FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Melissa Moskal
DATIA Executive Director
800-355-1257

Alexandria, VA, February 10, 2005: The Drug  & Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) is excited to announce today the new training opportunities we will offer in 2005, plus our plans for upgrades and improvements to current programs.

First up is the first training course for MRO Assistants.  Created by the industry, for the industry and in response to a void in training and standards, Excelling as an MRO Assistant will debut during DATIA’s annual conference in Orlando in May. Designed for those who actively assist MROs in the review and reporting of drug test results for both mandated and non-mandated testing, and those who have regular contact with donors, employers, and program administrators, this program will help to ensure that medical review assistant duties are performed in a professional and consistent manner, maintaining confidentiality for the donor, and ensuring security and integrity in the process.

Later in 2005, DATIA will roll out a program that will train and certify Designated Employer Representatives (DERs). Similar to the structure of the Regional Certified Professional Collector Trainer, (R-CPCT®) program, the DER course will be attended by Consortia/Third Party Administrators (C/TPAs) who are then able to train DERs. C/TPA’s who take this course can go home, and invite client DERs—or other interested DERs in their area—to participate in a training course. After completing the course, DERs will take an exam administered by DATIA to become certified. This course, under development by industry professionals since the summer of 2004, is being created in response to an identified gap in industry training and will be fully implemented in the fall of this year.

This year, DATIA is also making access to collector training easier by debuting online versions of our Certified Professional Collector (CPC®) course and CPC® and Certified Professional Collector Trainer (CPCT®) certification exams that will enable participants to take the course when they want, where they want, and at a pace comfortable for them. After training, collectors will be able to take an online exam. The system will also allow for annual re-certification exams to be completed online. These training opportunities and enhancements help to ensure professionalism and industry-recognized standards throughout all segments of the drug testing industry.

DATIA will also make significant enhancements to our current programs by providing our popular Red Book: Current Federal Regulations on Mandated Drug and Alcohol Testing online.  This will give industry professionals instant access to federal drug testing guidelines in an easily accessible, and fully searchable, online format.

“We’re excited to offer these new training opportunities for the industry,” said DATIA Executive Director Melissa Moskal. “We’ll be doing all of this while continuing to keep members abreast of industry information, working for positive changes in the drug and alcohol testing industry, and furthering industry standards of professionalism.”

DATIA is a 1,200-member national trade association representing the full spectrum of drug and alcohol testing service agents including laboratories, collection sites, C/TPAs, BATs, MROs, SAPs, employers, and testing device manufacturers. Visit DATIA's Education section for more information on DATIA’s activities and training opportunities.

 

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