Return to duty, the right way.
A plain-language guide to the DOT SAP evaluation process, and a nationwide directory of Substance Abuse Professionals qualified to clear you for safety-sensitive duty.
Find your role in the process
The return-to-duty process
Federal regulation lays out a specific sequence. Skipping a step means starting over.
1
Drug or Alcohol Violation
A safety-sensitive employee fails or refuses a drug or alcohol test.
2
SAP Evaluation
A DOT-qualified SAP evaluates the employee face-to-face.
3
4
5
Education or Treatment
The employee completes the SAP's recommended program.
Follow-up Evaluation
The SAP confirms compliance and clears the employee to test.
Return-to-duty Test
A negative, directly observed test result clears the employee to resume duty.
49 CFR Part 40
Federal regulation prohibits a safety-sensitive employee from returning to duty until a DOT-qualified Substance Abuse Professional has confirmed successful compliance with the recommended education or treatment program.