SAP Professional Standards & Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An employer asks the SAP to expedite the evaluation process to return a key employee to safety-sensitive duties quickly. The SAP should:
- Accommodate the request since the employer is the client
- Expedite only if the employee appears cooperative
- Follow the standard DOT evaluation process regardless of employer pressure (Correct answer)
- Consult the MRO before deciding whether to expedite
Correct answer: Follow the standard DOT evaluation process regardless of employer pressure
SAPs must follow DOT regulatory requirements for evaluation regardless of employer or employee pressure to expedite.
Question 2: Which statement about SAP continuing education requirements is accurate under DOT regulations?
- SAPs must complete 12 hours of continuing education every 3 years
- No continuing education is required once initial qualifications are met
- SAPs must stay current with changes to DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations (Correct answer)
- CEUs are only required if the SAP works in a federally regulated industry
Correct answer: SAPs must stay current with changes to DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations
DOT requires SAPs to stay current with changes in regulations and update their knowledge on an ongoing basis.
Question 3: A SAP learns during the evaluation that an employee has disclosed using an illegal substance not covered by the DOT five-panel drug test. The SAP should:
- Report it to local law enforcement immediately
- Include clinically relevant information in the evaluation but not act as law enforcement (Correct answer)
- Ignore it since it is outside DOT testing scope
- Notify the employer and recommend termination
Correct answer: Include clinically relevant information in the evaluation but not act as law enforcement
The SAP uses clinically relevant disclosures to inform the evaluation but does not function as a law enforcement agent.
Question 4: When a SAP provides the 'return-to-duty' recommendation, it signifies that:
- The employee has completed treatment and is guaranteed substance-free
- The employee has complied with the SAP's recommendations and is eligible to be tested (Correct answer)
- The employer must immediately return the employee to safety-sensitive work
- The employee's substance use disorder has been fully resolved
Correct answer: The employee has complied with the SAP's recommendations and is eligible to be tested
A return-to-duty recommendation means the employee has satisfied SAP requirements and is eligible, not that sobriety is guaranteed.
Question 5: Which action would be considered an ethical breach in the SAP's follow-up evaluation testing process?
- Recommending a minimum of 6 follow-up tests in the first 12 months
- Allowing the employer to determine the schedule for all follow-up tests (Correct answer)
- Coordinating with the DER to ensure follow-up tests are unannounced
- Documenting follow-up testing requirements in the SAP report
Correct answer: Allowing the employer to determine the schedule for all follow-up tests
The SAP, not the employer, determines the follow-up testing plan; allowing employers to set the schedule violates SAP authority.
Question 6: An employee discloses suicidal ideation during the SAP evaluation. The SAP's first responsibility is to:
- Complete the SAP evaluation before addressing mental health concerns
- Notify the DOT of the disclosure
- Address the immediate safety concern and make an appropriate referral (Correct answer)
- Inform the employer so they can remove the employee from duty
Correct answer: Address the immediate safety concern and make an appropriate referral
Ethical duty of care requires the SAP to address immediate safety concerns, including suicidal ideation, before proceeding with evaluation.
Question 7: A SAP is also a licensed addiction counselor at a treatment facility. An employee referred for SAP evaluation needs residential treatment. The SAP should:
- Refer the employee to their own facility since it is convenient
- Refer the employee to their own facility with full disclosure and employee consent
- Avoid referring to their own facility to prevent a conflict of interest (Correct answer)
- Let the employer choose the treatment facility
Correct answer: Avoid referring to their own facility to prevent a conflict of interest
Referring a SAP client to one's own treatment facility creates a financial conflict of interest that should be avoided.
SAP Professional Standards & Ethics 3
An employer asks the SAP to expedite the evaluation process to return a key employee to safety-sensitive duties quickly.
The SAP should: