.
Zero Tolerance for Drug or Alcohol Abuse
Drug and alcohol abuse is a major threat to public safety, especially within positions mandated by the US Department of Transportation. In order to maintain safety within the modes of transportation, the DOT has a zero-tolerance policy for drug and alcohol abuse.
If an employee fails a drug and/or alcohol test they will be immediately removed from their safety-sensitive position and must complete the SAP process before they are able to return to any safety-sensitive role.
What is a SAP?
Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs) are people with specialized qualifications and training that evaluate employees who have violated the Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol regulations.
SAPs play a role in protecting the safety of the public by carrying out professional evaluations and recommending appropriate education and/or training in regards to the employee’s drug and/or alcohol use or abuse.
Responsibilities of Substance Abuse Professionals
Evaluation of employees. A SAP is responsible for evaluating an employee who fails a drug and/or alcohol test. This includes testing during pre-employment, at random or for reasonable suspicion, and post-accident.
Recommendations for employees. Once a SAP has evaluated the employee they will recommend education and/or treatment.
Determine employee compliance. It is the role of a SAP to determine whether the employee complies with the outlined recommendations for treatment and/or education. When the employees have met the set recommendations the SAP will re-evaluate them for consideration to submit to a return-to-duty drug and/or alcohol test.
Substance Abuse Professional Training and Qualification Process
To become a SAP one must have one of the following credentials:
- Physician (Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy)
- Social Worker
- Marriage and Family Therapist
- Psychologist
- Employee Assistance Professional
- IC&RC, NADAAC or NBCC Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor
In addition to holding proper credentials, SAPs must also attend 12 hours of continuing education after every three years from the date which they completed the SAP examination.
Become a SAP and Partner with SRS!
If you are interested in becoming a SAP, or have recently completed the qualification process, consider partnering with SAP Referral Services (SRS) today. When you partner with SAP Referral Services they maintain your credentials for you and ensure that you are always kept up-to-date with your qualifications. Partnering with SRS also offers the opportunity to increase referrals for SAP evaluations.
If you are currently a DOT-qualified SAP, or are interested in becoming qualified and want to partner with a service agent, please complete our network enrollment by clicking here or contact a Recruitment Coordinator at 410-668-8110.
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.