SAP & Q-SAP

Employee | Supervisor | DER | SAP | C-SAPA | BAT | CSP | STT | MRO-C | MRO-A

What is a SAP?  An SAP is a Substance Abuse Professional.  Under DOT regulations, an employee who engages in prohibited conduct (under a DOT agency drug/alcohol rule) must be evaluated by an SAP (and complete the Return-to-Duty process) before again performing any DOT safety-sensitive duty. 

SAP qualifications and information about the Return-to-Duty process can be found in 49 CFR Part 40 at Subpart O, 40.281 – 40.313.  Drug Screens Plus clients will find a copy of these regulations in Section 5 of your Model Program. 

What is a Q-SAP?  A Q-SAP (Qualified SAP) is a Substance Abuse Professional who has passed the qualification examination given by SAPACC to meet DOT regulations.  While SAPs are not required to hold Q-SAP credentials from SAPACC, SAPs must meet the qualification requirements found at 49 CFR 40.281. 

While there are many, many employees who test positive for drugs and/or alcohol each year, there are comparatively few SAP evaluations performed, especially under strict DOT regulations.  Consequently, even experienced SAPs may not be as familiar with DOT regulations as the employer may have learned to expect from working with specimen collectors, Labs, MROs, and TPAs who must work with DOT regulations more or less continually. 

Section 3 of your Model Program includes sample SAP reports for initial and follow-up evaluations to help you review SAP reports for completeness and for compliance with DOT regulations.  Don’t hesitate to call us if you need assistance with this important matter.  We recommend that you require similar standards and procedures for non-DOT regulated employees, as well.