AACS Counseling today announced its DOT Return-to-Duty (RTD) Program. The program guides transportation professionals through the federally required steps to resume safety-sensitive duties after a drug or alcohol violation. Evaluations are conducted by certified Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs) through secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth, and the program serves workers in all 50 states.
The Return-to-Duty process is a core part of Department of Transportation regulations designed to protect safety across regulated industries. Employees who have violated DOT drug and alcohol testing rules must complete it before they can return to work. AACS Counseling supports workers regulated by the FMCSA, FAA, FRA, PHMSA, USCG, and FTA.
A clear path back to work
AACS Counseling breaks the process into defined steps:
Initial SAP Evaluation. The employee meets with a SAP to review the violation. For FMCSA-regulated drivers, the process starts by selecting AACS Counseling and a SAP in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Employees can begin even if the violation hasn’t yet appeared in the Clearinghouse, and progress is backdated once it is reported.
Education or treatment. The SAP recommends a course of education or treatment and provides a list of approved providers. After completing it, the employee takes a non-DOT alcohol and drug test.
Follow-Up SAP Evaluation. The SAP reviews progress and, if the employee is eligible, updates the Clearinghouse for FMCSA-regulated workers.
Return-to-Duty test. The current or new employer schedules a DOT RTD test. A negative result clears the employee to return to duty.
Follow-up testing. The SAP’s plan includes unannounced follow-up tests, which the employer is responsible for ensuring are completed. If an employee changes jobs, the plan can transfer to the new employer on request.
AACS Counseling’s goal is to make each step clear, fast, and affordable so qualified professionals can get back to safety-sensitive work.
Affordable, flexible payment options
AACS Counseling markets its program as one of the lowest-cost SAP programs available. For FMCSA, FTA, FRA, PHMSA, and USCG employees, the Initial and Follow-Up SAP Evaluations are available for $400, or through payment options including:
Two payments of $225 or three payments of $160, paid in-house
Four interest-free installments of $113 through AfterPay or PayPal
PayPal Credit
FAA-regulated employees can pay $850 in full, or choose split payments, AfterPay, PayPal Pay Later, or PayPal Credit. Payments cover the evaluations only. The cost of recommended education or treatment is separate and paid to the provider, and AACS Counseling works with clients to find affordable providers.
Resources for workers and employers
AACS Counseling offers a downloadable “My SAP Packet” that outlines the Return-to-Duty steps for each regulatory agency. Employers are not required to pay for SAP evaluations or treatment, but they must ensure that an employee who has violated the regulations completes an SAP evaluation, follows the recommended treatment, and passes a Return-to-Duty test before returning to safety-sensitive duties.
About AACS Counseling
AACS Counseling provides board-ready clinical evaluations, SAP programs, and court-related assessments for professionals in all 50 states via secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth. Services include DOT SAP evaluations, DUI and substance abuse evaluations, anger management, mental health assessments, and treatment and education classes, with Spanish-language services available.
Media Contact

AACS Counseling
Phone: 800-683-7745
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.aacscounseling.com/return-to-duty-program/
Office hours: Monday-Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-5pm