The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Drug Abatement Division (AAM-800) would like to remind you that C/TPAs are required to ensure the services they provide are in compliance with regulatory requirements. The FAA's drug and alcohol testing regulation, 14 CFR part 120, requires an aviation employer to document their program in accordance with 14 CFR §§ 120.117 and 120.225, based on the type of operation:
The certification under an A449, A049, or registration gives the employer or contractor the authority to conduct federal testing of its employees under 14 CFR part 120. When an employer hires a C/TPA to manage its random drug and alcohol testing program, the C/TPA is obligated under 49 CFR § 40.347(b)(2) to ensure that only employees covered by DOT agency drug and alcohol testing are part of the random testing pool. The easiest way for you to verify the aviation employees you add to the random testing pool are covered is to request and obtain a copy of the aviation employer's A449, A049, or registration. Failure to verify employees are covered under a DOT agency regulation is a violation of 49 CFR § 40.347(b)(2) and may trigger a Public Interest Exclusion (PIE) in accordance with 49 CFR § 40.365(b)(14). You can also find additional information in our FAQ. Applicable Regulations:
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C/TPA Compliance with FAA’s Drug/Alcohol Testing Requirements
'Back to Basics' for Service Agents
In May, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance (ODAPC) announced a short series of reminders called 'Back to Basics' for service agents (e.g., collectors, Medical Review Officers, etc). Doing it right is important for protecting the safety of the traveling public, protecting the integrity of the testing process, and making sure that the process is fair to employees. 'Back to Basics' points out the more common issues we hear about regarding the drug and alcohol testing process. This is not a checklist for service agents but a reminder that their role is very important and crucial to the drug and alcohol testing process. We want to remind service agents to "Do It Right the First Time, and Every Time". The second service agent highlighted in the series is – the Medical Review Officer (MRO). To view 'Back to Basics' for MROs, visit https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/back_to_basics
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Updated Substance Abuse Professional Guidelines
On June 1, 2023, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance posted its updated Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) guidelines. The document has been updated regarding certain provisions addressed in the Department of Transportation (DOT) final rule published on May 2, 2023. A listing of the updates to the SAP guidelines can be found on the last page of the document. The document can be found at https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/sap.
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