Contact the SAP before sending the designation
FMCSA instructs drivers to make contact with their SAP before designating that person in the Clearinghouse. This matters because the SAP must be registered with the Clearinghouse and must accept the driver's designation before reporting return-to-duty information.
If you have not chosen a professional yet, first check the qualification requirements in how to verify a DOT-qualified SAP. Do not send a designation merely because a similar name appears in the account.
How to send the SAP request
FMCSA's current driver instructions describe the designation from the driver's Clearinghouse account. In the return-to-duty area, enter the SAP's name, select the correct professional from the available results, review the displayed information and send the request.
Use the name under which the SAP registered in the Clearinghouse. If the SAP cannot be found, confirm the spelling and registration details directly with the SAP rather than selecting somebody else with a similar name. FMCSA's official instructions are available in How to Designate a SAP.
What happens after the request is sent
The designation is not complete merely because the driver sends the request. The SAP receives the request through the Clearinghouse and must accept it. The driver's dashboard should then reflect that the SAP has been designated.
FMCSA states that once the SAP accepts the designation, the driver cannot simply designate a different SAP in the Clearinghouse. This is consistent with the wider DOT rule against shopping for a second SAP evaluation because the driver disagrees with the first SAP's recommendations.
The selected SAP can then report the required assessment milestones. More detail about those entries is available in Clearinghouse RTD reporting responsibilities.
You should never give a provider your Clearinghouse password
The driver performs the designation through the driver's own Clearinghouse account. A SAP or provider may need identifying information to locate and manage the case, but there is no reason to hand over your Login.gov or Clearinghouse password so somebody else can sign in as you.
DOT SAP Program does not request or store Clearinghouse passwords. If you are having difficulty accessing the federal account itself, use FMCSA's official Clearinghouse assistance resources rather than sending login credentials through a contact form.