BY STATE · NEW YORK · 49 CFR §40.281

How to Become a DOT SAP in New York

Becoming a DOT Substance Abuse Professional is one uniform federal pathway, set in 49 CFR §40.281 and applied the same way in every state. What is specific to New York is the underlying clinical credential — the license or certification you earn through the boards below to satisfy the §40.281(a) requirement before you complete SAP qualification training and pass the national exam.

TRACK A

Addiction-counselor certification (the DOT counselor path)

This is the path that satisfies the §40.281(a) “drug and alcohol counselor” category, which DOT accepts only through a NAADAC-, IC&RC-, or NBCC-affiliated board. In New York that credential is:

Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC)

IC&RC-affiliated: No

Issuing board: New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) — a STATE AGENCY, not IC&RC
Education requirement: Minimum 350 clock hours of OASAS-required education/training plus mandatory one-time coursework (board-verified).
Supervised hours: Minimum 6,000 hours (~3 years) of supervised approved work experience (board-verified).
Required exam: OASAS-approved examination (state exam, not IC&RC).
Also accepted: CASAC is issued directly by the NY state agency (OASAS) under its own exam; it is NOT an IC&RC / NAADAC / NBCC credential. For the DOT SAP counselor path in NY, verify eligibility against 49 CFR §40.281 — a NAADAC or NBCC credential is the clearest route.

TRACK B

State clinical license

New York's CASAC is issued by OASAS (a state agency), NOT IC&RC — so the drug/alcohol-counselor DOT path here typically runs through a NAADAC or NBCC credential. All other SAP-eligible licenses (LCSW, psychologist, LMHC/LMFT, physician) sit under NYSED Office of the Professions.

OTHER PATHS

Other SAP-eligible boards in New York

You do not have to be an addiction counselor. Any one of these New York boards licenses a profession that satisfies one of the other five §40.281(a) SAP credential categories — physician, social worker, psychologist, employee assistance professional, or marriage and family therapist.

Social worker NYSED Office of the Professions — State Board for Social Work (LCSW)

Psychologist NYSED Office of the Professions — State Board for Psychology

Marriage & family therapist NYSED Office of the Professions — Mental Health Practitioners (LMHC / LMFT)

Physician NYSED Office of the Professions — State Board for Medicine

THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

The federal steps are the same in every state

Once you hold a qualifying New York credential above, the rest of the SAP pathway is set by federal rule and does not change by state. See the full federal requirements →

1 What credential do you need to become a DOT SAP?
2 What knowledge does a SAP need?
3 What qualification training and exam are required?
4 What continuing education must a SAP maintain?
5 What documentation must a SAP keep?
6 What does a DOT SAP actually do?

Sources

Last reviewed: 2026-07-07

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