Substance Abuse Professional (SAP)

Definition

A Substance Abuse Professional is a licensed counselor or social worker qualified under 49 CFR §40.281 to evaluate a driver who has tested positive (or refused) and prescribe an education and treatment program for return-to-duty. The SAP is the gatekeeper of the Clearinghouse return-to-duty pathway - the driver must complete the SAP-prescribed program, receive a written follow-up testing plan, and pass a return-to-duty test before resuming safety-sensitive functions. The follow-up testing plan typically runs at least 6 unannounced tests in the first 12 months and may continue up to 5 years. Carriers cannot select the SAP; the driver chooses one from the Clearinghouse-vetted list and pays out-of-pocket.