This course and examination meet the requirements for professionals seeking to renew their qualification as a Substance Abuse Expert under the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fitness for Duty Program.
Renewal Information: Take this course only if you are within your 3-year time frame for renewal. If your qualification has lapsed you need to take the qualification course, not this renewal.
Please read the description below for additional information.
 
Licensed physicians and psychologists may take this course.  No CE is available for medical doctors or psychologists.
 
Available as a live course for contracted groups. Contact us for information.
Developed by: Karen Albig Smith, LMFT, LCAS, MAC, CAP, SAP, SAE
Revised January 2024

Users include Duke Energy, Florida Power and Light, Nile Mile Point Nuclear, and Southern Energy, Cigna, Magellan, and Aetna Healthcare.

Description:  The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and commercial nuclear power industry have published regulations about the potential public health and safety impacts of fitness-for-duty (FFD) problems at nuclear power plants and other facilities that handle nuclear material. Licensees are required to implement programs to address FFD problems including illegal drug use, alcohol abuse, misuse of legal drugs, and any other mental or physical problems that could impair job performance. The events of 9/11 also highlighted a need to strengthen the N.R.C. requirements for granting unescorted access to protected and vital areas in nuclear facilities. These changes in the context within which the nuclear industry operated, and others, resulted in a very long and complex rulemaking process that produced the new rule. The new rule, (10 C.F.R. Part 26) outlines responsibilities for Substance Abuse Experts who provide substance abuse assessments as part of the fitness-for-duty program. Licensees were responsible for implementing the relevant sections that affect SAEs by March 31, 2010. This renewal study includes material concerning new technologies, interpretations, recent guidance, rule changes, and other information about developments in SAE practice and includes documented assessment tools (posttest examination and course evaluation) to assist in determining that the SAE has learned the material.

Renewal requirements:  Eligible professionals* who wish to renew their qualification as Substance Abuse Experts (SAEs) must meet continuing education requirements. To be eligible to re-qualify to perform substance abuse evaluations for employees, who violate N.R.C. drug and alcohol prohibitions, Substance Abuse Experts must obtain 12 professional development hours relevant to the US N.R.C. FFD program.

*Eligible professionals include licensed physicians, licensed or certified social workers, licensed or certified psychologists, licensed or certified employee assistance professionals, or an alcohol and drug abuse counselor certified by the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) Certification Commission or by the International Certification Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (ICRC).  No CE is available for physicians or psychologists.

Objectives:
1.  Participants will be able to describe the background, rationale, and scope of the N.R.C. FFD regulations.
2.  Participants will be able to discuss the key drug testing requirements of the N.R.C. FFD regulations.
3.  Participants will be able to describe key alcohol testing requirements of the N.R.C. FFD regulations.
4.  Participants will be able to describe SAE qualifications and prohibitions.
5.  Participants will be able to describe the role of the SAE in making determinations of fitness and the return-to-duty process.
6.  Participants will be able to implement the procedures for SAE consultation and communication with LOEs, MROs, and treatment providers.
7.   Participants will be able to describe the reporting and record keeping requirements of the N.R.C. FFD regulations.
8.   Participants will be able to identify issues that SAEs confront in carrying out their duties under the N.R.C. FFD regulations.

CE Credits:  12

Agenda
Hour One:  Pretest and course overview.
Hour Two: 10 C.F.R. Subpart A - Administrative provisions, Subpart B - Program elements.
Hour Three: 10 C.F.R. Subpart C - Granting & maintaining authorization; Subpart D - Management actions and sanctions to be imposed.
Hour Four: 10 C.F.R. Subpart E - Collecting specimens for testing.
Hour Five: 10 C.F.R. Subpart F - Licensee testing facilities.
Hour Six: 10 C.F.R. Subpart G - DHHS laboratories.
Hour Seven: 10 C.F.R. Subpart H - Determining fitness-for-duty, policy violations and determining fitness.
Hour Eight: 10 C.F.R. Subpart I - Managing fatigue.
Hour Nine:  10 C.F.R. Subpart K - FFD programs for construction.
Hour Ten: 10 C.F.R. Subpart N - Recordkeeping and reporting requirements; Subpart O - Inspections, violations, and penalties.
Hour Eleven: 10 C.F.R. Part 26.
Hour Twelve:  Posttest
CE Broker #:  20-343261 
Methods:  Pre-test, study guide, posttest and evaluation, internet sources via URLs, Q&A by email.
Content Area:  N.R.C. Substance abuse expert, Addictions (alcohol and drugs), Clinical evaluation and assessment, Legal and regulatory.
Purpose:  To prepare eligible professionals to renew SAE qualification under 10 C.F.R. Part 26.
Target Audience:  Psychologists, physicians, social workers, employee assistance professionals, and addiction professionals.
Approvals:
Program Services is an NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements. The ACEP solely is responsible for all aspects of the program. #5978
Social Work State Licensing Board Approval Information for Continuing Education- Accepts Program Services Credits- Accepts our national approvals Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Accepts other state SW boards Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia Cross-disciplinary, no specified requirements/limitations or self- submit after the fact Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Maine, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Wyoming, New Mexico Does not approve Program Services credits Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana
National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) #86395
Florida Board of Nursing FBN #2456 CEBroker provider # 50-1651
Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling:  BAP #162 CEBroker provider # 50-1651
Florida Certification Board, Inc. #159A
Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners #0339
Allied profession approvals can be found at https://www.programservices.org/approvals?other=true

Online Course

CE Broker#:
20-343261
CE Credits:
12
Price:
$275.00

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