What Is a Substance Abuse Professional?

The Substance Abuse Professional is the independent evaluator at the center of the DOT return-to-duty process. There is no federal SAP license: a SAP holds one of the credentials listed in 49 CFR 40.281 (a licensed physician, a licensed or certified social worker, psychologist, employee assistance professional, or marriage and family therapist, or a drug and alcohol counselor certified by an organization DOT recognizes) plus DOT-specific qualification training and an examination. The SAP evaluates the employee after a violation, prescribes education or treatment, verifies completion, and is the sole determiner of the number and frequency of follow-up tests, though never of their dates (49 CFR 40.307(c) and (d)(3)). The SAP's written report goes to the employer's DER under 49 CFR 40.311; the Clearinghouse receives only the date of the initial assessment and the date of successful compliance (49 CFR 382.705(d)). The outcome rests on the SAP's professional judgment, and PSI has no financial interest in any SAP it refers a driver to.