FDTS FAA Drug & Alcohol Program Management Training Pathway

Four Levels. One Comprehensive Professional Development Experience.

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From Regulatory Knowledge to Compliance Leadership

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Federal Drug Testing Services (FDTS) offers a comprehensive, four-level professional development pathway designed for individuals responsible for administering, managing, and overseeing FAA-mandated drug and alcohol testing programs. Accredited through the Certification Commission for Drug and Alcohol Program Professionals (CCDAPP), this progressive training pathway goes beyond traditional classroom instruction.

 

Each level builds upon the previous one, advancing participants from foundational regulatory knowledge to practical inspection experience, leadership development, and demonstrated compliance mastery. ​Developed by a former FAA Drug & Alcohol Compliance Enforcement Inspector, the program emphasizes real-world application, regulatory interpretation, critical thinking, and professional accountability.

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The Four-Level Training Pathway

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Level I — Foundation

Understand the Program

Establish a comprehensive understanding of 14 CFR Part 120, 49 CFR Part 40, and the responsibilities associated with managing an FAA drug and alcohol testing program. Participants develop the knowledge necessary to administer testing requirements, maintain records, oversee service agents, and recognize fundamental compliance responsibilities.

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Level II — Application

Inspect and Identify

Transition from understanding regulations to applying them through a simulated FAA inspection. Participants examine a company's drug and alcohol testing program, review records, evaluate regulatory compliance, interview personnel, identify potential deficiencies, and document findings supported by applicable regulatory authority. The inspection findings developed during Level II become the foundation for the final Level IV experience.

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Level III — Leadership

Lead and Resolve

Develop the leadership, communication, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills essential to effective program management. Participants explore organizational challenges involving Human Resources, Recruiting, Safety, Legal, labor representatives, senior leadership, and regulatory authorities while learning to navigate competing priorities without compromising compliance.

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Level IV — Program Mastery

Defend, Correct, and Demonstrate Mastery

Level IV brings together the knowledge, inspection experience, and leadership skills developed throughout Levels I–III.

Participants return to the company they inspected during Level II, reassess their original findings, and prepare, issue, present, and defend a simulated FAA-style Final Report of Inspection. Through interactive role-playing, participants experience both sides of the inspection table, serving as FAA inspectors and company management representatives.

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They must defend regulatory conclusions, challenge unsupported findings, prepare formal company responses, evaluate corrective-action plans, and resolve leadership conflicts using the skills acquired during Level III. This final experience challenges participants to demonstrate not simply what they know, but how effectively they can apply that knowledge when confronted with real-world compliance decisions.

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Why Choose the FDTS Training Pathway?

Unlike isolated training courses, the FDTS pathway provides a structured progression that connects regulatory knowledge, practical application, organizational leadership, and professional judgment. Our goal is not simply to train DERs and program managers. It is to develop confident, knowledgeable compliance leaders who can recognize problems, defend decisions, and strengthen the programs entrusted to their oversight.

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Begin Your Professional Development Journey

Whether you are entering the aviation drug and alcohol compliance profession or seeking to strengthen your existing expertise, the FDTS four-level pathway provides a progressive approach to advancing your knowledge and capabilities.