Frequently asked questions

Your employer must immediately remove you from any safety-sensitive function and provide you with a list of DOT-qualified Substance Abuse Professionals. You cannot return to safety-sensitive duty until you complete the full return-to-duty process under 49 CFR Part 40.

The initial SAP evaluation is typically 60–90 minutes. The total return-to-duty timeline depends on the education or treatment program recommended — some take a few weeks, others longer.

Costs vary by provider. We publish transparent pricing during scheduling and offer payment options. The evaluation fee is separate from any treatment or education program costs.

Yes. DOT permits SAP evaluations via approved telehealth. We offer secure video sessions accessible from anywhere in Pennsylvania.

DOT requires a minimum of six unannounced follow-up tests in the first 12 months after returning to duty. Your SAP may extend testing for up to five years based on your specific situation.

Your employer's Designated Employer Representative (DER) receives only the SAP's recommendation and compliance status — not your clinical history. Your detailed evaluation remains confidential between you and your SAP.

Under 49 CFR §40.281, a Substance Abuse Professional must hold one of several specific clinical credentials (such as licensed physician, licensed psychologist, LCSW, LPC, or certified addiction counselor), complete DOT-specific qualification training, pass a knowledge exam, and meet ongoing continuing-education requirements.

Yes — and it's strongly encouraged. The same SAP who performed your initial evaluation should perform the follow-up evaluation to ensure continuity.

Under DOT regulations, a refusal is treated as a positive test. You must complete the same return-to-duty process with a qualified SAP before returning to safety-sensitive duty.

No. Completing the process makes you eligible to return to safety-sensitive duty under DOT rules, but rehire decisions are made by your employer.

The core 49 CFR Part 40 process is the same across all DOT modes. Each agency (FMCSA, FAA, FTA, FRA, PHMSA, USCG) has small mode-specific rules around testing and reporting that your SAP will navigate with you.

If you're a CDL driver, your violation is reported to the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. Your SAP information and return-to-duty status will also be reported there. We walk you through what your Clearinghouse record will show.

Yes, if your employer offers a non-safety-sensitive role. DOT only restricts safety-sensitive functions until the full RTD process is complete and you pass your return-to-duty test.

A failed return-to-duty test is treated as a new DOT violation. You're immediately removed from safety-sensitive duty and must start the SAP process over from the beginning — initial evaluation, recommended program, follow-up evaluation, and a new RTD test. For CDL drivers, the new violation is reported again to the FMCSA Clearinghouse.

An MRO (Medical Review Officer) is a licensed physician who reviews lab drug-test results and confirms whether a test is positive, negative, or invalid. A SAP (Substance Abuse Professional) is the qualified clinician who evaluates an employee after a confirmed DOT violation and clears them to return to duty. The MRO handles the test result; the SAP handles the return-to-duty process. They are separate roles, performed by separate people, governed by different sections of 49 CFR Part 40.