About Me
I am a Nationally Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) My certification is through the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (NAADAC). In addition, I am DOT qualified to provide services as a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP). My Qualification Exam was administered by the Employee Assistance Professional Association (EAPA). In 2009, I received my Substance Use Disorder Professional Certification. Since then, I have worked in several positions providing professional drug and alcohol services in Western Washington. My clinical experience in the addiction field includes work as treatment counselor at both inpatient facilities and outpatient treatment agencies, an inpatient treatment admissions specialist and as the clinical director at a private treatment agency. My primary direction as a counselor was group and individual work with adults and as an assessor find the best option in the industry for treatment services.
CONTACT INFORMATION OFFICE LOCATION
Susan Cherry 17404 Meridian E Ste F-1069
US DOT SAP Puyallup, WA 98375
Cell: 253-312-5233
Fax: 253-276-4507 Assessments by Appointment ONLY
Email: susan@dotsap.pro
Becoming A SAP
Credentials & Certifications
Credentials & Certifications
In 2024, I began my private practice as a DOT qualified SAP at my office in Puyallup WA. The focus of my work is to provide substance abuse assessments to employees subject to the Department of Transportation drug and alcohol regulations and to non-DOT employees subject to company drug free workplace requirements.
Credentials & Certifications
Credentials & Certifications
Credentials & Certifications
Your DOT SAP Search is Over!
**US DOT now allows the SAP process to be conducted remotely** **Clients do not require in-person sessions** **Face-to-face meetings will be conducted via computer or smartphone using a secure HIPAA-compliant online platform, which will allow me to connect with you**
If you are employed in a Department of Transportation safety-sensitive position that falls under the:
- FMCSA -Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- FAA - Federal Aviation Administration
- USCG - United States Coast Guard
- FRA - Federal Railroad Administration
- PHMSA-Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- FTA - Federal Transit Administration
Reduced Fees
For Military Veterans
And have violated the Federal DOT drug and alcohol regulations by testing positive for drugs, an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater, refusing a test, not able to provide a specimen in a timely manner or failing to take a test, then you must be immediately removed from your DOT safety-sensitive duties.
In order for you to be considered for return to any DOT safety-sensitive role in the transportation industry or be hired by a different DOT-covered employer you must successfully complete the DOT return-to-duty process. This will require the involvement of a DOT qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP).
**Initial Evaluation can usually be offered within 24 to 48 hours**
Helpful Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Things to Consider When Searching for a SAP:
Things to Consider When Searching for a SAP:
What Must I do to Return-to-Duty?
What is a SAP?
What does a SAP do?
How Soon Before I Can Return to Work?
Can Any Drug & Alcohol Counselor Evaluate Me?
Must I see a SAP if I Take a Non-DOT Job?
Will My Employer Take Me Back if I Complete the SAP Process?
If I'm a Truck Driver, how is My Washington State CDL be Affected?
Things to Consider When Searching for a SAP.
Things to Consider When Looking for your Next Job.
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What Must I do to Return-to-Duty?
Before you can be considered for a return to safety-sensitive duties you must successfully complete the Department of Transportation (DOT) return-to-duty process, which requires involvement of a qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP). You will then be required to provide a negative result on a return-to-duty drug and/or alcohol test.
What is a SAP?
A SAP is a Substance Abuse Professional that, per DOT prerequisites, has specific credentials, meets qualification-training requirements including continuing education activities and demonstrates a basic knowledge and understanding of the DOT regulations that must be followed before an employee with a DOT violation can be considered for return to safety-sensitive functions in the transportation industry.
The SAP is not an advocate for the employer or employee. A SAP's primary concern is to ensure public safety in the event the employee returns to his/her safety-sensitive position.
What does a SAP do?
Per DOT regulations, the SAP must:
• Conduct a face-to-face initial employee evaluation and clinical assessment to determine the level of assistance needed to resolve the alcohol and/or drug associated problems.
• Recommend and refer the employee to an appropriate education and/or treatment program.
• Monitor the employee's progress in the education and/or treatment process through contact with the respective provider(s).
• Conduct a face-to-face follow-up evaluation to determine if the employee has fully and successfully complied with the initial evaluation and recommended course of education and/or treatment.
• Provide the Designated Employer Representative (DER) a follow-up evaluation with a drug and/or alcohol-testing plan for the employee for up to five years.
• Provide the employer and employee with recommendations for continuing education and/or treatment.
How Soon Before I Can Return to Work?
The SAP's education and/or treatment program will be dependent on your specific needs, which includes the severity of your drug or alcohol problem, your willingness to change this pattern, and your motivation to return to work.
The level of care and subsequent amount of time needed to resolve your problem will be dependent upon your evaluation and, at a minimum, the SAP's recommendation must include one or more of the following:
Education - May include but is not limited to self-help groups (e.g. Alcoholics Anonymous) and community lectures (e.g. one-day drug and alcohol education class).
Treatment - May include, but is not limited to inpatient hospitalization, partial inpatient treatment, out-patient counseling programs and aftercare.
**Even if your violation is the result of 'missing a test' you must complete some form of education**
Can Any Drug & Alcohol Counselor Evaluate Me?
No. Only a DOT SAP may evaluate you in order to meet Federal regulations and requirements. If a non-qualified counselor evaluates you then your return to work will be delayed.
Must I see a SAP if I Take a Non-DOT Job?
No. You do not need to go through the SAP process if you seek work from a non-DOT employer. But if you decide to return to a safety-sensitive position in the transportation industry you must keep in mind that future potential DOT employers must obtain your drug and alcohol testing records from your previous employers from the previous two years. If you have not successfully completed the SAP process, the potential employer cannot hire you until you do so.
Will My Employer Take Me Back if I Complete the SAP Process?
Your employer is not required to rehire you because you have met the required conditions. This decision actually depends on your employer's written policy or other requirements.
If I'm a Truck Driver, how is My Washington State be Affected?
Effective in 2002, the Washington State Department of Licensing mandated that all commercial truck drivers testing positive for drugs or alcohol on pre-employment, random, post-accident, and for cause testing, will have their CDL disqualified and recorded on their Driving Abstract as a permanent entry. This means that in addition to having to meet U.S. Department of Transportation standards, the SAP will have to report to the Washington Department of Licensing to have the employee's CDL released.
Things to Consider When Searching for a SAP:
Things to Consider When Searching for a SAP:
Things to Consider When Searching for a SAP:
- Entering into the SAP process is a serious and lengthy commitment on your part. But, if you wish to remain in a safety-sensitive job within any DOT regulated position, it is a necessary one. It is therefore important to remember:
- Your choice of a SAP is final. Once you start the return-to-duty process with a SAP there is no turning back! You cannot get a second opinion or re-start the process with another SAP.
- A SAP's decision is final which means you/your employer must accept their treatment and/or education recommendation. If your health insurance or employer does not cover the recommended plan and you can't pay out-of-pocket then your only option is to seek employment outside the transportation industry.
- The time that has passed since your DOT violation, changes in your life, prior treatment, or 'unique' reasons why you tested positive, will not modify the SAP process.
- No matter how remote your residence is, or the distance to the SAP's office, the return-to-duty process cannot be reduced, an alternate counseling program cannot be used, and evaluations can never be done by telephone.
Things to Consider When Looking for your Next Job
1. The single most important rule to keep in mind when applying for any US DOT safety sensitive position is that you MUST disclose past DOT test failure(s). While all employers are required to ask about current and past drug use on their job application, US DOT does not say how this question it is to be worded. Consequently, some employers ask questions that are vague and do not communicate their intent to elicit this information. A strong note of caution: the employer will likely run a motor vehicle record check in order to verify the
information you provide on your job application. If the withheld information is uncovered during the pre-employment check, then you are unlikely to get the job. If you have already started with the company, then this can be grounds for job termination—a fact that your ex-boss would then pass on to future employers. Once hired and an undisclosed violation is discovered as part of a US DOT audit then US DOT can find that your employer failed to conduct a thorough background records check on you and levy a substantial fine against the company. In addition, if it is determined that you withheld this information in a manner that prevented your employer from easily uncovering the violation then US DOT could fine you. If there is any doubt about whether past violation(s) should be disclosed, then be on the side of disclosure because failure to be candid with your potential employer will impact your job eligibility.
2. Be aware that you may now have a more difficult search when looking for a job. Reason? Every company has a different policy when it comes to violations. Some employers may have a policy not to hire anyone with a US DOT violation on their record. Or the company policy is to not hire anyone with a US DOT violation within the past 1,2, 3, 4 or 5 years. These employment policies are perfectly legal.
3. If it means getting employed, you may need to take a pay cut and/or be willing to commute a greater distance. This may be difficult for you to accept especially if you are providing the same services for a lower pay.
While you know your worth, the only thing that will heal this wound is time. Employment opportunities typically become more plentiful after you have completed your aftercare, follow-up drug testing and have one, two or three years of commercial driving after your violation.
4. Learn to be resourceful in your job search. In the past, you may have called one or two companies that had job openings posted in the local paper. You now need to increase you job search tools tenfold. If you are not computer savvy, it’s time to get help. Use any Internet search engine (e.g. Google) and type in variations of following words: ‘CDL positions in Everett, WA’ or ‘CDL positions in King County, WA’. This can easily result in hundreds of searchable listings. You should plan on submitting five to ten online applications a day. Do this on a daily basis until you are hired. Remember that if you are willing to drive a truck for 8 hours a day, then you should be willing to put that same amount of time into looking for a job.
5. The trucking industry is the backbone of our country. Because commercial truck drivers play a vital role in ensuring a company’s success there will never be a job shortage. So, be patient, don’t get frustrated and stay committed to the search and you will be back behind the wheel in short order.
Non-DOT SAP Evaluations
A considerable number of companies maintain drug-free workplace programs for employees who are not subject to Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. Implementing a drug and alcohol testing plan is one effective method for employers to ensure a safe work environment. These plans may be established based on insurance requirements, negotiated labor agreements, or specific company Human Resource policies. When such a program is part of the written terms and conditions of employment, employees must comply fully with the company's drug and alcohol testing requirements
Many employers recognize the DOT Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) process as the gold standard for determining when an employee may be considered fit to return to work following a failed or refused drug or alcohol test. As a result, some employers require employees in these situations to undergo a 'non-DOT SAP' evaluation conducted by a DOT-qualified SAP. Although employers cannot mandate an employee see a SAP, refusal to participate in the evaluation process can result in the employer lawfully denying the employee's return to work.
Benefits of 'Non-DOT SAP' Evaluations
· Limited Disclosure of Employee Information to the Employer:
· During the evaluation, the SAP meets in person with the employee and subsequently provides the employer with a written report. This report is limited to the details of the offense and includes recommendations for drug or alcohol treatment or education required for the employee's return to work. If the employee follows the recommended plan, the SAP provides the employer with a written return-to-work report. This report identifies the treatment provider, dates of treatment, a clinical description of the employee’s participation, and an assessment of successful compliance. The SAP may recommend returning the employee to work either upon completion of the program or, if deemed appropriate, when the employee has demonstrated sufficient commitment and stability. Completion of the treatment program is mandatory, and all reports from the treatment provider are sent only to the SAP, not directly to the employer.
· Comparison with State Certified Treatment Agency Reports:
if an employee does not undergo a DOT SAP evaluation, a State Certified treatment agency may provide an alternative assessment. Typically, this is a 'bio-psych-social' evaluation documenting the employee’s history with drug and alcohol use and treatment. This report often includes medical, mental health, legal/arrest, work, and family history information, much of which exceeds what is necessary for the employer and may be prejudicial to the employee.
· Customized Employee Treatment Plan:
· The SAP determines the treatment program, its frequency, and duration, referring the employee to an agency that delivers a drug or alcohol education or treatment plan tailored to their specific needs.
· Limitations of Non-SAP Agency Referrals:
· Without the DOT SAP process, over 95% of the time, the assessing treatment agency will refer the employee to its own facility. As a result, the treatment approach may become standardized and based on the agency’s available programs rather than the individual’s needs.
Fitness for Duty Evaluations
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG), through the National Maritime Center (NMC), will withhold applications for new or renewed licenses if an applicant reports a drug or alcohol-related arrest, treatment, or use issue. Both agencies require a Fitness for Duty assessment, which may be conducted by a DOT-qualified Substance Abuse Professional.
This diagnostic assessment may include a review of local court and Department of Licensing records, medical and prior drug and alcohol treatment history, and employment records. The process also involves telephone interviews with character references and appropriate family members, as well as one or two in-person meetings with the applicant.
A Fitness for Duty assessment does not automatically require additional treatment or education. If the applicant has already completed a suitable education or treatment program following the incident, further care may not be necessary.
Typically, the entire Fitness for Duty assessment process is completed within 10 to 14 days.
Washington State Chauffeurs and Limousine Drivers
The State of Washington regulates all chauffeurs and limousine drivers through the Department of Licensing. Drivers are required to participate in mandatory drug and alcohol testing. Any driver who fails a test, refuses to test, or does not report for testing is disqualified from driving with the company, as specified by WAC 308-83-150.
According to WAC 308-83-151, a driver seeking reinstatement after disqualification, or seeking employment with a different company in the industry, must meet with a Substance Abuse Professional qualified under 49 CFR 40 and successfully complete the requirements established by the SAP.
Contact Me
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