FTA DER TrainingDesignated Employer Representative
Connect Part 40 procedures to transit coverage, testing decisions, accident deadlines, return-to-duty coordination and FTA records and reporting.
English & SpanishSelf-paced onlineAbout 3 hours including assessments
Designed for FTA-covered transit testing programs. Employers with FMCSA-covered drivers must evaluate their separate FMCSA obligations.
Run the employer side of your FTA testing program
FTA drug and alcohol program administration training with English and Spanish lessons, practical scenarios, employer reference tools, and agency-specific testing and reporting procedures.
Build a practical contact route, respond to testing problems, act on results and protect the records behind employer decisions. Shared DOT procedures lead into agency-specific cases and responsibilities.
Who needs this training—and how often?
Employer staff who administer a DOT drug and alcohol testing program, including designated employer representatives and backup program contacts. Choose the agency course that matches the employer’s covered operations.
Use refresher training when responsibilities, procedures, or rules change, or when a program review identifies a gap. That is a practical recommendation. Separate mandatory employee and supervisor training requirements must be evaluated under the applicable agency rules.
Your course, module by module
Sixteen modules in each language, including the introduction and final assessment. Practice questions reinforce the teaching modules; the final draws 25 questions from a 56-question bank.
- 01
Your Role in the FTA Program
- 02
DER Authority and Routing
- 03
Set Up the Testing Network
- 04
Run a Part 40 Drug Test
- 05
Handle Collection Problems
- 06
Act on Drug Results
- 07
Coordinate Recovery and Return
- 08
Protect Records and Oversee Vendors
- 09
Operate the Program Day to Day
- 10
Coordinate Part 40 Alcohol Testing
- 11
Coverage and Transit Boundaries
- 12
Policy and Program Administration
- 13
Testing Decisions and Deadlines
- 14
Violations and Return to Duty
- 15
Records Reporting and Transit Case
- 16
Final Assessment
Who should take it
This employer-administration course does not replace separate supervisor, collector, breath alcohol technician, medical review officer or substance abuse professional qualification requirements.
Rules behind the course
Use the governing rules alongside your employer’s policy, provider contacts and procedures.
- 49 CFR Part 40DOT testing procedures, employer responsibilities and confidentiality.
- 49 CFR Part 655FTA drug and alcohol testing program requirements.
This is not government approval, professional licensure or a guarantee of employer compliance. The certificate records course completion.
Practical references included
No separate commercial textbook is required. Download the learner aids and bilingual regulatory crosswalk to review alongside your employer’s procedures.
Managing a different program? Explore FMCSA DER, FAA DER, or FMCSA reasonable suspicion supervisor training.
Start FTA DER training
Choose one learner or buy seats for your team. One-time price: $99 per learner.
FTA DER training questions
Who is this DER course for?
Employer staff who administer a DOT drug and alcohol testing program, including designated employer representatives and backup program contacts. Choose the agency course that matches the employer’s covered operations.
Is DER training the same as reasonable suspicion supervisor training?
No. This course focuses on administering the testing program and making employer decisions. Separate employee, supervisor, collector, breath alcohol technician, medical review officer, and substance abuse professional requirements must be addressed for those roles.
How often should I take this DER course?
Use refresher training when responsibilities, procedures, or rules change, or when a program review identifies a gap. That is a practical recommendation. Separate mandatory employee and supervisor training requirements must be evaluated under the applicable agency rules.
Is this a government-approved DER certification?
No. The course provides training and a completion record. It does not appoint you as the employer’s DER, license you, approve the employer’s testing program, or certify that every employer-specific obligation has been met.
Do I need to purchase a book?
The course includes learner references and links to the governing rules. Employers must also use their own policy, provider contacts, forms, and procedures. No separate commercial textbook is part of this course’s required materials.
Is the course available in Spanish?
The course includes English and Spanish lessons, quizzes, and learner reference booklets.
How long does the course take?
Plan approximately three hours in your chosen language, including assessments. Your pace and time spent reviewing references will affect completion time.
Does this FTA course cover the FMCSA Clearinghouse?
It distinguishes transit program obligations from FMCSA Clearinghouse responsibilities. Employers with both FTA and FMCSA work must determine which program applies to each assignment; completing the FTA course does not replace FMCSA-specific training.
Which regulations does the FTA course cover?
Shared DOT testing procedures under 49 CFR Part 40 and transit program responsibilities under 49 CFR Part 655, including coverage, policy, testing decisions, violations, records, and reporting.