Confirm the appointment details
Before the appointment, confirm the date and time, the provider's contact information, the fee and payment method, and whether the evaluation will be in person or remote. If it is remote, check what video platform will be used and make sure you have a private location, a working camera and microphone, and a reliable connection.
DOT permits a SAP evaluation to be conducted remotely at the SAP's discretion when the SAP's license or other credential permits it and the technology provides real-time audio and video interaction with appropriate confidentiality. See 49 CFR § 40.291. More detail is available in the online SAP evaluation guide.
Have basic process information available
Know which DOT-regulated violation led to the referral and, for FMCSA-regulated drivers, make sure you can access your own Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse account if needed. If you are using a SAP for the FMCSA return-to-duty process, contact the SAP before sending a designation request in the Clearinghouse.
You do not need to upload medical records, drug-test records, diagnoses, prescriptions or Clearinghouse credentials to this checklist. If a SAP directly requests records for the evaluation, ask the SAP how those records should be provided securely.
Write down the questions you need answered
Useful questions include whether the quoted fee covers both the initial and follow-up SAP evaluations, how you will receive instructions after the evaluation, how completion of any recommended education or treatment will be documented, and how to arrange the follow-up evaluation when you are ready.
Do not expect the SAP to promise a completion date before evaluating you. DOT requires an individualized assessment and an individualized education and/or treatment recommendation. See DOT's SAP guidance.
Save or print the checklist for your own use
The checklist can be saved or printed as a personal preparation sheet. It should work without submitting contact information and should not contain sensitive clinical details.
After the appointment, use the SAP's actual instructions rather than the checklist as your process record. For a broader explanation of what happens next, see the SAP evaluation guide or return-to-duty next steps tool.