SAPACC, the Substance Abuse Program Administrators’ Certification Commission, is the national (U.S.) certifying body for substance abuse program administrators (SAPAs) who have chosen to be recognized as specialists with demonstrated proficiency in their field. It is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to enhancing the quality and level of professional knowledge and skills of individuals providing drug and alcohol testing and related services to the public. SAPACC established a national certification program for SAPAs and administers national examinations for SAPAs and Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs).
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SAPACC
7220 SW SYLVAN CT
PORTLAND, OR 97225-3742
Phone: 866-538-4788
FAX: 503-297-4748
Email: sapaccassistant@aol.com
President: Marty Duke, M.D.
C-SAPA AND Q-SAP INFORMATION
Please note that most of the following documents are in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. To obtain a free copy of the Adobe Reader, go to http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. If you need any of the Adobe documents in Microsoft Word format, please email or call SAPACC.
C-SAPA: CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
- Overview of C-SAPA Application Process/Fees
- Minimum Competency of a SAPA
- C-SAPA Information Guide
- C-SAPA Application
- C-SAPA Documentation of Experience
- Timeline for Exam Application and Preparation
- Examination Study Guide Order Form
- C-SAPA Certification Exam Dates for 2008
C-SAPA PRIME: CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
- Overview of C-SAPA(M) Application Process/Fees
- Minimum Competency of a SAPA(M)
- C-SAPA(M) Information Guide
- C-SAPA(M) Documentation of Experience
- C-SAPA(M) Application
- C-SAPA
Certification Exam Dates for 2008
C-SAPA: RECERTIFICATION INFORMATION
- Overview of Recertification Process/Fees
- C-SAPA Recertification Guide
- C-SAPA Recertification Application
Q-SAP: EXAMINATION INFORMATION
- Overview of Q-SAP Application Process/Fees
- Q-SAP Qualification Information
- Q-SAP Credentials Self-Verification Form
- Q-SAP Qualification Examination Design & Validation
- Q-SAP Qualification Exam Dates for 2007
Q-SAP: RENEWAL INFORMATION
CURRENT LISTS OF C-SAPAS AND Q-SAPS
OTHER LINKS
SAPACC works with other professional organizations to achieve its goals of enhancing the quality and level of professional knowledge and skills of individuals providing drug and alcohol testing and related services to the public.
SAPAA www.sapaa.com
The Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association mission is to establish, promote, and communicate the highest standards of quality, integrity, and professionalism in the administration of workplace substance abuse prevention programs through education, training and the exchange of ideas.
DATIA www.datia.org
The Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association’s mission is to represent the drug and alcohol testing industry in Washington, DC on key legislative and regulatory issues; to expand the workplace drug and alcohol testing market; to provide members information, resources and benefits important to their operations; and to promote the highest possible standards for the industry.
DOT Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance www.dot.gov/ost/dapc
The Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance (ODAPC) publishes, implements and provides authoritative interpretations of the DOT published rules on who must conduct drug and alcohol tests, how to conduct those tests and what procedures to use when testing.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html
The Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
MROCC www.mrocc.com
The Medical Review Officer Certification Council, MROCC, a physician-based non-profit board, offers certification to physicians who have had appropriate medical training in the duties and responsibilities of the professional MRO.
AAMRO www.aamro.com
The American Association of Medical Review Officers is a nonprofit professional medical organization dedicated to establishing national standards and certification of medical practitioners in the field of drug and alcohol testing.
ASAM www.asam.org
The American Society of Addiction Medicine is the nation's medical specialty society dedicated to educating physicians and improving the treatment of individuals suffering from alcoholism and other addiction.
DOL Working Partners www.dol.gov/workingpartners
The Department of Labor Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace strives to build a drug-free workforce by equipping businesses and communities with tools and information to effectively address drug and alcohol problems.
EAPA www.eapassn.org
Established in 1971, the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA) is the world's oldest and largest membership organization for employee assistance professionals. EAPA hosts an annual conference, publishes a journal for the employee assistance profession, and offers trainings and other resources to enhance the professionalism of its members and the industry.
NAADAC www.naadac.org
The National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors is the premier global organization of addiction focused professionals who enhance the health and recovery of individuals, families, and communities.
SAPA is the acronym for Substance Abuse Program Administrator. The essential functions of a SAPA are to design, organize and administer services to promote drug-safe workplaces. These services are intended to improve health and productivity for all workers, decreasing accidents and the many costs associated with substance abuse.
The SAPA must also assure that programs are operated in compliance with any state or federal regulations, as well as company policies. Other concerns of the SAPA, whether he/she is directly employed by the organization or retained to serve in this capacity, include assuring that the program adheres to generally accepted standards for administrative services, testing, training, medical review, confidentiality and business ethics.
C-SAPA is the acronym for Certified Substance Abuse Program Administrator. A C-SAPA is an individual who has passed the certifying examination given by SAPACC.
To be recognized as a C-SAPA, an administrator must:
- Have worked in the substance abuse field for 6000 hours or for 4000 hours if he/she holds a bachelor’s degree or higher
- Demonstrate experience,
with time spent in at least four of the following seven areas:
1. Development of policies and procedures
2. Administration of random programs
3. Medical Review Officer (MRO) interaction/oversight
4. Oversight and/or performance of specimen collection procedures
5. Supervisory training
6. Compliance with federal and state laws
7. Interaction/oversight with Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs) - Pass a rigorous, diverse examination derived from a number of different disciplines. The examination is designed to identify those who have the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the functions of a SAPA.
Is SAPA certification required?
No. Certification and the effort to obtain it are entirely voluntary. It is recommended for either an in-house (directly employed) or outside program administrator as a means of verifying the individual’s qualifications.
The proper administration of substance abuse programs has become a complex task. It demands knowledge, ability and skills in areas where the need for formal training, education and knowledge has not previously been established.
The “consumer” for this service may have little or no understanding of the needs, yet must choose a “provider” who is truly knowledgeable. Certification by a recognized, reputable body thus becomes a major contributor to the consumer’s ability to recognize an acceptable provider.
Organizations which hire or contract for the services of a SAPA have a standard of demonstrated capability if the individual is a holder of a C-SAPA certification.
Q-SAP is the acronym for Qualified Substance Abuse Professional. A Q-SAP is a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) who has passed the qualification examination given by SAPACC to meet DOT regulations.