What’s a SAP? The liaison between YOU and your return-to-duty process!

By: ASAP

A Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who helps DOT-regulated employees return to work after a DOT violation has occurred, such as a failed drug and/or alcohol test or a refusal to test. As described in the DOT employee handbook (DOT, 2019a), SAPs are the “gatekeepers to the re-entry program” – they determine when a safety-sensitive employee is prepared to return to work safely.

SAPs act as a neutral party and do not decide if an employee should be terminated or re-hired. Those decisions are up to the employer and their company policy. A SAP’s job is to clinically assess and evaluate to provide a personalized treatment and/or educational plan for each individual in alignment with DOT protocol. In DOT cases, public safety is the mission and the primary client. SAPs conduct face-to-face and remote evaluations to approve employees to return to safety-sensitive duties.

Qualified DOT SAPs need to maintain specific qualifications mandated by the DOT under 49 CFR Part 40. The ASAP Credentialing Team ensures documentation of updated licensure/certification, qualification training, examination, and continuing education for all ASAP providers.

Only a qualified DOT SAP can determine an employee’s eligibility to return to DOT safety-sensitive duty, and our SAP Provider Network includes qualified DOT SAPs nationwide. Our quality assurance protocols ensure that each SAP’s credentials are reviewed before they are assigned a DOT case and that each case is handled according to DOT regulatory compliance through our case management services.

If you have a positive drug and/or alcohol test, refusal to test, or another violation, start the return to duty process so you can get back to work safely. Enroll now by calling us at 888-792-2727 x 177 today!