What is the Collector Training Course?

You can also receive training via our online Certified Professional Collector® (CPC) course where you get the same training but it is not a train-the-trainer course. See more information below.

Program Goals

The objective of the Certified Professional Collector Trainer^® (CPCT) program is to provide instruction and resource material to enable the trainer to develop and teach a collector training program that will deliver information to fellow company-employed collection personnel, helping them become proficient in providing collection services according to industry regulations and standards, that ensure the privacy, integrity, and security of the donor and the specimen.

The goal of the Certified Professional Collector® (CPC) course is to train you on how to collect urine specimens for drug testing in accordance with DATIA standards, which are derived from Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Mandatory Guidelines, and industry best practices.

Collector Certification Categories

DATIA offers two levels of certification for specimen collectors, the Certified Professional Collector® (CPC) and the Certified Professional Collector Trainer® (CPCT). Both certifications provide comprehensive instruction and proficiency testing on the key elements and skills necessary to perform specimen collections in a manner that ensures the security of the specimen and the privacy of the donor. Certification as a CPCT requires additional experience and training in both specimen collections and the aspects of providing comprehensive training to fellow collectors.

Certification Requirements

CPCT:

• Currently employed in a position with active participation in collection services
• Possess understanding of DOT and HHS specimen collection requirements
• 100 completed specimen collections and 6 months active participation in specimen collection services (must meet this requirement before attending a CPCT Training seminar)
• Successful completion of the DATIA CPCT Training Seminar
• Successfully achieving a passing score on the CPCT examination
  
• Successfully completed 5 error-free mock collections

CPC:

• Currently employed in a position with active participation in collection services
• Possess understanding of DOT and HHS specimen collection requirements
• Successful completion of training by a current CPCT from the candidate's company or via the online CPC course
• Successfully achieving a passing score on the CPC examination
  
• Successfully completed 5 error-free mock collections

Please Note: DATIA training fees do NOT include the Initial Proficiency Demonstrations, also known as the “5 mock collections,” a DOT requirement for collector training, and, therefore a DATIA requirement for CPC/CPCT certification. You will need to do these on your own before getting access to DATIA’s certification exam. Please use our Regional Certified Professional Collector Trainer (R-CPCT) directory here to search for an R-CPCT near you to monitor your mock collections. If you cannot locate one near you, please keep in mind that many are willing to travel or monitor mock collections via webcam. You may also complete the mock collections with ANY collector who has been doing DOT collections for at least a year, OR who has taken a Train-the-Trainer course in DOT collections. (See 49 CFR Part 40.33 – What Training Requirements Must a Collector Meet?)

CPCT Training Course is held regionally approximately three times a year, in the spring and fall months. The fee for the CPCT Training Course is $379 for DATIA Members and $479 for non-members.

The online CPC Course is self-paced and is $199 for members and $299 for non-members.