Level I: Managing an FAA Drug & Alcohol Program Introduction Course - 3 Days

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Module 1: Introduction to DOT/FAA Drug & Alcohol Testing Requirements

• Overview of DOT regulations (49 CFR Part 40)

• FAA-specific requirements (14 CFR Part 120)

• Purpose of the testing program

• Roles and responsibilities of the DER

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Module 2: Regulatory Framework and Legal Obligations

• Key definitions (safety-sensitive function, MRO, SAP, etc.)

• Applicability of regulations to employers and contractors

• Recordkeeping and confidentiality requirements

• Consequences of non-compliance (enforcement actions, fines, etc.)

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Module 3: DER Responsibilities and Functions

• DER authority and role in the testing program

• Communicating with:

  • Collection sites

  • Medical Review Officers (MROs)

  • Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs)

  • Third Party Administrators (TPAs)

• Ensuring compliance with testing requirements

• Managing test results, refusals, and follow-up testing

• Removal and return-to-duty processes

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Module 4: Types of Testing and Procedures

• Pre-employment testing

• Random testing

• Post-accident testing

• Reasonable cause/suspicion testing

• Return-to-duty and follow-up testing

• Alcohol testing procedures (screening and confirmation)

• Drug testing procedures (collection, lab analysis, MRO review)

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Module 5: Responding to Positive Tests and Refusals

• What constitutes a refusal to test

• Reporting and handling positive test results

• DER actions for each test outcome

• SAP referrals and treatment process

• Employee requalification

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Module 6: Program Oversight and Audit Readiness

• Internal audit checklist

• FAA audit preparation

• Ensuring vendor compliance (TPAs, labs, MROs)

• Maintaining compliant records and documentation

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Module 7: DER Best Practices and Case Studies

• Handling complex or unusual test cases

• Communicating effectively with employees

• Mitigating risks in testing program management

• Real-world DER scenarios and responses

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Assessment and Certification

• Final DER competency quiz/exam

• Certificate of Completion (compliant with FAA/DOT requirements)

• Optional: Live Q&A or role-playing exercise

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Level II: Managing an FAA Drug & Alcohol Program Advance Course - 5 Days​

An advanced, hands-on certification for experienced aviation compliance professionals

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Course Overview

The Level II: Managing an FAA Drug & Alcohol Program is a five-day, immersive certificate course designed for professionals who are ready to move beyond regulatory knowledge and into real-world application, analysis, and leadership readiness.

Unlike introductory compliance training, this course places participants in the role of an inspector. Participants evaluate program documentation, identify regulatory findings, and defend those findings using FAA and DOT regulations. The focus is not on memorization—but on judgment, documentation, objectivity, and defensibility.

This course is ideal for professionals who manage, audit, or oversee FAA Drug & Alcohol Programs and want to understand how their programs are evaluated under regulatory scrutiny.

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Who Should Attend

This course is designed for:

• Experienced Designated Employer Representatives (DERs)

• Compliance Managers and Safety Leaders

• Internal Auditors and Quality Assurance Professionals

• HR and Program Managers supporting FAA-regulated operations

• Professionals who have completed Level I – Managing an FAA Drug & Alcohol Program

 

What Makes This Course Different

✔ Inspector-Focused Practicum Participants become the inspector, not the auditee
✔ Group-Based File Review Projects Realistic documentation and case analysis
✔ Leadership Development Focused on managing emotional intelligence and professional composure
✔ Regulation-Driven Findings every conclusion must be supported by FAA or DOT regulation
✔ Findings Defense Teams brief and defend conclusions in a simulated inspection environment

This is not a lecture course. It is a working lab for advanced compliance professionals.

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Course Structure (5 Days)

Day 1: Leadership Development & Level I Alignment
Participants complete a focused Level I recap, are assigned to inspection teams, and engage in individual leadership development centered on managing emotional intelligence, objectivity, and professional self-management.

Days 2–4: Inspector Practicum (Group-Based)
Teams act as inspectors reviewing assigned FAA Drug & Alcohol Program files. The objective is to identify potential findings, determine regulatory support, and distinguish between fatal, correctable, and non-findings exactly as inspectors do.

Day 5: Findings Briefings & Defense
Teams formally present and defend their findings using documentation and regulation. The course concludes with group debriefing and individual reflection.

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Evaluate FAA Drug & Alcohol Programs from an inspector’s perspective

• Identify and support regulatory findings with documentation and citations

• Distinguish high-risk compliance issues from administrative errors

• Maintain objectivity and professional composure in high-stakes environments

• Defend compliance conclusions under challenge

 

Certification & Continuing Education

✔ Level II Certificate of Completion
✔ 4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) awarded by CCDAPP

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Why This Matters

Most compliance failures are not caused by lack of knowledge but by gaps in documentation, judgment, objectivity, and preparation. This course closes that gap by teaching how inspections actually work and how programs are evaluated in practice.

Participants leave better prepared to:

• Identify vulnerabilities before regulators do

• Strengthen internal compliance programs

• Lead confidently during audits or inspections

• Reduce regulatory and enforcement risk

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Oral fluid drug testing training will be added once the process has been officially launched

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